Perfect Rioli beats high-possession Dane Swan

IF evidence was needed that it's quality above quantity, coaches rated Cyril Rioli higher than Dane Swan on the weekend.

Cyril Rioli

IF evidence was needed that it's quality above quantity, coaches rated Cyril Rioli higher than Dane Swan on the weekend.

Rioli had 30 fewer possessions than Swan, who had an incredible 49 on Saturday, but Nathan Buckley and Alastair Clarkson rated Swan only the fifth most influential player on the ground.

Hawk Jordan Lewis received nine votes, Magpie Dayne Beams seven, Hawk Sam Mitchell seven, then Rioli five and Swan two.

The coaches award 5-4-3-2-1 votes.

"It just shows possessions mean stuff-all if you don't play in a manner that helps your side," former Hawks captain Shane Crawford said.

"Anyone can get a touch in today's footy; not everybody can have influence with those touches. You have to have impact and Cyril does."

Crawford didn't denigrate Swan's performance, but highlighted the contrast in efficiency levels between Rioli and Swan.

"I don't like going to the stats, but Cyril's kicking efficiency was at

100 per cent and I think his game overall was at 89 per cent," he said.

"Swanny's kicking was at 50-something per cent and his overall efficiency was 63 per cent.

"I thought Cyril's game was pure class. Everything he did was class and had impact."

Swan had 31 kicks, 18 handballs, 13 clearances, seven inside-50s, two tackles and kicked two goals for 143 SuperCoach points.

Rioli had nine kicks, 10 handballs, four clearances, seven inside-50s, eight tackles, kicked a goal and had three goal assists for 127 SuperCoach points.

In high-possession football, the possessions inside 50m and the possessions that break the lines remain the most significant.

"People look in the Herald Sun, see 30 possessions and say he played well," Crawford said. "It's about the quality of possessions and where they get them and what they are able to do with them."

Rioli is a strong contender for

All-Australian selection.

He averages 15.6 disposals a game, is an elite kick, is second in the competition for assists (35), has laid 59 tackles in the forward half and averages 12.9 forward-half pressure acts per game, which has him in the top 10 per cent.

Rioli's pressure has created 54 turnovers, which is ranked third in the competition.

The coaches' votes are equally as telling.

AFL COACHES' ASSOCIATION VOTES

Collingwood v Hawthorn

9 Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)

7 Dayne Beams (Collingwood)

7 Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)

5 Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)

2 Dane Swan (Collingwood)