Stats observations

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Brought up by a poster on the Geelong boards, but this season now sees the Dees, Cats and Pies all having a 10 game winning streak, has as many as three different sides done that in a season before?
 
Brought up by a poster on the Geelong boards, but this season now sees the Dees, Cats and Pies all having a 10 game winning streak, has as many as three different sides done that in a season before?
The only other time this happened was in 1932, by Carlton, Richmond and South Melbourne.

Carlton began theirs beating Richmond in Round 3, and ended by beating South Melbourne in Round 13
Richmond began theirs beating North Melbourne in Round 11, and won their tenth straight game beating Carlton in the Grand Final. Their streak continued into 1933.
South Melbourne started the season winning ten in a row.

Seasons where two teams had a 10 game winning streak were 1911 (Essendon and South Melbourne), 1975 (Carlton and Hawthorn) 1999 (Brisbane and North Melbourne), 2009 (Geelong and St Kilda) and 2011 (Collingwood and Geelong).

Also, the longest wait between two teams going on a ten game winning streak within a season was 10 years. Essendon did it in 1981, then it took until 1991 for it to happen again when West Coast went 12-0 to start their season.
 

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JJK playing his final game this week.

He needs three goals to tie Nick Riewoldt and in playing his 293rd and final game he surpasses Matt Boyd, Anthony Stevens and Darren Milburn (all 292 games) and ties with Stevie J on 293.

He ranks fourth for games played wearing #17 and first for career goals wearing #17.

This is also almost poetic, but Josh Kennedy has played in 149 career wins. Will he finish with 150 career wins? If he does, he will fall one short of Chris Judd's career wins (151).
 
JJK playing his final game this week.

He needs three goals to tie Nick Riewoldt and in playing his 293rd and final game he surpasses Matt Boyd, Anthony Stevens and Darren Milburn (all 292 games) and ties with Stevie J on 293.

He ranks fourth for games played wearing #17 and first for career goals wearing #17.

This is also almost poetic, but Josh Kennedy has played in 149 career wins. Will he finish with 150 career wins? If he does, he will fall one short of Chris Judd's career wins (151).

The possible retirement of Josh Kennedy from Sydney is also being spoken about. JPK currently has 290 games compared to JJK with 292 games. It would be a wonderful symmetry if both players with the same name ended up playing the same total of games.
 
JJK playing his final game this week.

He needs three goals to tie Nick Riewoldt and in playing his 293rd and final game he surpasses Matt Boyd, Anthony Stevens and Darren Milburn (all 292 games) and ties with Stevie J on 293.

He ranks fourth for games played wearing #17 and first for career goals wearing #17.

This is also almost poetic, but Josh Kennedy has played in 149 career wins. Will he finish with 150 career wins? If he does, he will fall one short of Chris Judd's career wins (151).

Josh Kennedy retired on 293 games, the same as former Sydney (1980-1990) and Fitzroy (1974-1979) player Rod Carter. But while Kennedy retired with a very impressive 723 goals to his name, Carter's scoring record was more humble. He finished with just 1 goal in a 17 season career, scored for the Swans against Melbourne at the SCG in 1986.
 
The Sydney Swans team that played North Melbourne at Princes Park in Round 6 1993 was a reunion of sorts for the Claremont Tigers 1991 WAFL Premiership team, with three of the 20 Swans players that day having played in the Tigers' flag winning side 18 months earlier.

Remarkably, the three of them all arrived at the Swans in different ways. Andrew McGovern was drafted by the Swans in the 1991 National Draft and debuted for Sydney in 1992. John Hutton was a WTF delisting in the 1993 pre-season by the Brisbane Bears for whom Hutton had had a very good debut AFL in 1992 and had been drafted at number 1 in the 1991 National Draft, picked up by Sydney after his inexplicable departure from Brisbane. Tony Begovich was a West Coast Eagles listed player who had been traded to the Sydney Swans at the end of the 1992 season along with Scott Watters, who also played in the game against the Kangaroos and got a Brownlow Vote.

