Port Adelaide has the better of Adelaide on every line, according to Champion Data’s 2020 rankings
Port Adelaide is better across each line than Adelaide, according to the latest data. But will that translate onto the field in 2020? Champion Data rates every position at your club.
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Port Adelaide has the third best defence in the AFL while Adelaide’s forward and ruck stocks are in the bottom three in the league heading into next season.
That is according to Champion Data’s 2020 list rankings - compiled by the AFL’s official statisticians - which say the Crows are rated 16th for forwards and rucks, 15th for mids/wings and ninth for defence.
The Power fare better in comparison, with their forwards and wings/mids the ninth best, and rucks 11th.
Looking at the rest of the competition, Collingwood’s once vaunted midfield is on the slide, with North Melbourne’s engine room now ranked higher.
The Magpies came in fifth for midfield talent, with the Kangaroos hopping to third.
Brisbane is rated the best midfield group in the competition, with Western Bulldogs second and Geelong fourth.
This year’s grand finalists Richmond (eighth) and Greater Western Sydney (sixth) find themselves further down the order, with Fremantle having the worst midfield group despite boasting 2019 Brownlow Medal winner Nat Fyfe.
The statistical ratings are based purely on individual talent and do not take into account anything to do with how the playing groups work together as a team.
In projected midfield ratings for 2020 by former St Kilda and Essendon champion Brendon Goddard for the Herald Sun last month, the Giants came out on top.
Goddard rated GWS ahead of Collingwood (second) and West Coast (third), placing Brisbane fifth and North Melbourne a lowly 12th.
“The Giants’ depth of A-Grade talent is simply outrageous and they were ranked No. 1 for clearances last season despite not having a dominant ruckman,” Goddard said.
“The return of co-captain Callan Ward from an ACL injury only further bolsters the midfield stocks, while Josh Kelly could well take another step forward into the very top echelon of midfielders in the competition with a full pre-season under his belt.”
BRENDON GODDARD’S LIST RANKINGS:
No excuses, Pies: Goddard rates every club’s list
BJ’s rankings: Is Cats’ ruck force worst in AFL?
Every AFL defence ranked: Is anyone close to Tigers?
Which AFL team has the best midfield?
Goddard: Which club has the best forward line?
Goddard said he believed Collingwood had an “impressive array of A-Grade talent” which would only be improved if Dayne Beams can return to the field next season after playing just nine games this year due to injury and personal reasons.
“The ever-consistent performers of Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom are nicely complemented by the likes of Tom Phillips on the outside, who is a top-five wingman in the competition,” Goddard said of the Magpies.
Richmond is rated by Champion Data as having the No. 1 group of defenders, matching Goddard’s ranking.
“The Tigers have everything you want in a defence – they’re great one-on-one, they sag off well and provide aerial support and they have attacking half-backs,” Goddard said.
“In terms of structure and balance, they are a clear No. 1 in the competition.”
GWS pipped the Tigers for top spot in Champion Data’s rankings of the forward groups, while West Coast was judged as having the best group of rucks in the AFL.
Originally published as Port Adelaide has the better of Adelaide on every line, according to Champion Data’s 2020 rankings