Stats insider: Full round 21 centre bounce numbers, key SuperCoach intel

See how Essendon is using Jye Caldwell and full CBA and kick-in stats from round 21. Plus Champion Data’s Fantasy Freako lifts the lid on the SuperCoach moments that matter.

Jye Caldwell owners can relax.

After a one-week experiment, the Essendon gun is back in the centre square and scoring big SuperCoach numbers.

Brad Scott took two weeks to settle on his centre bounce mix after the return of Darcy Parish from injury, but he hit on a winning combination against Fremantle.

Caldwell’s centre bounce attendances were back up to 67 per cent after dipping to 34 against St Kilda – his lowest figure since round 11.

Parish was at 23 CBAs against Fremantle, the most for Essendon, ahead of Zach Merrett (22) and Caldwell (20). It’s no coincidence he scored 111 SuperCoach points, his sixth 100-plus score in the past seven rounds. The only miss was against the Saints, when he had just 10 CBAs.

The biggest loser from the shake-up was Jake Stringer, who wasn’t at a single centre bounce on Sunday after attending 21 the week before.

Scroll down for full round 20 CBAs plus more exclusive SuperCoach intel

The other big change in the centre square for the Bombers was Nick Bryan contesting 18 centre bounces to Sam Draper’s 12. Overall Bryan was at 47 ruck contests before being subbed off in the final quarter, compared to Draper’s 41. But Draper took the crucial final centre bounce of the game, winning a decisive hitout to advantage to Zach Merrett, who set up Sam Durham’s matchwinning behind.

The centre bounce mix for that play, with 36 seconds left on the clock, was Draper, Merrett, Parish and Caldwell.

Jye Caldwell has a five-round average of 109. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Tom Powell is showing his versatility for the Kangaroos. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

In other key moves from round 21:

GEELONG changed its ruck mix again, recalling Rhys Stanley who partnered with Mark Blicavs. It didn’t change the outcome much – they had a combined 37 hitouts to Reilly O’Brien’s 53.

ZAK Butters was back in the centre square for Port Adelaide, logging 20 CBAs against the Swans after just six the week before. His SuperCoach output lifted from 98 points to 132.

AFTER playing at half-back in round 20 with no CBAs and posting 101 SuperCoach points, Tom Powell attended 10 centre bounces against Richmond and scored 105. He still managed to take two kick-ins from Tiger behinds.

COLBY McKercher reaped most of the benefits from the Tigers’ inaccuracy, taking 13 kick-ins and playing on from 11 of them.

BAILEY Dale scored 126 SuperCoach points with just one kick-in against the Demons. The Dees kicked only five behinds for the match and Lachie Bramble took the kick-in from three of them.

Secret SuperCoach stats

Each week Champion Data guru Fantasy Freako lifts the lid on the SuperCoach scoring system by analysing key moments from the weekend games.

Here are the numbers you need to know from round 21.

CLOSE FINISH BONUS

SuperCoach points are at a premium when the game is on the line, which can work in player’s favour – or against them. Zach Merrett scored 4.4 SuperCoach points from his gather from a hitout and effective handball in the final 30 seconds against Fremantle, and another 5.3 points for his score assist when Sam Durham kicked a long behind to put the Bombers in front. Merrett was the top-ranked player on the ground in the final term with 52 points.

After being closely shadowed by Conor Nash all afternoon, Tom Green was the matchwinner for the Giants – his goal netted him 13.4 points. Mitch McGovern had the chance to add a big points haul after taking an uncontested mark (worth 3.3 points) just before the final siren on Saturday night. But the points when begging as his shot for goal sailed out on the full, instead losing 1.8 points for the clanger kick.

Zach Merrett lifted when it mattered for the Bombers. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Mitch McGovern’s final kick didn’t go to plan. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

SMOTHERS DAY

Smothers are an underrated stat, but they are worth three points as a raw figure in SuperCoach. With the game on the line Jake Kelly smothered a Hayden Young shot at goal before Zach Merrett smothered a Caleb Serong kick on the wing, earning 3.9 points and 3.2 points respectively. Young and Serong earned zero points for their ineffective kicks

SHEEZEL’S NERVOUS WAIT

It was a slow start for Harry Sheezel on the weekend. Lining up at half-forward at the opening bounce, he had to wait until 14:53 in the opening quarter to record his first disposal of the game. He quickly collected five more in the next seven minutes, and finished with 29 – and 105 SuperCoach points.

Luke Davies-Uniacke combined with Tristan Xerri four times against Richmond. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Stat of the Week – Ruck-Rover Combinations

There is no better sight in SuperCoach than one of your players winning a gather from a hitout – an act worth two points as a raw figure. If you own the ruckman as well then that’s cause for a double celebration.

A gather from a hitout is a possession gained from a teammate’s hitout-to-advantage, and is counted as a contested possession.

If we look at the best combinations this season, there are two that sit equal on 55 – Darcy Cameron/Nick Daicos and Kieren Briggs/Tom Green. The duos have formed a formidable combination in 2024.

If we look at centre bounces only then Cameron/Daicos top that list as well with 29 – six ahead of Tristan Xerri/Luke Davies-Uniacke.

From ball-up stoppages it’s the Brodie Grundy/Isaac Heeney combination that leads the way with 16 – slightly ahead of Xerri/Davies-Uniacke and Briggs/Green.

Finally, Briggs/Green are the leaders at throw-in stoppages with 16, slightly ahead of Oscar McInerney/Lachie Neale.

Originally published as Stats insider: Full round 21 centre bounce numbers, key SuperCoach intel