While Claremont thrashed Subiaco in the 1991 WAFL premiership decider, the match against North Melbourne didn't go so well. The Kangaroos kicked a massive 35.19-229 to demolish the Sydney Swans (16.9-105) by 124-points. Interestingly, Watters, Hutton and McGovern would be team-mates again at another club in 1995, the newly formed Fremantle Dockers.
 
Josh Kennedy retired on 293 games, the same as former Sydney (1980-1990) and Fitzroy (1974-1979) player Rod Carter. But while Kennedy retired with a very impressive 723 goals to his name, Carter's scoring record was more humble. He finished with just 1 goal in a 17 season career, scored for the Swans against Melbourne at the SCG in 1986.
Sadly for JPK, he may have done a hammy in a reserves game, with him actually relegated to the reserves in the first place and facing maybe at least 3-4 weeks out, even with the bye week he's probably going to struggle to add to his tally too much this year. Sydney though should have the double chance and may well play as many as 4 finals, so never say never. But he'll be pushing it uphill to add to his tally this season i feel.
 
According to afldata.info, the biggest defeat by a team going into the game as betting favourites were the Bombers in Round 14, 2015.
Supposedly, they were $1.66 favourites to beat the Saints that afternoon, but copped a 110 point demolition instead. Six rounds later, Hirdy resigned and Matthew Egan filled in for the remainder of the season with better-ish results.
 
After the tragic and premature death of the North Queensland Cowboys' only premiership coach (2015) Paul Green aged 49 this week it got me thinking; how many premiership coaches are living per the AFL clubs? Here is the list:

Adelaide - Malcolm Blight
Brisbane Lions - Leigh Matthews
Carlton - Ron Barassi Jnr, John Nicholls, Alex Jesaulenko, David Parkin, Robert Walls
Collingwood - Leigh Matthews, Mick Malthouse
Essendon - Kevin Sheedy
Fitzroy - None
Geelong - Mark Thompson, Chris Scott
Hawthorn - David Parkin, Alan Joyce, Alistair Clarkson
Melbourne - Simon Goodwin
North Melbourne - Ron Barassi Jnr, Denis Pagan
Port Adelaide - Mark Williams
Richmond - Tony Jewell, Damien Hardwick
St Kilda - None
Sydney/South Melbourne - Paul Roos, John Longmire
West Coast Eagles - Mick Malthouse, John Worsfold, Adam Simpson
Western Bulldogs - Luke Beveridge

It's hard to believe that if Kevin Sheedy passed away tomorrow, it would leave Essendon with no living premiership coach, with the only other Bomber premiership coaches post World War 2 Dick Reynolds and John Coleman long deceased.
 
Accountants must be enjoying Round 22 so far. There have been two mirror image scoring games so far, with Brisbane beating St Kilda 12.9-81 to 9.12-66 last night and in the western suburbs 'derby' the Western Bulldogs 9.8-62 defeated the GWS Giants 8.9-57.
 
Brad Ottens was the 1000th player to don both the Richmond and Geelong guernsey...pretty unique feat. That was courtesy of *Paul's wonderful AFL tables site.
 

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As of now, Lance Franklin is:

5th in the VFL/AFL goalkickers list.
5th in Hawthorn's VFL/AFL goalkickers list.
5th in South Melbourne/Sydney's VFL/AFL goalkickers list.

Franklin is also currently second in terms of known behinds kicked in a career. He now has 726, just ahead of Leigh Matthews 724 and behind only Kevin Bartlett on 781.
Franklin is also third in known totals for scoring shots. His 1769 scoring shots sit behind Tony Lockett on 1950 and Jason Dunstall 1895.
 
Franklin is also currently second in terms of known behinds kicked in a career. He now has 726, just ahead of Leigh Matthews 724 and behind only Kevin Bartlett on 781.
Franklin is also third in known totals for scoring shots. His 1769 scoring shots sit behind Tony Lockett on 1950 and Jason Dunstall 1895.


I knew he had a lot but not that many.

Could've been at least 200 goals higher.

