AFL goalkicking: Best and worst clubs after four rounds
GOALKICKING cost the Western Bulldogs victory last weekend, St Kilda can’t buy a goal but Collingwood is executing better in front of the sticks. See where your clubs ranks.
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GOALKICKING cost the Western Bulldogs victory against Sydney and almost denied them the four points against Essendon a week earlier.
Forget Josh Dunkley’s missed mark in front of goal late in the last quarter when the Bulldogs were on the charge, this contest could have been in their grasp well before that critical moment.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE STATS FOR EVERY TEAM
The Bulldogs finished the match with 11.13, which means they’ve yet to kick more goals than behinds in a game this season.
Dunkley (0.4) and Matthew Suckling (0.3) were the culprits against the Swans, while Luke Dahlhaus had two shots that didn’t score.
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In the last quarter, Mitch Honeychurch and Caleb Daniel also had attempts that failed to make the distance.
The Dogs lost by seven points despite 18 more inside 50s.
For the second straight season the Bulldogs’ goalkicking accuracy is ranked the worst in the AFL.
This season they’re tracking at 37.6 per cent accuracy, which has dropped from 43.1 per cent in 2017.
Their total of 41 goals this season is ranked 14th, but fortunately for Luke Beveridge, his team finding ways into their attacking zone, ranking sixth for entries inside 50.
St Kilda, however, has the biggest problems in front goal than the Doggies.
Not only can’t the Saints kick goals (they kicked the least in the competition), their accuracy is terrible (ranked 17th) and they rank a lowly 16th for inside 50s.
On the other hand, Sydney is rated the second worst for inside 50 entries but is the best goalkicking team in the competition at 56.4 per cent, which no doubt has contributed to its 3-1 start.
Collingwood’s goalkicking woes were much-publicised last year but the Magpies have sharpened their skills in front of goal dramatically in 2018, ranking fourth at 54.6 per cent.
Melbourne has been a big slider, ranking No.1 for goalkicking in 2017 to 14th this season, failing to captailise on its inside-50 domination (ranked first).
Max Gawn has been in the spotlight after missing a few gettable chances but he isn’t alone at the Demons.
GOALS KICKED
1. West Coast — 66
2. Hawthorn — 63
3. Richmond — 60
eq 4. Geelong — 58
eq 4. GWS — 58
6. Sydney — 57
eq 7. Essendon — 56
eq 7. Port Adelaide — 56
9. Adelaide — 54
10. Collingwood — 53
11. Melbourne — 51
12. North Melbourne — 49
13. Fremantle — 45
eq 14. Western Bulldogs — 41
eq 14. Gold Coast 41
16. Carlton — 39
17. Brisbane — 38
18. St Kilda — 35
INSIDE 50s
1. Melbourne — 239
2. West Coast — 235
3. Richmond — 228
eq 4. Hawthorn — 227
eq 4. GWS — 227
6. Western Bulldogs — 221
7. Fremantle — 220
8. Collingwood — 219
9. Adelaide — 217
eq 10. Port Adelaide — 216
eq 10. North Melbourne — 216
12. Carlton — 211
13. Gold Coast — 209
14. Essendon — 206
15. Geelong — 201
16. St Kilda — 198
17. Sydney 196
18. Brisbane — 183
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