Collingwood’s midfield slips down the rankings in Champion Data’s 2020 positional ratings
Collingwood had the best midfield three seasons ago but its ranking has tumbled each year since. Where does the Pies’ engine room sit now. Champion Data rates every position at your club.
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Collingwood’s once vaunted midfield is on the slide, with North Melbourne’s engine room now ranked higher by the AFL’s official statisticians.
The Magpies came in fifth for midfield talent in Champion Data’s 2020 list ratings, with the Kangaroos hopping to third.
Brisbane is rated the best midfield group in the competition, with Western Bulldogs second and Geelong fourth.
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This year’s grand finalists Richmond (eighth) and Greater Western Sydney (sixth) find themselves further down the order, with Fremantle having the worst midfield group despite boasting 2019 Brownlow Medal winner Nat Fyfe.
The statistical ratings are based purely on individual talent and do not take into account anything to do with how the playing groups work together as a team.
In projected midfield ratings for 2020 by former St Kilda and Essendon champion Brendon Goddard for the Herald Sun last month, the Giants came out on top.
Goddard rated GWS ahead of Collingwood (second) and West Coast (third), placing Brisbane fifth and North Melbourne a lowly 12th.
“The Giants’ depth of A-Grade talent is simply outrageous and they were ranked No. 1 for clearances last season despite not having a dominant ruckman,” Goddard said.
“The return of co-captain Callan Ward from an ACL injury only further bolsters the midfield stocks, while Josh Kelly could well take another step forward into the very top echelon of midfielders in the competition with a full pre-season under his belt.”
BRENDON GODDARD’S LIST RANKINGS:
Brendon Goddard rates Collingwood’s list as the AFL’s best, ahead of reigning premier Richmond
Brendon Goddard ranks every AFL ruck department from 1-18
Brendon Goddard ranks every AFL defence from best to worst
Brendon Goddard ranks every AFL forward line from 1-18
Goddard said he believed Collingwood had an “impressive array of A-Grade talent” which would only be improved if Dayne Beams can return to the field next season after playing just nine games this year due to injury and personal reasons.
“The ever-consistent performers of Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom are nicely complemented by the likes of Tom Phillips on the outside, who is a top-five wingman in the competition,” Goddard said of the Magpies.
Richmond is rated by Champion Data as having the No. 1 group of defenders, matching Goddard’s ranking.
“The Tigers have everything you want in a defence – they’re great one-on-one, they sag off well and provide aerial support and they have attacking half-backs,” Goddard said.
“In terms of structure and balance, they are a clear No. 1 in the competition.”
GWS pipped the Tigers for top spot in Champion Data’s rankings of the forward groups, while West Coast was judged as having the best group of rucks in the AFL.