Pure Footy: Stats men David King and Daniel Hoyne on the big round 1 trends

The Bombers are on top of the ladder but does Brad Scott’s game style really stack up? David King and Daniel Hoyne lift the lid on the AFL footy trends in Pure Footy.

Essendon is on top of the ladder for the first time since round 6, 2013 and fans are dreaming of breaking the Bombers’ infamous September drought.

It’s more than 6770 days since Essendon won a final, but the game style on display in their 59-point hammering of Hawthorn won’t end that unwanted streak this year.

That’s the verdict of stats gurus David King and Daniel Hoyne in the first episode of Pure Footy for 2023.

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King said the Bombers were playing “fake footy” based on retaining possession that wouldn’t challenge the top teams when the whips are cracking.

Against the Hawks Essendon took 131 marks (ranked No.2 for round 1) and kicked short 65 per cent of the time (No.1), while laying the fewest tackles of any team.

In contrast, teams like Collingwood and Melbourne attacked boldly through the corridor by playing daring footy that put instant heat on opposition defenders.

“That, to me, is not a profile of what the best teams in the competition are doing over the last two or three or five years,” Champion Data analyst Hoyne said of Essendon.

“We talk about Richmond and Melbourne and Geelong, and now Collingwood as well, they all go forward, they all go quick, they all want to get it in there, they’re all happy to go to a contest.

“They don’t take 130 marks. They don’t go short 65 per cent of the time, they don’t go forward only 87 per cent of the time.

“And one other thing to keep a note on. Essendon still allowed Hawthorn to move the ball really well on the weekend from one end of the ground to the other.”

Jordan Ridley managed to kick a goal for the Bombers in round 1. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Hoyne also highlighted one Bomber who didn’t get the credit he deserved in round 1 – Jordan Ridley

“Last year he was getting used mainly as a key defender, playing on the likes of Max King, Josh Kennedy, Charlie Curnow ... it’s only one game in, but he was relieved of playing on anyone of size ... and they were able to free him up offensively.

“He can be a really good ball user, as we saw on the weekend. He kicked at 25 per cent above expectation, which is off the charts. Nick Daicos was at 24 per cent and was widely praised for what he did, but I don’t think Ridley received the same praise as Daicos did, and that he probably deserved.”

In a huge episode, King and Hoyne also revealed Collingwood’s “freakish” stat from its round 1 win, asked if Carlton is being “over coached”, named the worst list management mistake of recent years and suggested a new role for the lowest-rated player in the competition.