AFL 2024: CBAs and key stats from the unofficial practice matches

We’ve assembled the key stats, intel and numbers to help read the tea leaves for your side’s major changes from the pre-season.

James Jordon during Sydney Swans training on February 7, 2024. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only - **NO ON SALES** - ©Phil Hillyard )

How will the Western Bulldogs line up at centre bounces this year? What is James Jordon’s role in 2024? How does “Northball” change the Roos’ midfield mix? Who takes the kickout for the Blues?

Pre-season matches often provide fans and SuperCoaches a chance to look under the hood at how sides will line up in their first game.

Official statistics weren’t recorded for these games, but we’ve got some of the major figures for the scratch matches — which varied in length and conditions — to give you a chance to read the tea leaves for yourself and help answer some of the burning questions fans and SuperCoaches have ahead of the 2024 season.

ADELAIDE V PORT ADELAIDE

Ollie Wines is back leading the Port engine room.

The Brownlow medallist got squeezed out last year by the emergence of Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis, but true to his word Ken Hinkley has turned to Wines to lead his midfield in 2024.

That was on display on Friday when Wines had more CBAs than any other Port player.

Interestingly, the ruck was split 14-12 between Ivam Soldo and Jordon Sweet, suggesting they are still battling to be first-choice in round 1.

Rory Laird was the main man for the Crows but the biggest talking point was Izak Rankine, who had 14 CBAs — more than Matt Crouch.

Ollie Wines was back at the coalface for Port. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images)

ESSENDON VS ST KILDA

Mattaes Phillipou of the Saints and Jye Caldwell of the Bombers lining up at a centre bounce at RSEA Park. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

No fans will be surprised to see Darcy Parish and Jack Steele at the top of the centre bounce attendance lists for Essendon and St Kilda respectively, but Mattaes Phillipou could be used as a full-time midfielder based on Friday’s match.

The young gun was used at 21 centre bounces after spending much of his first season forward, with first-year rookie Hugo Garcia also given a run at 10 CBAs.

The Bombers moved through a bigger rotation of players beyond Parish and Will Setterfield, with Sam Durham, Zach Merrett (who only played a half), Jye Caldwell and Archie Perkins all having a run through the guts.

Ryley Sanders starred for the Dogs against Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

WESTERN BULLDOGS VS HAWTHORN

It’s hard to read the Western Bulldogs’ midfield numbers from their first hit-out of the season, with the likes of Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar lining up for the second set against Hawthorn’s VFL side.

However, it’s hard to not see Ryley Sanders getting midfield minutes. The young gun was in everything and looked stellar doing it, not just due to the socks-up approach.

However, how much midfield time Caleb Daniel and James Harmes will get come season proper is not something we can convincingly answer after Friday’s game.

On the Hawthorn side of the ledger, Henry Hustwaite was given the most CBAs, while Cameron McKenzie was also given a chance to show his wares.

Josh Ward and James Worpel weren’t in the thick of things though – whether that changes remains to be seen.

Sam Flanders in action against the Lions. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

BRISBANE LIONS V GOLD COAST

Damien Hardwick said the Suns would look to get the ball into Sam Flanders’ hands and popular SuperCoach forward had an encouraging 13 CBAs against the Lions.

Only the first-choice trio of Miller, Anderson and Rowell had more.

The Lions were missing Lachie Neale which meant Jarryd Lyons — often used as the sub last year — was back in his customary role as an inside midfielder.

Cam Rayner continues to get plenty of time in the middle for Brisbane, recording 12 CBAs as both Damien Hardwick and Chris Fagan tinkered with their line-ups as round 0 draws closer.

Mitch McGovern led the kickouts for the Blues on Thursday. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

CARLTON VS GEELONG

Tom Stewart took the most kick-ins for Geelong, but Mitch Duncan might also be trusted with the duty in 2024 based on the numbers from Ikon Park on Thursday.

However, it might spell the end of suggestions Stewart will spend time in the middle after it was floated during the pre-season.

SuperFooty’s Dan Batten was all over the stats from Geelong vs Carlton, with the Blues mainly moving the ball out of defence through Mitch McGovern.

At the centre bounces it was a tale of two very different sides, with Tanner Bruhn taking a key role in the midfield for the Cats as the side rotated plenty of warm bodies through the middle.

Bruhn, Jhye Clark, and Max Holmes all spent time in the middle, with Jack Bowes and Tom Atkins also

Toby Conway could be handed more match time in 2024 as he and Rhys Stanley split the duties with both spending extended stints on the bench.

Aaron Cadman was trialed in the ruck as a back-up option for Kieren Briggs in the Giants’ practice match against Sydney. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images.

SWANS VS GWS GIANTS

New recruit James Jordon was in seven centre bounces, but spent most of his time running up and down the wing and looks locked into the Swans’ best 22.

Will we see Isaac Heeney be a genuine midfielder with skipper Callum Mills out of the side for the first 10 rounds at least? Heeney was at 15 of the 30 centre bounces on Thursday alongside a top four of Luke Parker, Chad Warner and James Rowbottom, but the Swans were missing new recruit Taylor Adams, who made the move back to Sydney on the premise of more midfield minutes.

Errol Gulden, who many expected to step up this season, had just six centre bounce attendences — albeit it only from half a game.

The Giants looked very settled, with their four main midfielders the usual suspects of Coniglio, Green, Kelly and Ward, while Aaron Cadman was given centre bounces as a back-up ruckman.

RICHMOND v MELBOURNE

Thomson Dow was handed the keys to the engine room with a host of Tigers regulars missing against Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

The Demons had a different midfield line up for their first hit-out of the season against a different side, with Angus Brayshaw and Clayton Oliver missing.

Oliver looks like he’ll be back after playing three quarters in the reserves, but Brayshaw won’t be after announcing his retirement after an ongoing battle with concussion on Thursday.

Jack Viney and Tom Sparrow were the keys in the middle for the Dees, with Christian Petracca at just under half the centre bounces. Kysiah Pickett was only there for eight CBAs but finished with five clearances - do we see more of it during the season?

While Sam Naismith had more ruck contests in the scratch match, it looks as if the Tigers were seeing how he’d hold up should an injury hit captain Toby Nankervis, who missed the clash, with youngster Samson Ryan having the first crack at the centre bounce and likely to play ruck and forward.

With no Dustin Martin, Tim Taranto, or an injured Dion Prestia, Thomson Dow was handed the keys to the midfield alongside mainstay Jacob Hopper, while Jack Graham and Jack Ross also spent time there.

After biding his time, is it finally Finlay Macrae’s time to shine in Collingwood’s seniors? Picture: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD v NORTH MELBOURNE

Is it finally Finlay Macrae’s time to shine? He was a standout for the Pies as they went down to North Melbourne in their hit-out. He was at nearly three quarters of the centre bounces against the Roos and picked up the most clearances (3) of anyone else in his side.

Rookie Lachie Sullivan was also given the chance to impress, which may hint at signs of an early debut. The Pies gave Oscar Steene a decent crack in the ruck, but that won’t happen during the season unless one of Cameron or Cox goes down.

For North Melbourne, it’s all chips in on Tristian Xerri, who was at nearly 90 per cent of centre bounces, while midfielder Tom Powell was given the most time at the coalface of any Roos mid.

Luke Davies-Uniacke had six clearances, the best on the ground, and North Melbourne emphasised youth in the guts as it transitions to Northball, with Wardlaw, Lazzaro and Phillips all in well ahead of Jy Simpkin.

Originally published as AFL 2024: CBAs and key stats from the unofficial practice matches