Stats reveal Geelong is the worst centre-square team in the AFL
BEFORE the season some were lauding Geelong’s ‘Holy Trinity’ as arguably the greatest midfield to take the field. Nine weeks into 2018 and the Cats are the worst centre-square team in the AFL. SEE THE NUMBERS
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GEELONG has the worst centre-square midfield combination in the AFL.
A regular season reality check has followed the summer of hype at the Cattery, with Geelong’s celebrated engine room spluttering at centre bounces.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE CATS’ DAMNING STATS
Despite possessing three of the modern era’s most dominant midfielders — Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood — and an excellent support cast — Mitch Duncan, Tim Kelly and Sam Menegola — Geelong are struggling to win a centre bounce clearance.
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A combination of Ablett, Selwood and Kelly has won only 2 of 14 centre bounce clearances.
The Cats also have the second-worst starting trio in the competition, with the “Holy Trinity” of Ablett, Dangerfield and Selwood incredibly winning only three of 14 clearances.
While the microscope turns to Gary Ablett after a poor showing against Essendon, the Brownlow veteran isn’t on his own when it comes to a Geelong midfield that is unfathomably failing to fire.
Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow and Paddy Dow are considered the most successful centre bounce clearance threesome, winning 13 of their 18 together. Sydney’s Kieran Jack, Josh Kennedy and Luke parker, and Adelaide’s Bryce Gibbs, Rory Sloane and Matt Crouch also send the ball their way first more often than not.
Geelong coach Chris Scott earlier this season called on fans to witness the “historic moments” Ablett, Dangerfield and Selwood play together, but he’s also warned finding the right combinations and systems will take time.
Scott also says there’s more to clearance information than just raw clearances, and rightfully so. But when we include points-differential from centre bounces the reading isn’t exactly rose for Scott’s team.
The Cats rank 11th in this area (-5 points) despite sitting 18th for centre clearance differential (-3.4 per week). It makes you wonder what they could do if they fixed their issues at the coalface.
Geelong hasn’t scored once when Ablett, Dangerfield and Selwood have attended a centre bounce, yet it has been scored against twice.
The Blues may have the best centre bounce clearance line-up, but the work Brendon Bolton has ahead of him is summed up by the fact they can’t turn it into scores. In fact, they are opened up, with the Blues outscored by 57 points — ranked 18th.
The lack of a dominant ruckman has been a glaring issue at Geelong, but Zac Smith and Rhys Stanley’s failure to stamp themselves on games is only a partial alibi for the Cats’ centre bounce crimes.
Admittedly, the Cats rank 17th for centre bounce hit-outs to advantage, but other teams have shown you can get away with it without a dominant ruckman.
The Western Bulldogs, St Kilda and Richmond are the most vulnerable sides when it comes to rival ruckmen winning hit-outs to advantage against them. Yet the Tigers average 1.6 more clearances than their opposition each week, the Dogs break even (-0.1) and the Saints (0.4) virtually do the same.
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