Oh well.
 
It's amazing this week as we prepare for the final round that the 2022 finals series will contain either Carlton OR the Bulldogs, but not Carlton AND the Bulldogs. (St Kilda's finals hopes are unrealistic, and the Saints won't make the finals.)

These teams have an amazing capacity of missing each other in the finals, or of one team making the finals at the expense of the other. To date, there has never been a Blues vs. Bulldogs finals match in 95 years, whereas somewhat ironically the other two 1925 expansion teams North Melbourne and Hawthorn both played Carlton in their first ever finals appearances.

As just some examples:

1931 - Bulldogs, Carlton and Collingwood were all contenders for the last two finals spots (Dogs missed out),

1938 - There was a narrow percentage difference between the 12-6 Cats (second) and Bulldogs (third), but it meant that Geelong played minor and eventual premier Carlton, while the Bulldogs had to play the first semi final against Collingwood.

1940 - Carlton and the Bulldogs have a much better percentage than the 4th placed Geelong, but have to be content with 5th and 6th as the Cats won one more game than the Blues and two more than the Dogs.

1942 - Bulldogs and Carlton are both 10-4 in war-affected season, but the Bulldogs superior percentage saw them finish 4th and the Blues 5th.

1944 - A draw puts 4th placed Footscray half a game ahead of Carlton in 5th, but the Blues percentage of 131.5 is vastly superior to that of the Bulldogs who scored 106.9. The two actually played in September, but it was a final round game which would decide 4th spot - the Bulldogs home by 1 point.

1945 - Carlton gets some revenge in another Clayton's September meeting between them in the last round. The Blues (13-7) trounced the Bulldogs (12-8) by 53 points to take 4th spot and would go on to take the premiership, while the Dogs had to be content with 5th.

1956 - Another last round match between Carlton and Footscray to decide last spot, and the winners are the Bulldogs. A draw costs 5th placed Carlton (10-7-1) the 4th placed Bulldogs (11-7) spot in the finals, and there is just 0.5 percent between them.

1962 - Carlton are 4th, the Bulldogs are 5th.

1975 - Carlton defeat Footscray in the finals round to end the Bulldogs slim finals hopes.

1976 - A drawn final round match between minor premiers Carlton and Footscray puts the Bulldogs into the finals.

1977 - Footscray upset Carlton in the final round, handing 5th spot to South Melbourne at the expense of the Blues.

1985 - An upset win by North over Carlton in the Elimination Finals prevents the first Carlton vs. Bulldogs finals match, with the Dogs losing the Qualifying Final to Hawthorn and going into the First Semi Final.

1994 - In the first year of the McIntyre Final 8, Footscray were beaten on the siren by Geelong in 4th vs. 5th, while 7th placed Melbourne upset 2nd placed Carlton. This resulted in a Carlton vs. Geelong semi final, when it could so easily have been Carlton vs. Bulldogs.

1999 - A 5 point win by the West Coast Eagles over the Western Bulldogs results in the winning Eagles meeting Carlton in a semi final in the cumbersome McIntyre Final 8 system. The Dogs have to go to the GABBA to play Brisbane instead of their first finals match against Carlton.

2000 - Carlton finish 2nd and the Bulldogs 7th which should have resulted in a Qualifying Final between the pair, but the McIntyre system by this time was scrapped in favor of the current system, so no Blues vs. Dogs final.

2009 - After losing a Qualifying Final to Geelong, the Bulldogs will play a semi final against the winner of Brisbane vs. Carlton. For most of the night it looks like Carlton, but the Lions get up in a 7 point thriller and eliminate the Blues.

2010 - The Bulldogs again lose the Qualifying Final, this time against Collingwood, meaning they will play the semi final against the winner of the Sydney vs. Carlton Elimination Final. In a thrilling contest, the Swans beat the Blues by 5 points to prevent a first Carlton vs. Dogs final.
 
2004 was quite anomalous in that, in the goalkicking, 9 players kicked 60+ goals (nothing off there) but the 10th highest goal scorer that season, finished on 49 goals meaning that not one player finished between 50-59 goals.
 
