Stats insider: Full round 17 centre bounce numbers, key SuperCoach intel

The magnets were moving again in the Bulldogs’ coaching box, with big ramifications for two SuperCoach stars. See full round 17 CBAs and go under the hood of how players score points.

Just when you thought it was safe to trust Luke Beveridge.

The Bulldogs coach has been restrained in his magnet moves of late, but on Saturday there were some big surprises against Port Adelaide.

That started when Sam Darcy took the first centre bounce in place of Tim English.

English was at just 65 per cent of CBAs while Marcus Bontempelli attended 46 per cent – the lowest numbers for the season for both players.

It didn’t hurt English in SuperCoach as he kicked two goals to go with 17 disposals and eight marks to post 137 points. Winning four free kicks and not giving any away also helped.

Scroll down for round 16 CBAs plus more exclusive SuperCoach intel

Bontempelli was forced to play forward for the second time this season to cover an injury for Aaron Naughton. Bontempelli spent 40 per cent of game time in attack, after spending 32 per cent up forward when Naughton injured his knee against Sydney in round 11.

Bontempelli was well down on his recent output but still reached three figures after having 10 disposals and kicking a goal in the final term

Marcus Bontempelli was used as a forward against Port Adelaide. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

In other key CBA and kick-in moves last weekend:

TOM Stewart’s midfield rebirth continued, attending 72 per cent of CBAs for Geelong. He won 26 disposals and scored 115 SuperCoach points – his best return since round 2.

JYE Caldwell’s strong midfield role also continued, attending 79 per cent of centre bounces for Essendon.

LUKE Jackson’s CBAs spiked from seven to 16 with an injury to Sean Darcy. It’s no surprise his score of 121 was his highest since round 10.

TOM Powell was back in the centre square for the Kangaroos, attending 16 CBAs after just four last week – and scoring his first SuperCoach ton since round 2.

JACK Sinclair’s role changed again against the Swans, with his CBAs jumping from two to 21 and his kick-ins halved from six to three. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was given the job of bringing the ball back into play from a behind nine times, playing on from eight of them.

COLBY McKercher took over as the AFL’s kick-in king on his return from injury, taking all 11 of North Melbourne’s kick-ins and playing on every time.

Secret SuperCoach stats

Each week Champion Data guru Fantasy Freako lifts the lid on the SuperCoach scoring system by analysing key moments from the weekend games.

Here are the numbers you need to know from round 17.

HEENEY, GULDEN FLIP SCRIPT

Of Isaac Heeney’s 127 points against St Kilda, 101 were scored in the second half – winning 14 disposals, six contested possessions, two goals and three score assists. That was on the back of scoring just 26 points in the first half.

It was the exact opposite for Errol Gulden, who racked up 19 disposals in the first half and 50 points. But a quieter second half saw him fall short of 90 for the match – having just one disposal in the all-important final term.

Could Jack Graham shadow Tom Green in round 18? Picture: Martin Keep/Getty Images

TAGGER WATCH

Toby Bedford had his work cut out on the weekend, keeping Sam Walsh to nine disposals from 51 minutes on him in the first half before being moved onto Patick Cripps in the second half. In that period, he kept the skipper to 10 disposals from 50 minutes game time.

Over the next month Bedford’s targets could include Tim Taranto, Matt Rowell, Clayton Oliver and Jai Newcombe.

Ross Lyon and John Longmire opted not to deploy taggers Marcus Windhager and James Jordan at the weekend but we have a new name to worry about – Jack Graham.

The Richmond midfielder kept Caleb Serong to just seven disposals in the 35 minutes they were matched up. Round 13 last season was the last time Graham had a defensive role, which was on another Docker – Hayden Young.

ACTION JACKSON

Luke Jackson was the No.1 ranked player on the ground against Richmond after Sean Darcy was subbed out, scoring 62 points. He hit the target with nine of 10 disposals, also having a game-high seven tackles.

Luke Jackson is a different player when allowed to run free in the ruck. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

ANOTHER WAY TO SCORE IN THE RUCK

Taking the ball out of a ruck contest and having a disposal goes down as a ruck hardball-get, which falls under the contested possession umbrella. These stats are worth 4.5 points, with the value of the disposal added on top of that if it’s effective.

Tiger Toby Nankervis had a round-high 12 ruck hardball-gets at the weekend, while Max Gawn used the tactic five times.

Stat of the Week – Score Assists

Offensively, the next best thing to scoring a goal is dishing off a score assist.

A score assist can be defined as creating a score by getting the ball to a teammate either via a disposal, knock-on, ground kick or hitout, or by winning a free kick before the advantage is paid to the goal scorer.

It’s an undervalued aspect of SuperCoach as it brings instant reward from a scoring point of view, earning the player 3.5 points for an assist. The bonus of the score assist is that is doesn’t matter if a goal or behind are registered, as the reward is the same for both.

As a result, the player isn’t punished for poor conversion. The only time they won’t get the full benefit of a score assist is when the shot at goal goes out on the full or falls short. In that case, no assist will be awarded.

If we look at the leading goal assist players this season, Brent Daniels that is the clear leader with 23, four ahead of four players on 19.

Zak Butters has the most behind assists of anyone – three ahead of Hugh McCluggage in second place.

Originally published as Stats insider: Full round 17 centre bounce numbers, key SuperCoach intel