Number Crunching: Statistics 2008

[TigerAntho]

We all know statistics don't tell the full story, but they can be valuable. Asides from the only statistic that we care about (being the W column), I thought we should highlight the pros and cons from 2008.

PROS

• Disposals (Ranked 6th) - Got our hands on the ball 8283 times, and again top sides like the saints, cats, bulldogs and hawks all finished above us on this stat. Its a positive because we know how to find the footy, and its just about now to be more effective with the ball.
• Players Used (Ranked 12th) - Ket to premiership and finals success is one field stability as a side adapts to a game plan. Geelong are last n this stat with just 31 and the Hawks likewise in 15th using just 31. We used 34. The side using the most was Esswendon with 40 and Melbourne second with 39.
• Average Goals per game (Ranked 5th) - Average of 15 goals a game, suggest our forward line structure worked well and should only imrpove in 09. Geelong and the HAwks with the most (again) with 17 and 16. Carlton just behind us with 14.7, and ther Doggies and Pies above us aswell.

CONS

• MARK MARK MARK's avearge per game (Ranked 1st) - Overpossesion. 119.6 per game is the most in AFl and 5 more than next side which funnily enough is the unsociable Hawks. Marks are only useful if its going into attack, unfortunatelly thius stat is being bumped up from backward and sideway kicking, and less run and carry. The bombers and Lion recorded the least for this stat, and are probably some of the more attacking sides albeit unsuccesful ones.

• Tackles (Ranked 16th) - Lowest side in the comp with 1072 along with the WA sides in 15th and 14th, West Coast and Fremantle respectively. Geelong is the top side for tackles with 1489, and Hawthrn also features in the top 8 in tackles in 7th.
• Behinds (Ranked 14th) - Seeems encouraging that we are accurate in front of goal but actually it is probably a negative. How? Well Geelong and the Hawks again topped the league for this stat, but when lined up against goals shows that the amount of scoring chances they had as a side were vastly greater than the rest of the comp. We ranked along with the bombers and the Dees, sides that didn't do particulalry well. Let's compare. Geelong in total had 803 shots on goal wheter a 6 pointer or 1 pointer. We on the other hand had 573. A team which has nearly 300 more shots on goal during the year is going to win more games than not...moral of the story...we need to create way more oppurtunities.
• Hitouts (Ranked 15th) - Troy may have been in the Hall of Fame game, but this stat proves he does little around the ground to help our mids. Sure he is a strong mark and has a big engine, he is lacking the proper support. We had 563 just ahead of the blues who finished last. Surprise Surprise Geelong topped this stat with 954
• Turnovers (???) - Anyone have this stat?

Questionable

• Handballs (Ranked 4th) - I get pissed off when we overuse the ball in terms of handballing, but the stats suggest it may be a good thing - if the handballs come off. Geelong and Hawthorn both last years Grand Finalists and the 1st and 2nd most in the comp for handballs last year at 5018 and 4321 respectively. We had 3656, yet the competition averaged in the 3000's right down to the 15th ranked side. This stat is interesting especially when looked at a kick to handball ratio.

Add if you have any others!

 

[cormick]

Very interesting. As you say, we shouldn't read too much into it, but still some worrying signs hidden in there. That behinds scored stat worries me, because if we start missing some of those, then that 9th becomes 12th and the future isn't as bright. Hopefully we can improve our number of shots, while maintaining such a good goal-kicking percentage.

 

[JSFish]

Really cormick? Really?

 

[cormick]

Lol yes; yes indeed!!!

 

[JSFish]

Hehe, very subtle but I get it.

 

[sante]

We are a DreamTeamer's ideal footy side.