Despite the West Coast Eagles' abysmal 2022 season that saw them finish 2-20 with a percentage of less than 60 - their worst ever record - they managed to avoid the wooden spoon as North Melbourne also finished 2-20, but with a slightly worse percentage thanks to a heavy run of thrashings the Kangaroos copped mid-season.

The Eagles are not the only two win team in history to avoid the wooden spoon, in fact there are quite few examples. Mostly this has involved a two win second last team and a one win wooden spoon team, such as 1972 (South Melbourne 2-20, North Melbourne 1-21), 1981 (Bulldogs 2-20, Melbourne 1-21), and 2013 (Melbourne 2-20 and GWS 1-21). There are also examples of second last teams whose only two wins were at the expense of a winless wooden spooner, such as 1914 (Melbourne 2-16, University 0-18) and 1964 (South Melbourne 2-16 and Fitzroy 0-18).

However, it is extremely rare for there to be two 2 win sides in the same year, and this year is only the second example of this. The other one was back in 1945 where Geelong and St Kilda both went 2-18, but the Cats slightly superior percentage put them second last, and relegated the Saints to the 1945 wooden spoon.
 
It's amazing this week as we prepare for the final round that the 2022 finals series will contain either Carlton OR the Bulldogs, but not Carlton AND the Bulldogs. (St Kilda's finals hopes are unrealistic, and the Saints won't make the finals.)

These teams have an amazing capacity of missing each other in the finals, or of one team making the finals at the expense of the other. To date, there has never been a Blues vs. Bulldogs finals match in 95 years, whereas somewhat ironically the other two 1925 expansion teams North Melbourne and Hawthorn both played Carlton in their first ever finals appearances.

As just some examples:

1931 - Bulldogs, Carlton and Collingwood were all contenders for the last two finals spots (Dogs missed out),

1938 - There was a narrow percentage difference between the 12-6 Cats (second) and Bulldogs (third), but it meant that Geelong played minor and eventual premier Carlton, while the Bulldogs had to play the first semi final against Collingwood.

1940 - Carlton and the Bulldogs have a much better percentage than the 4th placed Geelong, but have to be content with 5th and 6th as the Cats won one more game than the Blues and two more than the Dogs.

1942 - Bulldogs and Carlton are both 10-4 in war-affected season, but the Bulldogs superior percentage saw them finish 4th and the Blues 5th.

1944 - A draw puts 4th placed Footscray half a game ahead of Carlton in 5th, but the Blues percentage of 131.5 is vastly superior to that of the Bulldogs who scored 106.9. The two actually played in September, but it was a final round game which would decide 4th spot - the Bulldogs home by 1 point.

1945 - Carlton gets some revenge in another Clayton's September meeting between them in the last round. The Blues (13-7) trounced the Bulldogs (12-8) by 53 points to take 4th spot and would go on to take the premiership, while the Dogs had to be content with 5th.

1956 - Another last round match between Carlton and Footscray to decide last spot, and the winners are the Bulldogs. A draw costs 5th placed Carlton (10-7-1) the 4th placed Bulldogs (11-7) spot in the finals, and there is just 0.5 percent between them.

1962 - Carlton are 4th, the Bulldogs are 5th.

1975 - Carlton defeat Footscray in the finals round to end the Bulldogs slim finals hopes.

1976 - A drawn final round match between minor premiers Carlton and Footscray puts the Bulldogs into the finals.

1977 - Footscray upset Carlton in the final round, handing 5th spot to South Melbourne at the expense of the Blues.

1985 - An upset win by North over Carlton in the Elimination Finals prevents the first Carlton vs. Bulldogs finals match, with the Dogs losing the Qualifying Final to Hawthorn and going into the First Semi Final.

1994 - In the first year of the McIntyre Final 8, Footscray were beaten on the siren by Geelong in 4th vs. 5th, while 7th placed Melbourne upset 2nd placed Carlton. This resulted in a Carlton vs. Geelong semi final, when it could so easily have been Carlton vs. Bulldogs.

