Injury analysis

[Old Spice]

In many posts I've read recently, there have been offhand references to our injuries this year and how that might have affected our fortunes. Essendon and Carlton fans have certainly made much fanfare of their team's injuries as an excuse for dropping out of the 8. But what about us?

I think it's worth stating in very clear and concrete terms the extent of injuries we've sustained for this year. Let's understand the full extent of it and what that has meant to our fortunes in 2012.

I'm going to name what I consider to be the best 22 and the number of games players have missed in the home and away season, but I'll also add into the equation missed games by suspension and omission. What we'll see overall is the number of games missed for the club of the best possible squad.

Obviously people may disagree about the best 22, so I'll add another 3 and we'll be pretty close I imagine. We can then compare that to Carlton.

Didak

13​

Toovey

3​

Fasolo

1​

Krakouer

21​

Johnson

17​

Reid

5​

Macaffer

22​

Dawes

2​

Tarrant

13​

Thomas

5​

Swan

4​

Jolly

5​

Beams

1​

O’Brien

1​

Shaw

4​

Blair

2​

Ball

19​

Brown

7​

Maxwell

3​

Pendlebury

4​

Wellingham

5​

Sidebottom

1​

Cloke

0​

Goldsack

2​

Sinclair4

Total 164

Carlton
Carrazzo

8​

Collins

13​

Walker

7​

McLean

7​

Gibbs

0​

Judd

5​

Yarran

4​

Ellard

12​

Armfield

1​

Betts

0​

Curnow

4​

Scotland

1​

Waite

11​

Garlett

0​

Laidler

18​

Simpson

3​

Henderson

11​

Murphy

6​

Kreuzer

2​

Jamison

6​

Robinson

4​

Duigan

6​

Hampson

9​

Tuohy

3​

McInnes

14​

Total 155

If we include Warnock, the numbers even up, but of course Carlton couldn't play Warnock any more than we could have included Wood in the team consistently. Keeffe's 13 missed games weren't included for the same reason that his spot was taken by other tall defenders after his injury, i.e. you couldn't have played him.

In any case, despite all the bleating about the injuries and pump-priming of Carlton's list by their supporters, we actually had a greater number of missed games (with very few ommissions) and still managed to end up 4th. The fate of Carlton this year I think we all know.

 

[Collin Wood]

Nice work Spicey...but you do realise you have too much time on your hands

 

[Pera]

Wow, nice work man. I've been impressed with how you've dealt with a few posters on here this season and even more impressed with this. I had no idea the extent of our injuries were worse off than Carlton and that must have taken a bit of time to research so kudos.

 

[Old Spice]

Thanks you dudes, and yes, I need to go to bed and get my life in some kind of order. Need to start playing tennis or something.

Maybe an IT course instead so I can insert tables that don't turn to a pile of shit.

 

[PieNSauce]

Well done Spicey. I've been thinking about all the crap from other team's supporters for a while and this should shut a few of them up. Interestingly, the other factor that plenty of the trolls conveniently forget is that the experience level of many of the replacements is way below what others have had because Collingwood has lost much of its experienced depth players over the last 2 years. How many debutants was it again? Not to mention those who until this year had little more than a handful of games.

 

[legendstatus]

If anything this year depth is now there.. also with Ball, Keefe, Macaffer and hopefully Thomas improving it will only add to next year.. we just need a good run with injuries.. its just not who's out its also how long it takes them to get back to AFL ready......

 

[jathanas]

The numbers are very compelling aren't they. Well done OS for compiling this data.

It does put all the bitching about the coaching and the game-plan into perspective doesn't it?

 

[Mark_K]

Fact dont lie, good work Spice.

If anything, it speaks volumes about our clubs ability to recruit, add depth and have our reserves come in and play a role to the point where we are still highly competitive.

Out of interest, how many players have we used this year, and how many first gamers have we blooded?

I would imagine these number would also be comparable to Essendon, Carlton, GWS & GC.

 

[jathanas]

How useful would it be if someone in the media actually compiled a table that includes all AFL sides?

I love this board.

 

[cleomenes]

I have been saying for some time that we have had an exceptional year in view of the injury toll we have endured. By the normal rules of injury rate vs success calculations, we had no right to finish top 4. Being forced to play very inexperienced players in numbers, and actually rely on them to win games never works, and yet we finished fourth. Only flags satisfy, but with one put of reach, we should celebrate the magnitude of the performance of our players and staff. They have done exceptionally well, and give us great hope for next year.

 

[Mark_K]

I have been saying for some time that we have had an exceptional year in view of the injury toll we have endured. By the normal rules of injury rate vs success calculations, we had no right to finish top 4. Being forced to play very inexperienced players in numbers, and actually rely on them to win games never works, and yet we finished fourth. Only flags satisfy, but with one put of reach, we should celebrate the magnitude of the performance of our players and staff. They have done exceptionally well, and give us great hope for next year.

I agree.

If one simply looks at a season with the view of "Did we win the flag" or only reviews ladder position without any substance behind it, for me, its a wasted exercise and an extremely narrow minded perspective.

Given the injuries, lasting Malthouse/Ed/Bucks drama, Cloke contract etc, this year has been a positive, even if the ultimate goal is not achieved.

 

[4#Didak#4]

That looks a whole lot more nasty when listed out, especially when you consider Lach Keefe is not there as well as that has bitten deep into our depth.

Also, is it just me or does Carlton's list just look terrible full stop? How did we lose to that?? Can't believe all the ravings about that list at round 4.

 

[Mark_K]

That looks a whole lot more nasty when listed out, especially when you consider Lach Keefe is not there as well as that has bitten deep into our depth.

Also, is it just me or does Carlton's list just look terrible full stop? How did we lose to that?? Can't believe all the ravings about that list at round 4.

I think it was more to do with their game plan in relation to their spread and uncontested footy that changed.

Teams choked them up.

Should be interesting to see if these outside players are willing to play some defensive football in 2013.

 

[joefootylover]

"the ru is on fire" over on nicks has even more time on his hands!

amazing thing about that graphic is the "played every game" stat.

 

[Avatar]

Gotta be worth a few extra $$$ given he has played every game!

 

[Avatar]

Out of interest, how many players have we used this year, and how many first gamers have we blooded?

I would imagine these number would also be comparable to Essendon, Carlton, GWS & GC.

Collingwood
Players used 37
First gamers 7

Carlton
Players used 41
First gamers 5

Essendon
Players used 39
First gamers 4

 

[Mark_K]

Collingwood
Players used 37
First gamers 7

Carlton
Players used 41
First gamers 5

Essendon
Players used 39
First gamers 4

Adds some more credence to Spice's initial post.

Good stuff, thanks.

 

[Maggie5]

We seemed to have managed soft tissues issues well, haven't we? Result of training methods?

 

[MeisterBot]

Wow. Cloke is the only player on the list to have an uninterrupted season.

I knew we had a bad run with injuries, but wow. Did not know that.

Also, thanks for the write up, Spice. Puts a lot of our issues into perspective.

 

[Hva sher a]

Excellent analysis and data gathering.

Also interesting stat about the 7 first gamers although that can be misleading as out of that lot Yagmoor and Ugle will make it. Still, 5 potential 100 gamers sounds fine to me