GWS Giants go from strugglers to leaders in contested ball

OF THE myriad statistical measurements in AFL football there is one that stands out as the best indicator of success — contested possession

OF THE myriad statistical measurements in AFL football there is one that stands out as the best indicator of success — contested possession.

The Giants march up the ladder this season can be directly linked to their improvement in the highly valued category; it will almost certainly play a key role in deciding Sunday’s 10th instalment of the Sydney derby against the Swans at Spotless Stadium.

In their first season in the competition (2012) they were ranked 17th and finished 18th, the following year they were 17th again and finished 18th. There was a significant improvement last year to -6 per game (Ranking them 14th) and they finished 11th winning 11 games. This year they have made a quantum leap from four years in the negative differential to +7.6 contested possessions per game and are ranked third in the League and are sixth on the ladder.

There is no doubting which comes first, improvement in contested possession leads to a better position on the ladder.

It has also eliminated the massive losses which plagued GWS in their formative years.

In 2012 and 2013 they suffered five 100 plus hidings in each of those seasons, in 2014 it was reduced to two and in 2015 there were none. They still suffered three 80 plus points losses but this year the biggest losing margin of their four losses was 25 points against the Swans in round three. On Sunday GWS contested possession is likely to have the margin closer again.

Originally published as GWS Giants go from strugglers to leaders in contested ball