1999 - A 5 point win by the West Coast Eagles over the Western Bulldogs results in the winning Eagles meeting Carlton in a semi final in the cumbersome McIntyre Final 8 system. The Dogs have to go to the GABBA to play Brisbane instead of their first finals match against Carlton.

2000 - Carlton finish 2nd and the Bulldogs 7th which should have resulted in a Qualifying Final between the pair, but the McIntyre system by this time was scrapped in favor of the current system, so no Blues vs. Dogs final.

2009 - After losing a Qualifying Final to Geelong, the Bulldogs will play a semi final against the winner of Brisbane vs. Carlton. For most of the night it looks like Carlton, but the Lions get up in a 7 point thriller and eliminate the Blues.

2010 - The Bulldogs again lose the Qualifying Final, this time against Collingwood, meaning they will play the semi final against the winner of the Sydney vs. Carlton Elimination Final. In a thrilling contest, the Swans beat the Blues by 5 points to prevent a first Carlton vs. Dogs final.
Absolutely sensational stuff.
 
Jack Newnes closing in on an unwanted record.

After Round 23 he has now played 207 games without playing a finals game.

Currently sits 4th on the all time list behind Trevor Barker who holds the record of 230 games without playing a final.
 
Lowest percentages by teams finishing in the top four since the introduction of the final eight.

PercentageTeamSeasonLadder position
101.8Western Bulldogs19973rd
102.7Melbourne19984th
104.3Collingwood20224th
106.2North Melbourne20004th
106.5Sydney19983rd
107.8Richmond20014th
107.9Richmond19953rd
 
Dick Lee (Collingwood) and Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) currently share the record for having played in the most finals series - 15.

Joel Selwood (Geelong) will join them this year by playing in his 15th finals series.

He will also set the record for fewest seasons to achieve this feat.

Tuck played in 15 finals series during a 20 year career between 1972-1991, while Lee played in 15 finals series during a 17 year career between 1906-1922.

2022 is Selwood's 16th season since starting in 2007. The only season he has missed finals action was 2015 when Geelong finished 10th.
 
Dick Lee (Collingwood) and Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) currently share the record for having played in the most finals series - 15.

Joel Selwood (Geelong) will join them this year by playing in his 15th finals series.

He will also set the record for fewest seasons to achieve this feat.

Tuck played in 15 finals series during a 20 year career between 1972-1991, while Lee played in 15 finals series during a 17 year career between 1906-1922.

2022 is Selwood's 16th season since starting in 2007. The only season he has missed finals action was 2015 when Geelong finished 10th.

If Joel plays three finals i think he also becomes the one who has played the most finals of all time. Geelong and Collingwood also play their 26th finals meeting, the most of all clubs, which is mildly surprising given Geelong's relatively poor efforts in the period from about 1903 until 1923 or so, when many of the numerous meetings occurred with the traditional clubs. It's starting to almost be like the North/Hawthorn battles in the 70's and early 80's.
 
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If Joel plays three finals i think he also becomes the one who has played the most finals of all time. Geelong and Collingwood also play their 26th finals meeting, the most of all clubs, which is mildly surprising given Geelong's relatively poor efforts in the period from about 1903 until 1923 or so, when many of the numerous meetings occurred with the traditional clubs. It's starting to almost be like the North/Hawthorn battles in the 70's and early 80's.
Yes, Joel is currently on 37 finals with only Michael Tuck on 39 ahead of him.

And the Collingwood v Geelong finals match ups do seem to be very frequent.

This is the third time in four years the two sides have met in finals - after 2019 and 2020. By coincidence, Brisbane and Richmond will also meet in finals for the third time in four years - also in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Even more remarkable, all three meetings will be in the first week of the finals and all three at the Gabba.

The other finals match ups in the first week are very different. Melbourne and Sydney will meet in finals for the first time since 1987 and only the third time ever since 1897. Saturday night will be the first time that Fremantle and Western Bulldogs have ever met in a finals match.
 

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