Analysis The Stats and nothing but the Stats

[grimlock]

Not disputing your info acquirement Grim, really appreciate you finding & sharing it all, but this just cannot be right. I'd go so far as to say our biggest weakness as a team, to my eye, is allowing the opposition to go end-to-end virtually uncontested. We don't look like we can defend ball movement at all. It happens soooo much that I just can't believe that most teams in the competition are actually worse at it than us.

When I read it I also had a double take. Unfortunately I can't remember where that article resides, but I've managed to get a stat from wheeloratings.

That number if the column D50 to F50 is the percentage of chains starting in the D50 that end up in the F50 (opposition). Granted there's really not much difference between the Top 5, but we are definitely not in the class of North or West Coast (or whatever's going on at Essendon!)

Also there doesn't look to be much correlation between being good at this stat and ladder position, you have bad teams (CAR,STK) in rating better than good teams (COL,BRL). Stats that correlate much better with ladder position are conceding scores from turnovers and conceding score origins in the forward half (both of which we are worse than AFL Avg)

AFL Team Statistics

AFL team statistics.

www.wheeloratings.com

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

 

[grimlock]

Footy App stats

• Jack Steele averages 26.6 disposals from 11 career matches against Sydney - his most against any opponent.
• Just 38.5% of the Saints' kicks this year have been long - the lowest percentage of any team.
• St Kilda average just 19.6 points from forward half intercepts possessions this season - ranked 17th.
• Over the last six rounds, St Kilda has allowed its opponents to score from 50.7% of its inside 50s - ranked last defensively.
• The Saints turnover just 36.5% of their kicks into forward 50 - the third-lowest rate of any team.
• Sydney has scored 75 points off the back of Nick Blakey
  22

  Nick Blakey

  Age

  25

  Ht

  196cm

  Wt

  83kg

  Pos.

  Def

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  9.9

  3star

  K

  7.0

  3star

  HB

  2.9

  3star

  M

  2.3

  2star

  T

  2.4

  4star

  MG

  189.1

  3star

  D

  8.1

  2star

  K

  6.3

  3star

  HB

  1.9

  1star

  M

  2.1

  2star

  T

  2.6

  4star

  MG

  189.1

  3star

  D

  7.2

  2star

  K

  5.2

  2star

  HB

  2.0

  2star

  M

  1.2

  2star

  T

  1.2

  3star

  's intercepts this season - fanked first and (sic) the club and ninth in the AFL.
• Since Round 14, the Swans have scored from 51% of their inside 50s - ranked No.1 in the competition.
• Sydney is conceding 84.6 points per game this season - it's most since 2010.
• The Swans have scored 11 goals from 50-metre penalties this season - the most of any side.
• Sydney's four defeats by 10 or fewer points this season are the most by any team in the competition.

I am quite surprised by the most goals from 50-metre penalties, would be interested to see fi we are also first for most goals conceded from 50-metre penalties.

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

Hahaha - as if the game itself didn't give us a heart attack the expected scores indicate it could have been worse.

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Kiama Chris]

Despite much higher attendance Grundy smashed both rucks. Yeah but - I'm concerned we're back on the road to wearing him out.
With JJ tagging someone at CBAs Gus gets fewer attendances. I noticed JJ started at HF more often in the second half AND Gus too. Don't think we've got that quite worked out yet. We really need a proper midfield coach.

 

[Ticky009]

Despite much higher attendance Grundy smashed both rucks. Yeah but - I'm concerned we're back on the road to wearing him out.
With JJ tagging someone at CBAs Gus gets fewer attendances. I noticed JJ started at HF more often in the second half AND Gus too. Don't think we've got that quite worked out yet. We really need a proper midfield coach.

I still think he's playing better than he was last year at this stage of the year.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I still think he's playing better than he was last year at this stage of the year.

Totally agree, and by a fair bit. The concern remains about burning him out. We talk about managing players and then.....

