IN A PERFECTLY tenuous link to our new '100% Melbourne' initiative, James Frawley played 100 per cent game time against the Eagles last round, only the third Melbourne player to do so this year.
Obscure stats are the order of the day as some of the key figures haven’t fallen our way over the past month. But often these trivial figures are a good little distraction.
Colin Garland, James Frawley (twice) and Matthew Warnock (twice) are the only Melbourne players to have played every minute in a single game this year.
Interestingly, Geelong are the highest rotating team in the competition and Matthew Scarlett is their only player to have played an entire match this year, way back in round four.
Usually the key Cats backmen are able to sneak in a rest or two on the bench throughout the course of the match. Although having said that, some would argue they’ve been able to rest while they’re on the field this year, such is the dominance of their side.
The competition’s lowest rotating team, the Brisbane Lions, have had 12 instances of a player enduring 100 per cent of a match, with Jonathan Brown, Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull the usual mainstays.
Looking at Melbourne’s statistical leaders, there are a few interesting figures.
In terms of free kicks, Mark Jamar has naturally received more than any other Melbourne player with 27 for the season. Stefan Martin and Jordie McKenzie are next in line with 22 each.
Notorious tackler Jack Trengove has received eight free kicks for holding the ball this year, ranked sixth across the entire competition.
And while Clint Bartram isn’t quite the shortest player on our list, it seems the opposition can’t help grabbing him around the neck. Clint has received 11 free kicks for a high tackle in only 12 matches. Not surprisingly, Marc Murphy and Joel Selwood lead the competition in this category.
Up forward, skipper Brad Green is leading the Inside 50 target column for the Demons this season with 86, followed by Liam Jurrah (78) and Jack Watts (60).
But it is Lynden Dunn who has had the most success in his 11 matches this year - the Demons have a 52 per cent scoring success rate when he is the inside 50 target.
Down back, the Dees have missed the defensive capabilities of Jack Grimes for most of the season. His 83 per cent spoil effectiveness is clearly the best among the Demon defenders.
Jared Rivers has intercepted 34 opposition kicks to lead the club, ahead of Joel MacDonald (24) and Colin Garland (21). As mentioned in a previous column, marks from opposition kicks are more than just an obscure statistical category.
They are crucial to thwarting an attack and starting one of your own.
The Demons have had a tough run over the past four weeks, coming up against four very experienced midfield groups. Melbourne’s top five centre bounce players average 66 games between them, far fewer than the sides we have just played.
The Tigers average is only marginally greater, with an average of 74 games between their five best centre bounce attendees.
This will be a critical battle between two young midfields on the weekend. On a positive note, the Dees won the stoppage scoring against the Eagles last weekend - 5.2 to 3.4 - so the midfielders bring some good form going into round 22.
The return match against the Tigers also marks Melbourne’s return to our familiar changerooms and coaches box - our away match against Richmond in round 14 is the only time the Dees use the opposite facilities at the M.C.G.
It’s amazing how a mirror image of your usual coaches box can confuse a football technology manager ...
Will it be a close contest? The figures this year suggest we might be due for a thriller.
Even though both teams began the season with an early draw, the Demons haven’t played a single-figure margin game this season, while the Tigers have been involved in only one.
I don’t think my heart can take a close one, so let’s hope for a big Melbourne victory this weekend.
Notorious tackler Jack Trengove has received eight free kicks for holding the ball this year, ranked sixth across the entire competition.
And while Clint Bartram isn’t quite the shortest player on our list, it seems the opposition can’t help grabbing him around the neck. Clint has received 11 free kicks for a high tackle in only 12 matches. Not surprisingly, Marc Murphy and Joel Selwood lead the competition in this category.
Up forward, skipper Brad Green is leading the Inside 50 target column for the Demons this season with 86, followed by Liam Jurrah (78) and Jack Watts (60).
But it is Lynden Dunn who has had the most success in his 11 matches this year - the Demons have a 52 per cent scoring success rate when he is the inside 50 target.
Down back, the Dees have missed the defensive capabilities of Jack Grimes for most of the season. His 83 per cent spoil effectiveness is clearly the best among the Demon defenders.
Jared Rivers has intercepted 34 opposition kicks to lead the club, ahead of Joel MacDonald (24) and Colin Garland (21). As mentioned in a previous column, marks from opposition kicks are more than just an obscure statistical category.
They are crucial to thwarting an attack and starting one of your own.
The Demons have had a tough run over the past four weeks, coming up against four very experienced midfield groups. Melbourne’s top five centre bounce players average 66 games between them, far fewer than the sides we have just played.
The Tigers average is only marginally greater, with an average of 74 games between their five best centre bounce attendees.
This will be a critical battle between two young midfields on the weekend. On a positive note, the Dees won the stoppage scoring against the Eagles last weekend - 5.2 to 3.4 - so the midfielders bring some good form going into round 22.
The return match against the Tigers also marks Melbourne’s return to our familiar changerooms and coaches box - our away match against Richmond in round 14 is the only time the Dees use the opposite facilities at the M.C.G.
It’s amazing how a mirror image of your usual coaches box can confuse a football technology manager ...
Will it be a close contest? The figures this year suggest we might be due for a thriller.
Even though both teams began the season with an early draw, the Demons haven’t played a single-figure margin game this season, while the Tigers have been involved in only one.
I don’t think my heart can take a close one, so let’s hope for a big Melbourne victory this weekend.
