Champion Data analyses what went right and wrong for the teams that missed the finals
Richmond fans will tell you injuries to key players caused the club’s fall from premiership contention, but the stats reveal a very different concern.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The forensic examinations are underway for the team’s that missed this year’s finals.
From North Melbourne’s wooden spoon, to the premiers who slumped to 12th, we asked Champion Data to find out what went right and wrong.
The stats gurus take a look at the positives and the concerns for the bottom 10 teams from season 2021.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Finish: 18, 4-17-1
The Good: From Round 9 onwards, the Kangaroos ranked No. 7 across the competition for clearance differential.
The Concern: North Melbourne’s front half struggled across 2021, ranked No. 18 for scores per inside 50, inside 50 differential, time in forward half differential and for forward half intercepts.
The Coach: “We’ve now got some offence, we’ve got some defence, we’ve got some more work into our stoppage work and contest. I think there’ll be some natural growth from the young group. Our players have a clear understanding of how we want to play, and we’ve been really disciplined internally to stick with what that looks like.” — David Noble
Watch The 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
COLLINGWOOD
Finish: 17, 6-16
The Good: The Magpies conceded a score from just 41 per cent of their opposition’s inside 50 entries this season – ranked third defensively.
The Concern: Collingwood’s inability to score continued to be a problem. The Magpies were ranked No. 16 for both points scored and inside 50 differential as well as No. 14 for scores per inside 50 and time in forward half differential.
The Caretaker: “The players and the leaders in particular to be able to fight through that, to be able to direct the young guys to keep fighting on and to instil the right values in those young players, I’m really appreciative of the players and their effort for that.” — Robert Harvey
GOLD COAST SUNS
Finish: 16, 7-15
The Good: The Suns conceded a score from just 42 per cent of their opposition’s inside 50 entries this season – ranked seventh defensively.
The Concern: Gold Coast ranked No. 17 across the competition for both contested possession differential and clearance differential this season.
ADELAIDE CROWS
Finish: 15, 7-15
The Good: Across the past six rounds, Adelaide conceded a score from just 41 per cent of its oppositions inside 50 entries – ranked sixth defensively.
The Concern: The Crows turnover game struggled across 2021, ranked No. 15 for points scored from turnovers, No. 18 for points against from turnovers and No. 16 for points from turnover differential.
The Coach: “We would love to play and compete in finals – that’s what we’re trying to get to – that’s why we’re laying a foundation at the moment that we hope is strong enough to hold up not just for one year where we’re trying to dribble our way into a finals series and then be knocked out straight away … we’re looking at sustained success.” — Matthew Nicks
HAWTHORN
Finish: 14, 7-13-2
The Good: From Round 10 onwards, the Hawks ranked No. 3 across the competition for forward half intercepts, No. 1 for points scored from a forward half intercept and No. 5 for points scored from a forward half chain.
The Concern: Hawthorn ranked No. 14 for contested possession differential, No. 15 for clearance differential and No. 17 for points from stoppage differential this season.
The Coach: “The next five to 10 years we are trying to build a club and a list that can consistently compete for silverware.” — Sam Mitchell
CARLTON
Finish: 13, 8-14
The Good: Despite Carlton ranking No. 12 for inside-50s this season, the Blues scored from 45 per cent of these inside 50s – ranked third.
The Concern: The Blues defence was the concern in 2021, ranked No. 17 for both points against and points conceded from turnovers as well as No. 15 for opposition scores per inside 50.
The Ex-Coach: “What I do notice is that when things aren’t going well or we start to get a bit frustrated, we try too hard and we go away from playing our role. We end up with too many players at the contest and teams are able to get the ball on the outside and use it against us. It’s often from over-trying: this group is a pretty proud group in the way they train and the way they prepare. In-game, it can be a case of trying to help too much instead of just getting your job done.” — David Teague
RICHMOND
Finish: 12, 9-12-1
The Good: Richmond’s turnover game was still among the best across the competition this season, ranked No. 2 for points scored from turnovers and No. 4 for points from turnover differential.
The Concern: The Tigers ranked No. 16 for both points from stoppage differential and contested possession differential as well as No. 18 for clearance differential.
The Coach: “The dynamics of the game have certainly changed. The chaos ball movement that we’ve enjoyed is not as prevalent in today’s games – it’s more controlled through foot. Obviously the man on the mark and the stand rule has brought about that part of the equation.” — Damien Hardwick
FREMANTLE
Finish: 11, 10-12
The Good: The Dockers midfield became a strength in 2021, ranked No. 3 for clearance differential, No. 7 for contested possession differential and No. 8 for points from stoppage differential.
The Concern: Fremantle’s turnover game was the main concern this season, ranked No. 18 for both points scored from turnovers and points from turnover differential.
ST KILDA
Finish: 10, 10-12
The Good: The Saints ball movement became a clear strength in the back half of 2021, ranked No. 1 for points scored from defensive half chains from Round 17 onwards.
The Concern: St Kilda’s inefficiency going forward hurt them, scoring from just 41 per cent of inside 50 entries this season – ranked 15th.
The Coach: “There’s some real frustration more around our first half of the year. We would have good quarters or good matches but then follow it up with poor performances. Cooper Sharman was a real positive in the way he competed in the air and his movement. This kid hasn’t even had a pre-season, so it’s exciting to see what he can do with an AFL pre-season.” — Brett Ratten
WEST COAST EAGLES
Finish: 9, 10-12
The Good: West Coast held a clear advantage around a stoppage off the back of Nic Naitanui’s dominance this season, ranked No. 6 for both clearance diff and points scored from stoppages.
The Concern: The Eagles defence notably declined this season, conceding a score from 47% of their oppositions inside 50s – ranked No. 17 defensively. They also ranked No. 14 for points conceded.
More Coverage
Originally published as Champion Data analyses what went right and wrong for the teams that missed the finals
All Stars clash injury fears allayed as AFL makes call on Pickett ban
High performance guru Darren Burgess has promised clubs their stars will be looked after in the Indigenous All Stars clash, while the AFL has decided if Kozzie Pickett can play despite being suspended.
Why Allen needs Eagles more than they need him amid Lions links
It’s a strange statement to attach to the co-captain of a bottom-four club, but Oscar Allen needs the struggling Eagles more than they need him, writes ELIZA REILLY.