Stats leaders and your club’s home-and-away record across the decade
NicNat, Goldy, Big Max, Grundy, Cox and Sandi. It’s been a glorious decade for elite ruckmen. Champion Data has crunched the numbers across a host of statistical indicators to find the best of the best.
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There have been some stats behemoths across the ‘teens’ decade, but no player has filled Champion Data’s stat sheets more than Swans bull Josh P. Kennedy.
The big-bodied midfielder has not only played more games than any player from 2010-2019 (233 matches), he also leads all comers in effective handballs, clearances, contested possessions and smothers.
It’s no surprise he has been a regular member of our SuperCoach sides across this period.
The stats leaders of the decades features more of the usual suspects, but there are some unexpected names among the list.
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Which Cats veteran has clunked the most marks, and which indigenous goalsneak has laid the most tackles inside forward 50?
Who is the defender with more effective kicks than any other player?
And perhaps the biggest question of all – where does club rank on the decade ladder?
Check out the leaders across the competition and your side.
Disposals/ball-winning
Most effective kicks – Heath Shaw 2,706
Most effective handballs – Josh Kennedy (Syd) 2,774
Most clearances – Josh Kennedy (Syd) 1,587
Most centre bounce clearances – Patrick Dangerfield 608
Most contested possessions – Josh Kennedy (Syd) 3,506
Most inside-50s – Patrick Dangerfield 1,155
Most 50/50 contests won (minimum 200 contests) – Dustin Martin 48.4%
The aforementioned Josh Kennedy dominates the ball-winning numbers, with his big frame and handball happy nature making life a lot easier for Sydney’s outside midfielders over the years.
On the other side of the Harbour City, Heath Shaw reigns supreme with the most effective kicks. It’s become a familiar sight seeing him roost the ball out of defence. Admittedly, very few of those have come off his left boot.
Patrick Dangerfield holds the mantle for the highest number of centre bounce clearances and inside-50s – often performing these two key indicators in the one play. Dual Norm Smith Medallist Dustin Martin has recorded the highest 50/50 contest win rate – beating his opponents 48.4% of the time. These stats show just how valuable these two superstars are in the modern game.
Marks
Most marks – Harry Taylor 1,351
Most contested marks – Tom Hawkins 436
Most marks on a lead – Nick Riewoldt 513
Most intercept marks – Scott Thompson 462
Two-time premiership Cat Harry Taylor has taken more marks than any other player across the decade. Deployed up forward at times in recent years, Taylor is known best for his work in the back-half where his magnificent reading of the play comes to the fore.
At the other end teammate Tom Hawkins has clunked the highest number of contested marks – and yes, the Pope is Catholic. The Cats spearhead is regularly seen out bodying his opponents in 1-on-1 marking contests and taking the footy with his sticky hands.
Despite retiring in 2017, former Saints captain Nick Riewoldt leads the marks on a lead category across the decade. It speaks volumes of his elite endurance, giving him the ability to work his opponent over and present as a target.
Perhaps the biggest surprise here is recently retired Roo Scott Thompson, who has taken more intercept marks than any other player over the past 10 years. North Melbourne will find it difficult to repalce the dogged defender.
Defensive
Most tackles – Matt Priddis 1,262
Most inside-50 tackles – Eddie Betts 349
Most spoils – Daniel Talia 1,283
Most smothers – Josh Kennedy (Syd) 179
The players in the previous categories reap the spoils while these defensive acts often go unrewarded.
Brownlow Medallist Matt Priddis was the ultimate team player and his tackle numbers show just that, laying the most tackles across this period, with Josh P. Kennedy following close behind in second place. Inside-50 it’s goalsneak Eddie Betts who leads all comers in tackles.
While he is known for snapping them through the big sticks from all angles, the homecoming veteran applies plenty of pressure in the forward 50. Get excited Blues fans.
Adelaide defender Daniel Talia only started his career in 2010 but has still managed to record the most spoils over the past decade. It is why he is one of the toughest match-ups for opposition tall forwards.
MORE AFL NEWS:
Mark Robinson ranks his top 50 AFL players of the decade
Geelong sends fixture magnet out to members with wrong details for 2020 matches
Josh Deluca reveals frustration at being delisted by Carlton after less than six months at the club
The SuperFooty team ranks the AFL grand finals from 2010-2019
Your club’s jumper numbers and changes for the 2020 AFL season
Hit-outs
Most hit-outs – Todd Goldstein 7,389
Most hit-outs to advantage – Todd Goldstein 2,187
North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein has been the premier ruckman of the decade and the stats tell the story. The mobile ruckman has amassed a whopping 7,389 hit-outs over this period with 29.6% of those (2,187) going to a teammate.
He also holds the unwanted mantle for the most ‘sharked’ hit-outs – hit-outs that go to an opposition player.
DECADE LADDER
If you are a Geelong supporter, you should be pretty pleased with your decade despite seeing just the one premiership. The Cats have been consistent performers over this period with the most home-and-away wins, finishing 2010-2019 as minor premiers. However this ladder doesn’t include the eight losses that have seen them bow out of finals series.
Hawthorn (2nd) are the big winners converting three premierships from their second placed finish while Richmond (6th) have two, their dominant past three seasons helping them cement a spot in the decade top-eight.
At the other end of the ladder it’s not a pretty sight for footy in Queensland with Brisbane (17th) and Gold Coast (18th) occupying the bottom rungs.
Interestingly, the Western Bulldogs (11th) are the only side in 2010-2019 to win a premiership despite recording more losses than wins across the decade.
St Kilda have played in more draws than any team (4) – and that’s not including their most famous draw of the decade, coming in the 2010 Grand Final.
Originally published as Stats leaders and your club’s home-and-away record across the decade