Champion Data statistics reveal the influence of magnet moves at each of the 18 clubs
The way which Ross Lyon is using young gun Mitch Owens has sparked St Kilda’s early-season form. But as the numbers reveal, positional changes at other clubs just aren’t working.
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Changing a player’s role can be an important ingredient to a team’s success.
Coaches are constantly searching for ways to improve their sides and versatile players can help them do just that.
Moving the magnets has become more crucial than ever in the modern game, where flexible squad line-ups ensure plenty of options for coaches during a game.
Already this season, some positional tweaks have helped spark clubs’ form.
Champion Data has shone a light on players from all 18 teams whose roles have changed, using statistics to reveal the influence the switch is having so far.
ADELAIDE
Chayce Jones
Switch: General defender to wing
Wing profile for 2023
Disposals: 18.4 (average)
Metres gained: 348m (above average)
Ground ball gets: 4.8 (above average)
Clearances: 3.1 (elite)
Score involvements: 4.8 (above average)
Five seasons after being taken at pick 9 in the 2018 national draft, Jones is in the best form of his career, settling nicely into a wing role after previously playing at half-back. The 22-year-old spent the first time rounds in the SANFL before an impressive Showdown cameo as the substitute earnt him a promotion the next week and he had since held his spot. He has become a more consistent, confident and damaging player in his new role, registering career-highs in disposals (28) and clearances (six) in matches this year.
BRISBANE
Josh Dunkley
Switch: Midfielder-forward to midfielder
Midfielder profile for 2023
Disposals: 25.2 (average)
Contested possessions: 13.5 (above average)
Ground ball gets: 10 (elite)
Clearances: 5.6 (above average)
Score involvements: 3.9 (below average)
The Lions’ targeting of Dunkley last off-season to boost their midfield stocks is paying off as the club rides a seven-game winning streak and the recruit gives their on-ball brigade another dimension. Moved around at his previous club, the Western Bulldogs, Dunkley has become a key cog in Brisbane’s engine room, thanks to his height, tackling, hardness, clearance work and ball-winning. After claiming the best-and-fairest last year, he has been in top form in two of the past three weeks, polling 15 coaches’ votes.
CARLTON
Zac Fisher
Switch: General forward to midfielder-forward
Change from 2022 to 2023
Disposals: 18.9 to 18.3 (-3 per cent)
Kicking efficiency percentage: 65 per cent to 52 per cent (-19 per cent)
Metres gained: 292m to 247m (-15 per cent)
Inside 50s: 2.8 to 1.6 (-43 per cent)
Score involvements: 5.5 to 4.3 (-22 per cent)
Fisher’s form has been a little reflective of the Blues’ struggles this season. Playing higher up the ground than in 2022, the 24-year-old’s averages in several key statistics have reduced. Fisher was dropped after a 21-disposal, 0.3 performance in Carlton’s round 7 win over West Coast and was yet to return to the team.
COLLINGWOOD
Taylor Adams
Switch: Midfielder to midfielder-forward
Midfielder-forward profile for 2023
Disposals: 17.9 (above average)
Contested possessions: 7.6 (above average)
Clearances: 3.8 (above average)
Score involvements: 5.9 (above average)
Tackles: 3.9 (above average)
Team tweaks, including the arrival of Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, have led Adams to featuring in a more hybrid role this season and he is playing his part in the Magpies’ hot start. Unsurprisingly, given the shift, many of his averages have declined, including from 22.2 disposals to 17.9, but he has already kicked more goals (four) than in each of the past two seasons.
ESSENDON
Nic Martin
Switch: Midfielder-forward to wing
Wing profile for 2023
Disposals: 20.7 (above average)
Uncontested possessions: 14.1 (above average)
Ground ball gets: 5.3 (above average)
Score assists: 1.3 (elite)
Score involvements: 5.7 (elite)
Martin was one of the feel-good stories of the Bombers’ 2022 season. Rookie-listed during the supplemental selection period in February last year, the West Australian kicked five goals on debut, missed just one game all campaign and finished eighth in the club’s best-and-fairest. He has been impressing in his new spot on the wing in 2023.
