Christmas wishlist: Champion Data stats reveal what your club needs for 2021
Essendon was one of the worst in the AFL this season for points conceded. If the Bombers could ask Santa for one thing, this would be it.
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The trade and draft periods delivered an early bounty for a number of AFL clubs, but they all have wishlists to fulfil. We asked Champion Data to pinpoint what gifts would make your team the happiest to find in Friday’s Santa sack.
Here is where every club needs to improve in 2021.
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ADELAIDE
Goalkicking boots. It wasn’t a good year in front of goal for the bottom-placed Crows. They recorded a woeful shot at goal accuracy of 42 per cent – the worst in the league. Former captain Taylor Walker was the Crows’ leading goalscorer with a 15.9 record for the season, but he was a positive in a sea of negative. Forwards Shane McAdam (12.12), Elliott Himmelberg (9.10) and Lachlan Murphy (7.8) were all wayward in front of the big sticks. The Crows could also use a midfield bull to improve their stoppage game after ranking 16th in the competition for contested possession differential and 18th for clearance differential across 2020.
BRISBANE
Scoring radar. The Lions were another team to be afflicted with inaccuracy during season 2020. Brisbane returned the second-worst shot at goal accuracy behind the Crows of 43 per cent. Midfielder Hugh McCluggage was the top offender, kicking 21 behinds alongside his eight goals for the year. Jarryd Lyons (4.10), Dayne Zorko (9.15) and Jarrod Berry were also inaccurate in front of goal. The Lions will also be hoping for better contested-ball returns next year after losing the contested possession count by five a game from Round 6 onwards — a ranking of 14th in the league.
CARLTON
A GPS. Carlton’s ball movement was an issue for the team in 2020 — so a better sense of direction would help. The Blues launched an inside-50 from 15 per cent of its defensive 50 chains across the season, which ranked the team 16th in the competition. If you could wrap it up in a box, the Blues would also be hoping for a dose of efficiency from the man in red to boost their game next year. Carlton generated a goal only 15 per cent of the time from its inside 50 entries, which had David Teague’s side ranked 15th.
COLLINGWOOD
Velcro Gloves. When the Magpies send the ball into attack, they need to find a better way of hanging onto it. In season 2020, Collingwood recorded a mark from just 15 per cent of its kicks inside-50, which was the second-worst in the competition. Like the Blues, efficiency will also be on coach Nathan Buckley’s Christmas wishlist after generating a score of 37 per cent of their inside-50 entries — a ranking of 16th in the league.
ESSENDON
A cork. The Bombers’ backline leaked like a dodgy valve at times and needs to be plugged. They conceded 69.7 points a game across season 2020, which equated to a ranking of 15th in the league. Santa might want to throw some contested-ball into the stocking, too, after Essendon lost the contested possession count by seven a game, to be 15th overall at the end of the season.
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FREMANTLE
Attacking manual. The Dockers’ efficiency inside-50 across 2020 was an issue in Justin Longmuir’s first year at the helm with a sharper defensive focus. The Dockers scored from 36 per cent of their inside-50 entries, which was the second-worst in the league. They could do with an improved offensive game in general from Mr Claus. Fremantle ranked 16th for points scored, 16th for points from stoppages and 15th for points generated from turnovers across 2020.
GEELONG
Dustin Martin repellent. After falling short at the last hurdle, there’s probably really only one gift the Cats and their supporters would want – a flag. If not for Martin, they were all but there. But Champion Data has found one key area where Geelong was lacking in 2020. The Cats conceded 11 points per game to their opposition’s centre bounce clearances - the most in the competition.
GOLD COAST
Crosshairs. Gold Coast needs to improve its aim. The Suns’ kicking efficiency continues to be a problem for the team. In six of their 10 years in the competition, the Suns have ranked in the bottom two sides for kicking efficiency. An outside ball-winner would also be a welcome Christmas gift after the Suns lost the uncontested possession count by 21 per game across 2020 – the worst ranking in the league.
