Pure Footy: David King and Daniel Hoyne crunch the numbers on the game’s biggest trends

For so long the Demons have teased. Are they finally the real deal? Check out this week’s episode of Pure Footy for all the latest stat trends in the AFL.

Few would have predicted for Melbourne to be unbeaten after the first four rounds of the season.

But the Demons’ defensive tightness, and the vital role of an unsung player, has Simon Goodwin’s side on track to have a serious tilt at a flag.

The Demons’ impressive win over Geelong on Sunday has them as one of three unbeaten teams so far this season, along with the Western Bulldogs and Sydney.

On this week’s episode of Pure Footy, stats gurus David King and Daniel Hoyne looked at just why the Demons were flying and whether they can keep this going.

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Ed Langdon and Angus Brayshaw celebrate after Melbourne’s win over Geelong. Picture: Getty Images

“We talk about what is sustainable and what isn’t sustainable and what the Dees are playing right now, it is a sustainable brand of footy,” Hoyne said.

“And if we look at both ends of the ground, in that defensive formation there is a lot of talk about Lever and May and what they are doing.

“They have only conceded a score from the best part of 31 per cent of the opposition inside 50s. If that continues for the rest of the season that will be the best percentage that Champion Data has ever recorded by a long way.”

King said if they keep this going, then the Demons “win the flag”.

Hoyne said this defensive solidarity at the Demons coincided with a big positional move.

“The one player I do want to talk about in regards to this number is Adam Tomlinson,” he said.

“He was traded in to play that wing role. Halfway through last year round 10 no coincidence he gets moved to play as a key position player.

“Since he has gone and played as a key defender he has 19 one-on-one contests, he has lost one contest.”

Also on this week’s episode the guys talked about Collingwood’s centre bounce woes, Brisbane’s poor ball use, stoppage scoring, the exciting Bombers and more.