FREMANTLE
Luke Jackson
Fremantle
Switch: Ruck to key forward
Key forward profile since round 3
Disposals: 14.5 (elite)
Contested possessions: 7.8 (elite)
Contested marks: 1.8 (above average)
Goals: 1.5 (average)
Score involvements: 5.8 (above average)
Jackson’s recent form has helped to spark the Dockers to three consecutive wins. After a slow start for both the club and the prized recruit, but now Jackson is hitting his straps as a key forward/back-up ruckman while Sean Darcy dominates the middle. The former Demon’s height, ball-winning and athleticism are proving a handful for opposition defenders.
GEELONG
Esava Ratugolea
Switch: Key forward to key defender
Key defender profile for 2023
Intercept marks: 3.2 (seventh)
Intercept possessions: 6.8 (18th)
You can see why the Cats did not want to let Ratugolea go to Port Adelaide. The former forward/ruckman has been very impressive in Geelong’s backline after switching there at VFL level at the end of last season. His state league performances prompted interest from the Power during the trade period, but the Cats kept him and he was now becoming one of the better intercept defenders in the competition.
GOLD COAST
Darcy Macpherson
Switch: General forward to general defender
General defender profile for 2023
Disposals: 22.5 (above average)
Uncontested possessions: 14.8 (above average)
Marks: 6.9 (elite)
Intercept marks: 1.5 (above average)
Intercept possessions: 6.8 (above average)
Macpherson has not always been a regular under coach Stuart Dew but he seems to have found his spot in defence. Previously a small forward, Macpherson has featured in all 10 matches this year and ranks highly in several key statistics.
GWS
Harry Himmelberg
Switch: Key defender to key forward
2022 key defender profile from round 11
Disposals: 24.2 (first)
Uncontested possessions: 13.6 (second)
Marks: 8.1 (fourth)
Intercept marks: 2.5 (16th)
Intercept possessions: 7.1 (11th)
Key forward profile for 2023, rounds 1-9
Disposals: 12.6 (above average)
Contested marks: 0.8 (below average)
Forward 50 marks: 1.2 (below average)
Goals: 1.1 (below average)
Score assists: 1.8 (elite)
Statistically, Himmelberg’s return to the forward line after spending last season in defence is yet to bear fruit. Though the 27-year-old’s score assists have been elite and disposal numbers are above average, he ranks low this season in his position for contested marks, forward 50 marks and goals. Himmelberg is set to become a free agent at the end of the campaign and his versatility is appealing to rival clubs.
HAWTHORN
Will Day
Switch: General defender to midfielder
Midfielder profile for 2023
Disposals: 26 (above average)
Uncontested possessions: 16 (above average)
Marks: 5.3 (elite)
Clearances: 5.3 (above average)
Score involvements: 5.1 (average)
After shifting from half-back, the South Australian has taken the next step in his football development this year as a key member of the Hawks’ midfield. The departures of Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Mitchell left a void that Day helped fill after adding muscle to his frame. The long-striding, rangy Day offers something a little different to Hawthorn’s on-ball mix.
MELBOURNE
Kysaiah Pickett
Switch: Still a general forward, but playing more in the midfield
When he plays 25 per cent or more game time in midfield in 2023 (four times so far)
Disposals: 14.5
Contested possessions: 7.5
Goals: 2.8
Score involvements: 8.8
Tackles: 6.3
Champion Data continues to classify Pickett as a general forward because he has not passed the on-ball game time threshold. But when the newly re-signed livewire has been thrown into the engine room this year, he is having a significant influence. His goal and score involvement averages have been particularly impressive.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Jack Ziebell
Switch: General forward to general defender
General defender profile for 2023
Disposals: 25.1 (elite)
Uncontested possessions: 13.6 (above average)
Metres gained: 465m (above average)
Marks: 8.6 (elite)
Intercept marks 2.4 (elite)
Ziebell is back to where he was playing in 2021. The former Kangaroos captain moved to the forward line last season, but new coach Alastair Clarkson wanted him to return to his previous position. North’s chief kick-in option, Ziebell showcases strong decision-making, leadership and intercept marking. The new role has skyrocketed the 32-year-old’s disposal average from 13.5 last year to 25.1 in 2023.