GWS
Midfield reinforcements. The Giants experienced a significant midfield drop-off in 2020. After ranking No. 2 for contested possession differential in 2019, they fell to No. 7 in the league this year. Likewise, they were ranking second in the league for clearance differential in 2019, but slumped to 13th in 2020.
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HAWTHORN
Spotify Account. Coach Alastair Clarkson thrust his music tastes on the club’s fans last week, insisting they listen to Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Should I Fall Behind, Wait For Me’ to relate to the team’s plight. But he would be aware that contested-ball and defence should also be at the top of the wishlist. Hawthorn lost the contested possession count by 14 per cent in 2020, ranking the club 18th in the competition. The Hawks team defence is also in need of some Christmas cheer, ranking 17th in the league for both points conceded from stoppages and points conceded from turnovers.
MELBOURNE
Pressure cooker. The Demons’ pressure is an area which could improve significantly in 2021. This year, Melbourne applied a pressure factor of 180 per game, the second-lowest in the league. Simon Goodwin’s side also need to find a way to turn a dominant ruckman and midfield group into presents next year after ranking 13th for points scored from stoppages in 2020.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Lock and key. North Melbourne’s turnover game is one key area the team can sharpen for 2021 under new coach David Noble. The Kangaroos ranked 18th from turnover differential in 2020. The Roos will also be hoping for an offensive weapon from Santa after finishing the season ranked 17th for points scored and 18th for scores per inside-50.
PORT ADELAIDE
A voucher for a post-Christmas clearance sale might be in order. Port Adelaide lost the clearance count by 12 in their preliminary final loss to Richmond – their worst differential for the year. The Power were the No. 1 ranked side for this measure in 2020. Chains could also come in handy from St Nick. Port Adelaide launched a score from just six per cent of its defensive 50 chains, a ranking of 14 and the second-worst percentage of the top-eight sides.
RICHMOND
Green light. After claiming the ultimate prize this year — three times in the past four seasons — asking for anything is bordering on downright greedy. But even with their premiership, the Tigers’ stoppage game needed work. When the ball stopped, Richmond struggled to hit the go button. They ranked 15th for both clearance differential (-3.6) and points generated from stoppages (18.6) in 2020.
ST KILDA
Pressure gauge. The Saints are pretty good at bringing in their own gifts such as Paddy Ryder and Bradley Hill. But something to measure their pressure efforts might also be a handy gift for the Saints. In season 2020, St Kilda applied a post-clearance pressure factor of 165, a ranking of 18th in the league. Tighter defence would also be on the wishlist after the Saints conceded a score from 42 per cent of their opposition inside 50 entries, ranked 14th defensively.
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SYDNEY
New hammies for Buddy. Two more injury-free years from Lance Franklin would be a great gift to the game. Wouldn’t the Swans love it? They could also do with a lift in contested ball and stoppages. The Swans lost the contested possession count by eight per game this year - the second-worst ranking. Sydney also lost the clearance count by four per game in 2020, a ranking of 16th in the competition.
WEST COAST
Ball tracker. The Eagles were ranked 18th in the competition for both loose ball differential and ground ball differential in season 2020 and could use some Christmas reinforcements. Transition was the other area the Eagles might be hoping Santa can help with after launching an inside 50 from 16 per cent of their defensive 50 chains this year – 14th in the league and the worst percentage of all top-eight sides.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Maybe some basketball tickets to ingrain the chant: “Defence, defence”. Two areas of the Bulldogs’ defensive game were lacking in 2020. The Bulldogs conceded a score from 43 per cent of their opposition’s inside 50m entries this year, ranked 15th. But the Bulldogs were ranked even worse for defending one-on-one contests, losing 34 per cent of those battles in 2020, which left them 18th in the competition.
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Originally published as Christmas wishlist: Champion Data stats reveal what your club needs for 2021
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