The worth of players like Trent Cotchin and Joel Selwood can’t be measured in stats, writes Mark Robinson

CHAMPION Data recently listed all the players it considers to be elite at their position. And there were two massive omissions. But as MARK ROBINSON writes, the worth of players like Trent Cotchin can’t be measured in stats alone.

Trent Cotchin brings more to the Tigers than just stats. Picture: Getty Images

STATS can’t totally reflect the worth of a footballer.

Kicks, marks, handballs, goals, hit outs, contested ball and clearances can be ticked off, but football is much more than numbers.

How can you put a number beside leadership, inspiration and the importance of moments, which is the behaviour of the heart and soul footballer?

You can’t, although their impact is immense.

FLAG HEROES: STAR TIGERS SIGN NEW DEALS

BIG HONOUR: PREMIERS AND NOW LIFE MEMBERS

RELATIONSHIPS: RANCE AND DIMMA NOT ‘SUPER TIGHT’

There would be few discussions where Geelong skipper Joel Selwood and his Richmond counterpart Trent Cotchin would not be ranked as “elite” footballers.

But for stats provider Champion Data, the numbers don’t add up to rate Selwood and Cotchin as elite.

In the 2018 prospectus, which is the most in-depth tome of data and analysis, Selwood and Cotchin are ranked as above average footballers.

Trent Cotchin celebrates after the final siren on Grand Final day. Picture: Getty Images

Their criteria takes in the past two seasons, which certainly hurts Cotchin’s standing.

Cotchin’s 2017 season was arguably the best of his career.

His finals series will be regarded as legendary at the Tigers and it could be argued the Tigers wouldn’t have won the premiership without their skipper.

Recall his qualifying final against Geelong at the MCG.

In the first quarter, he imposed himself on the game with his intent, which was incalculable in setting the standard and inspiration for his teammates.

He had five tackles in the first quarter. He caught Zach Tuohy inside three minutes for holding the ball, he smashed Scott Selwood in a huge tackle on the members’ wing late in the quarter and crashed into Patrick Dangerfield at half-forward to force a ball-up in the final minutes.

At quarter-time, the skipper would’ve been central to coach Damien Hardwick’s message.

What number do you put beside that?

How much do those acts cancel out the cheapies from the season before?

Selwood has been setting standards for 11 seasons, inspiring teammates by going to places they wouldn’t think of.

His ranking is hurt because he kicked seven goals in 2017, compared with Dangerfield who kicked 45 goals and is ranked No.1.

Still, Selwood’s work, in part, can’t have a number applied to it.

Champion Data ranks players by their position.

Including Cotchin and Selwood, there were 90 centre-square players eligible for evaluation — they had to play 10 or more games in the past two seasons — and the top 10 per cent are considered “elite”.

More complicated at Geelong, Daniel Menzel, who was dropped in the finals, is ranked elite as a “general forward”, joining Dangerfield, Gary Ablett and Sam Menegola (a mid-forward) in the highest category.

The two-year assessment meant the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli dropped from sixth in 2016 to 15th ahead of this season.

Josh Kelly, who most pundits would argue was a top 10 player, is ranked No. 21 despite his breakout 2017 season.

Players ranked higher than Selwood and Cotchin this year include West Coast’s Luke Shuey, Collingwood pair Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar, Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko and Sydney’s Luke Parker.

Joel Selwood in action for the Cats. Picture: Michael Klein

Ahead of Cotchin, who is ranked No. 16 for centre-square players, is Fremantle’s Lachie Neale, GWS’s Callan Ward and Bontempelli.

Their seasons might’ve been better by the numbers, but the premiership skipper was far and away better because of his impact and leadership.