Most footy fans judge their team’s fortunes by their position on the ladder.
Those teams that fight their way to the top are celebrated with back slaps and glowing praise. Coaching careers are extended, finals are played and membership bases grow.
Carlton star Charlie Curnow injured his ankle.Credit: Getty Images
But not all rankings are tied to wins and losses.
There is another rating system in the AFL that is also intriguing, and often heartbreaking, to watch – Champion Data’s injury ladder. Often the two are intrinsically linked.
Carlton, not surprisingly, are second last. In some ways, Michael Voss’ side have defied the odds – the battered and bruised Blues are ninth on the official ladder and still fighting for a place in the top eight, despite players from their best 22 missing a total of 137 games this year.
The Carlton injury plague reached tipping point on Sunday when they lost Jack Martin (hamstring), Charlie Curnow (ankle), Adam Saad (hamstring), Lachie Fogarty (collarbone), Harry McKay (quadricep) and Jordan Boyd (adductor) during their 74-point capitulation to Hawthorn.
Only cellar-dwellers Richmond have had it worse. In a baptism from hell, first-year coach Adem Yze has had to cope with players from his best 22 missing 171 games, ranking the Tigers a clear last on the injury ladder.
Remarkably, the Brisbane Lions have been able to contend for a top-four spot despite being ranked third last on the injury ladder, losing 114 games to injury.
Not surprisingly, John Longmire’s top-placed Sydney have enjoyed the healthiest season of all AFL clubs, despite the recent loss of Tom Papley (ankle) and Justin McInerney (knee).
Players from the Swans’ best 22 have missed only 44 games, ranking them 70 games better off than the Lions and 93 ahead of Carlton.
Injuries have also hit hard across Carlton and Richmond’s entire lists.
Champion Data’s injury ladder for total games missed – including players from outside the best 22 – has Richmond last (261 games lost), followed by Carlton (192 games) and then Collingwood (176 games).
Harry McKay has a quadricep injury.Credit: Getty Images
The Swans sit fifth on the ladder for total games missed overall – 126 games lost – sitting behind Port Adelaide who have lost 125 games, Geelong (122 games), Melbourne (118 games) and Gold Coast (95 games).
The full extent of Carlton’s horror run with injuries comes a week after high-performance manager Andrew Russell announced he was leaving the club and the Blues revealed they were replacing the surface at Ikon Park.
Voss admitted that a relentless injury toll had been an “ongoing challenge”, but said the issue would not be addressed until the end of the season.
“Right now, it’ll be about the troops we’ve got and finishing off this season as strongly as we possibly can – and that’s what we intend to do. Regardless of what Andrew [Russell] has chosen to do, it’s not about one person. It’s about a collective, and we’ll solve the problem together.”
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