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

It actually mirrors the ladder positions so well

 

[Jewelsbon]

Totally agree, and by a fair bit. The concern remains about burning him out. We talk about managing players and then.....

This time last year yes, this year, not so much of a concern. There's six games left for the season, I think he'll be fine.

 

[grimlock]

Selected Footy Live app stats

• The Swans have lost just once since Round 13 - winning the tackle count by 12.6 per game in that period - ranked No.1.
• Since Round 15, Sydney has conceded a score from 23.9% of its opponents' kick-ins - ranked last defensively.
• 55.1% of Sydney's stoppage exits have been via kicks - the second-highest rate in the league.
• The Swans have outscored their opponents by 18 points per game from clearances sinec Round 13 - ranked No.1.
• North Melbourne has scored from 16.6% of its intercept possessions - ranked last.
• In the last four rounds, the Kangaroos have lost in the inside 50s by 16.8 per game - ranked 17th.
• North Melbourne has kicked to a single target with 60.2% of its kicks into forward 50 - the lowest rate in the league.

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

 

[Ticky009]

 

[grimlock]

Thursday afternoon Footy Live app stats

• 51.3% of GWS Giants' goals have come from set shots - the lowest percentage of any team.
• The Giants won the contested posessions by 31 against the Swans in Round 8 - their best differential against them since Round 6, 2019.
• Since Round 16, GWS Giants have won the centre bounce clearances by 4.7 per game - ranked No.1.
• The Giants had 48 forty-five-degree kicks last round - the ninth-most by any team this year. They average 27.1 across the season - ranked second in the league.
• In Round 19, Isaac Heeney
  5

  Isaac Heeney

  Age

  29

  Ht

  185cm

  Wt

  88kg

  Pos.

  Mid

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  18.2

  5star

  K

  10.4

  4star

  HB

  7.7

  5star

  M

  4.9

  5star

  T

  4.1

  5star

  CL

  2.2

  4star

  D

  14.3

  3star

  K

  8.8

  4star

  HB

  5.5

  3star

  M

  4.8

  4star

  T

  2.5

  3star

  CL

  0.8

  3star

  D

  10.4

  3star

  K

  7.2

  3star

  HB

  3.2

  3star

  M

  2.8

  3star

  T

  2.4

  4star

  CL

  0.8

  3star

  became the first-ever player to have 11-plus clearances and five-plus goals in a game. He joins Luke Parker
  26

  Luke Parker

  Age

  33

  Ht

  183cm

  Wt

  88kg

  Pos.

  M/F

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  24.2

  5star

  K

  12.6

  5star

  HB

  11.6

  5star

  M

  3.8

  4star

  T

  5.6

  5star

  CL

  5.8

  5star

  D

  22.1

  5star

  K

  12.3

  5star

  HB

  9.9

  5star

  M

  3.9

  4star

  T

  5.0

  5star

  CL

  5.5

  5star

  D

  21.2

  5star

  K

  11.4

  4star

  HB

  9.8

  5star

  M

  2.0

  3star

  T

  8.0

  5star

  CL

  5.2

  5star

  and Michael O'Loughlin
  Michael O'loughlin

  Age

  48

  Ht

  189cm

  Wt

  90kg

  Pos.

  Fwd

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  13.9

  4star

  K

  9.5

  4star

  HB

  4.3

  3star

  M

  5.0

  5star

  T

  1.4

  3star

  G

  1.7

  5star

  No current season stats available

  D

  11.6

  3star

  K

  5.8

  3star

  HB

  5.8

  4star

  M

  1.6

  2star

  T

  2.4

  4star

  G

  2.2

  5star

  as the only Swan (sic) with 30-plus disposals and five-plus goals in Champion Data history.
• James Jordon has played on Lachie Whitfield
  6

  Lachie Whitfield

  Age

  31

  Ht

  185cm

  Wt

  83kg

  Pos.

