IT HAS BEEN a roller coaster year so far for the Demons.
After seven games we’ve enjoyed three great wins at an average margin of 65 points, but also three disappointing losses averaging 46 points.
And then there was the tense drawn match against the Swans in round one.
So it’s an ideal time to look at how the numbers fluctuate across wins and losses. And there are some interesting figures, not only for the Demons, but for the rest of the competition as well.
Obviously there are two teams we can’t assess using the win/loss method - the Cats (because they haven’t lost yet) and the Lions (because they’ve yet to win).
Sides with only one loss - the Magpies and Blues - are tricky to assess, as are the sides with only one win - the Saints and Power.
But you can definitely notice a trend in the numbers for the majority of teams, particularly those in the middle of the ladder.
With the software available to clubs it is easy to see how the numbers differ between wins and losses. Not a great deal of time is spent at club-land pouring over these numbers as they often simply tell us what we already know.
But there are some interesting figures in there after eight rounds of football.
Starting with disposals, every side suffers a drop in their disposal numbers when they lose compared to when they win.
True to our up-and-down form line this year, the Demons average 391 disposals from our three wins, but only 328 disposals in our losses.
The Tigers have suffered a similar fate, with a 64-disposal drop when they lose.
This is an indicative trait of young sides as they battle to fight consistency across a season.
We all know that winning the contested possession count is crucial to winning games of footy.
This is well and truly confirmed when looking at the win/loss differences. The Demons average 27 fewer contested possessions in their losses so far this year.
After seven games we’ve enjoyed three great wins at an average margin of 65 points, but also three disappointing losses averaging 46 points.
And then there was the tense drawn match against the Swans in round one.
So it’s an ideal time to look at how the numbers fluctuate across wins and losses. And there are some interesting figures, not only for the Demons, but for the rest of the competition as well.
Obviously there are two teams we can’t assess using the win/loss method - the Cats (because they haven’t lost yet) and the Lions (because they’ve yet to win).
Sides with only one loss - the Magpies and Blues - are tricky to assess, as are the sides with only one win - the Saints and Power.
But you can definitely notice a trend in the numbers for the majority of teams, particularly those in the middle of the ladder.
With the software available to clubs it is easy to see how the numbers differ between wins and losses. Not a great deal of time is spent at club-land pouring over these numbers as they often simply tell us what we already know.
But there are some interesting figures in there after eight rounds of football.
Starting with disposals, every side suffers a drop in their disposal numbers when they lose compared to when they win.
True to our up-and-down form line this year, the Demons average 391 disposals from our three wins, but only 328 disposals in our losses.
The Tigers have suffered a similar fate, with a 64-disposal drop when they lose.
This is an indicative trait of young sides as they battle to fight consistency across a season.
We all know that winning the contested possession count is crucial to winning games of footy.
This is well and truly confirmed when looking at the win/loss differences. The Demons average 27 fewer contested possessions in their losses so far this year.
Other sides have similar figures.
The Saints only win this year saw them average 29 more contested possessions than their five losses, while Carlton’s loss to Collingwood can be largely attributed to losing the contested possession count by 32 in that particular match.
Interestingly, the Swans have averaged 18 more contested possessions in their losses than their wins.
But both of their losses have been played in extremely wet conditions at home, meaning statistics such as contested possessions, clearances, hit outs and tackles are always higher than normal.
Another statistic which naturally declines in a loss is the inside 50 count.
The Demons average 25 fewer inside 50s in their losses compared to their wins.
The Saints only win this year saw them average 29 more contested possessions than their five losses, while Carlton’s loss to Collingwood can be largely attributed to losing the contested possession count by 32 in that particular match.
Interestingly, the Swans have averaged 18 more contested possessions in their losses than their wins.
But both of their losses have been played in extremely wet conditions at home, meaning statistics such as contested possessions, clearances, hit outs and tackles are always higher than normal.
Another statistic which naturally declines in a loss is the inside 50 count.
The Demons average 25 fewer inside 50s in their losses compared to their wins.
Collingwood’s only defeat last weekend against the Cats saw them notch up 23 fewer inside 50s.
Only the Hawks and Swans have managed to keep the numbers reasonably level between a win and a loss. The sign of a good side? Open for debate.
We also have the ability to drill down on these numbers by individual quarters to see how the figures can change.
More often than not, the usual indicators differ greatly between your best and worst quarters - contested possessions, inside 50s, tackles and marks.
In the case of the Demons, the difference between wins and losses has been stark so far this year. But there are several statistical indicators which certainly suggest things are looking up for the Demons.
One significant figure is the percentage of scores per inside 50. Melbourne ranks number one in the competition at scoring once inside 50, with a 53.7 per cent success rate.
In recent seasons this area has been a huge challenge for the side - in 2008 and 2009 the Demons were ranked 16th, while in 2010 they jumped to 10th.
There are several theories behind this significant jump - a more stable forward line this year, improved kicking efficiency going inside 50, an increase in centre clearances and the ability to cause better, more ‘pure’ turnovers further up the ground.
Whichever way you look at it, this is a definite sign of improvement.
The challenge for all clubs is to minimise the difference between their key win and loss statistics in order to establish some consistency.
But amongst and up and down season there can still be some figures which indicate things are heading in the right direction.
Send through your feedback to @StatsIncredible on Twitter.
Only the Hawks and Swans have managed to keep the numbers reasonably level between a win and a loss. The sign of a good side? Open for debate.
We also have the ability to drill down on these numbers by individual quarters to see how the figures can change.
More often than not, the usual indicators differ greatly between your best and worst quarters - contested possessions, inside 50s, tackles and marks.
In the case of the Demons, the difference between wins and losses has been stark so far this year. But there are several statistical indicators which certainly suggest things are looking up for the Demons.
One significant figure is the percentage of scores per inside 50. Melbourne ranks number one in the competition at scoring once inside 50, with a 53.7 per cent success rate.
In recent seasons this area has been a huge challenge for the side - in 2008 and 2009 the Demons were ranked 16th, while in 2010 they jumped to 10th.
There are several theories behind this significant jump - a more stable forward line this year, improved kicking efficiency going inside 50, an increase in centre clearances and the ability to cause better, more ‘pure’ turnovers further up the ground.
Whichever way you look at it, this is a definite sign of improvement.
The challenge for all clubs is to minimise the difference between their key win and loss statistics in order to establish some consistency.
But amongst and up and down season there can still be some figures which indicate things are heading in the right direction.
Send through your feedback to @StatsIncredible on Twitter.