PORT ADELAIDE
Zak Butters
Switch: Midfielder-forward to midfielder
Midfielder rank from rounds 4-10
Disposals: 30.3 (sixth)
Contested possessions: 13.3 (12th)
Ground ball gets: 9.4 (11th)
Inside 50s: 5.4 (12th)
Score involvements: 7.1 (14th)
Few AFL players are in better form than Butters, who has polled the maximum of 10 coaches’ votes in three consecutive games. The Power playing him and fellow 2018 first-round pick Connor Rozee as full-time midfielders has been several years in the making. After an injury-interrupted end to pre-season, Butters lined up almost entirely on-ball against Sydney in round 4 and had been a fixture there since. His smarts, bravery, creativity and skill have been standout features.
RICHMOND
Tim Taranto
Richmond
Switch: Midfielder-forward to midfielder
Midfielder profile for 2023
Disposals: 30.6 (elite)
Contested possessions: 13.3 (above average)
Clearances: 6.8 (above average)
Score involvements: 6.5 (above average)
Tackles: 6.9 (elite)
We had seen Taranto play in the midfield plenty of times before at GWS, but not quite like this. The former Giant has become an on-ball mainstay for the Tigers since joining the club last off-season. Taranto, who was drafted at pick 2 in 2016, had increased his disposal (25.4 to 30.6) and tackling (4.7 to 6.9) averaged this year.
ST KILDA
Mitch Owens
Switch: General forward to key forward
Key forward profile from rounds 1 to 9
Disposals: 16.3 (elite)
Contested possessions: 10.4 (elite)
Goals: 1.4 (average)
Score involvements: 5.6 (above average)
Tackles: 4.1 (elite)
Champion Data’s change to Owens’ classification is based on the type of opponents who are standing him. This year, talls are lining up on the 190cm forward – and many are struggling to curtail his influence. One of the favourites for the Rising Star Award, Owens has played all 10 matches, kicking 13.10 and becoming a key cog in the Saints’ attack.
SYDNEY
Errol Gulden
Switch: Midfielder-forward to midfielder
Midfielder profile for 2023
Disposals: 31.8 (fifth)
Uncontested possessions: 19 (fourth)
Metres gained: 596m (first)
Marks: 7.3 (third)
Clearances: 5.8 (20th)
It was a big discussion in the KFC SuperCoach community over summer. Would Gulden become a permanent midfielder or would he still spend a lot of time in attack? The answer is the former – and the 20-year-old has taken his game to another level because of the increased on-ball minutes. A ball magnet who gains a lot of territory and collects plenty of marks, Gulden has had two 37-plus disposal games already this year.
WEST COAST
Jayden Hunt
Switch: General defender to wing
Wing profile for 2023
Disposals: 18.4 (average)
Uncontested possessions: 13 (average)
Metres gained: 411m (above average)
Marks: 4.8 (above average)
Once a dashing defender, Hunt is now providing run on the wing for an Eagles side that needs speed. The 28-year-old joined West Coast from Melbourne during the off-season as an unrestricted free agent and was yet to miss a game this year.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Jack Macrae
Switch: Midfielder to midfielder-forward
Change from 2022 to 2023
Disposals: 30.7 to 26.6 (-13 per cent)
Uncontested possessions: 20 to 16.4 (-18 per cent)
Metres gained: 403m to 357m (-11 per cent)
Clearances: 6.4 to 4.4 (-31 per cent)
Score involvements: 6.6 to 4.7 (-29 per cent)
The moving of magnets from Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has led to prolific ball-winner Macrae spending less time in the engine room and more stints as a high half-forward. While several players have helped try to fill the void left by new Brisbane player Josh Dunkley, captain Marcus Bontempelli and Caleb Daniel have been bigger beneficiaries of midfield time.
Though Macrae’s averages are down, he remains a very influential player at the Bulldogs, who have won their past five games.
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