  Def

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  22.7

  5star

  K

  13.4

  5star

  HB

  9.3

  5star

  M

  6.3

  5star

  T

  2.7

  4star

  MG

  411.8

  5star

  D

  21.4

  5star

  K

  12.5

  5star

  HB

  8.9

  4star

  M

  5.6

  5star

  T

  1.8

  3star

  MG

  350.6

  5star

  D

  17.6

  5star

  K

  8.2

  4star

  HB

  9.4

  5star

  M

  4.6

  5star

  T

  2.4

  4star

  in each match since 2024 - conceding 20 disposals in the 80 minutes they were matched up in Round 8.
• Since Round 13, the Swans have scored from 47.7% of their inside 50s - ranked No.1 and up from 17th between Rounds 0-12.
• The Swans have scored from 68.9% of their forward 50 intercepts - ranked No.1.
• 79.8% of the goals Sydney have conceded this season have been in the corridor - the highest rate of any team.
• In the last four founds, the Swans have won the around-the-ground clearances by 6.3 per game - ranked No.1.
• Sydney has conceded 36 goals to midfielders this season - the third-most overall.

 

[Nool Carpenna]

Thursday afternoon Footy Live app stats

• 51.3% of GWS Giants' goals hae come from set shots - the lowest percentage of any team.
• The Giants won the contested posessions by 31 against the Swans in Round 8 - their best differential against them since Round 6, 2019.
• Since Round 16, GWS Giants have won the centre bounce clearances by 4.7 per game - ranked No.1.
• The Giants had 48 forty-five-degree kicks last round - the ninth-most by any team this year. They average 27.1 across the season - ranked second in the league.
• In Round 19, Isaac Heeney became the first-ever player to have 11-plus clearances and five-plus goals in a game. He joins Luke Parker and Michael O'Loughlin as the only Swan (sic) with 30-plus disposals and five-plus goals in Champion Data history.
• James Jordon has played on Lachie Whitfield in each match since 2024 - conceding 20 disposals in the 80 minutes they were matched up in Round 8.
• Since Round 13, the Swans have scored from 47.7% of their inside 50s - ranked No.1 and up from 17th between Rounds 0-12.
• The Swans have scored from 68.9% of their forward 50 intercepts - ranked No.1.
• 79.8% of the goals Sydney have conceded this season have been in the corridor - the highest rate of any team.
• In the last four founds, the Swans have won the around-the-ground clearances by 6.3 per game - ranked No.1.
• Sydney has conceded 36 goals to midfielders this season - the third-most overall.

These posts are among the very best each week. Thank you.

 

[caesar88]

• 51.3% of GWS Giants' goals hae come from set shots - the lowest percentage of any team.

This is absolutely wild for a team that often plays with four talls and two mediums inside 50.

 

[grimlock]

This is absolutely wild for a team that often plays with four talls and two mediums inside 50.

They are the Number 1 team for outperforming their xG in non-set shots. On set shots they're also pretty good (5th)

 

[grimlock]

This was interesting. Someone's plotted the centre clearance rate v CBAs attended. On the page itself you have to mouse-over the dots to see who the players are. For reference from left to right (and for the 4th/5th dot, the higher one is slightly to the left) - McInerney, Sheldrick, Jordon, Chad, Rowbottom, Heeney, Grundy.

McInerney surprisngly (at least to me) - has a higher clearance rate than the others.

Round 20, 2025 – This Week In Football

This Week In Football is a collection of some of the best in football currently outside the walls of AFL clubs or broadcasters. Each week a curated grab bag from regular contributors and special guests will provide insight into and beyond the game on subjects of their choosing. For more about...

thisweekinfootball.com

 

[Arwib]

Yeah some of the lower volume CBA guys go in occasionally and have a specific CB impact just through disrupting the opponent's plans. Their success is a product of their relative infrequency. JMac seems to be pretty effective at that this year - in past years we've gotten similar out of Papley.