AFL’s new rules have released the handbrake. This is who’s flooring it... and who’s stuck in neutral: The Champion IndexTom Morris
Fox Sports
April 14th, 2021 Kick-ins have become an offensive weapon like never before in 2021 and the numbers prove it.
Four rounds into the season, the data is irrefutable: There are more scores from kick-ins than any season since 2010.
Moving the ball from end to end across the past decade was a laborious exercise. Ample stoppages, conservative mindsets and high defensive lines made the game often appear like a rolling maul.
In 2021, the Sherrin has been set free and it begins from the last line of defence, according to Champion Data’s latest analysis.
Of course, the accelerated ball movement is by design. The AFL, led by Steve Hocking, told clubs of the rule change last November.
For 2021, the man on the mark would be 15m back from the centre of the kick-off line, 5m further than it had been.
“We just want more time and space back in the game. The fans are looking for a better balance between defence and attack, and the game has definitely swayed towards defence,” Hocking said.
HOW CLUBS RESPONDEDSydney, advantaged by its acquisition of forward-thinking ex-Crows coach Don Pyke, has exploited the rule change better than any club, taking a league-high 37 per cent of their kick-ins inside 50. Meanwhile, Port Adelaide has scored 7.3 (45) from kick-ins, ranked No. 1.
Both these clubs have combined strategy with talent across the first four weeks of the season and have regularly shifted the Sherrin from defence to attack.
Contrastingly, Richmond and Collingwood have really struggled. The Tigers are the only team yet to score from kick-ins and the Magpies have taken just 12 per cent of kick-ins to their 50 at their attacking end.
Collingwood, which has lost three of four games, has scored just 0.2 from 44 kick-ins.
Overall, inside 50s from kick-ins are up more than six per cent league-wide. This year, one in four kick-ins has resulted in a score at the other end. That’s unequivocally good for the game.
But that’s not all: There are more turnovers from kick-ins to. It means the new rule is working both ways, not just for the side that has the ball after a behind.
Sides believe they can attack more through the corridor, sometimes bite off more than they can chew, and are a greater chance to turn it over.
North Melbourne is the worst offender in this regard, with opposition teams scoring more than one in five times a Kangaroos player kicks out. Fremantle, St Kilda and Brisbane are not far behind either.
THE PLAYERSThe least successful kick-out player is North Melbourne’s Jack Ziebell, with his side only scoring 0.1 from his kick-ins but conceding 8.1 (51) as a result of his kick-in turnovers. This stat is slightly misleading because Ziebell can kick it to a teammate, who can turn it over, but it still counts against the Kangaroos captain.
Nevertheless, the numbers demonstrate how much North is struggling from the last line of defence, often taking the easy wide option to the pocket and blasting it up the wing instead of taking a more direct approach.
Meanwhile, Sydney’s Jake Lloyd has taken 25 kick-outs in 2021 and played on from every one of them. Sun Jack Bowes and Lion Daniel Rich (96%) also enjoy getting a free stat next to their name, while Swan Jordan Dawson (95%) regularly plays on too.
Reigning Essendon club champion Jordan Ridley has played on from 36 of his 41 kick-ins. Without these free stats, he has had 47 kicks in four games. But his willingness to play on has him ranked fifth in the league for total kicks.
In fact, six of the top nine kickers in the AFL this season (in terms of total kicks) are prominent kick-out takers.
Former St Kilda ball-winner Leigh Montagna believes there should be a separate statistic acknowledging the imbalance.
“I think if you play on while kicking in, it should be a separate category,” Montagna said to foxfooty.com.au.
“Same with rebound 50s and metres gained.”
Injured West Coast veteran Shannon Hurn is the best kick-out player Champion Data has ever recorded. Twenty-two per cent of his kick-ins result in an inside 50 at the other end, second only to Lloyd (24%) in the AFL.
Surprisingly, Caleb Daniel is yet to start a scoring chain from his 19 kick-ins, even though he plays on 84 per cent of the time.
Montagna said Daniel is one of the best in the business at the skill.
“Personally, I still think any player can go long if they want,” the two-time All-Australian said.
“But I want someone who can create and set up some offence with a kick-in like Caleb Daniel. He can change angles, get the handball back, pull kicks into the corridor and that’s what you need.
“I would still rather the creative ball user as your kick-in. Now it is much less stressful than it was before the rule change. It’s easier. There is more space and less congestion inside your defensive 50.”
HOW YOUR TEAM STACKS UP (Inside 50 rate from kick-ins)1. Sydney Swans: 37.3%
2. Geelong Cats: 31.4%
3. North Melbourne: 29.4%
4. Port Adelaide: 27.5%
5. Fremantle: 27.5%
6. Gold Coast Suns: 25.5%
7. Hawthorn: 25.5%
8. West Coast Eagles: 23.5%
9. GWS Giants: 21.6%
10. Adelaide Crows: 21.6%
11. St Kilda: 19.6%
12. Essendon: 17.6%
13. Carlton: 17.6%
14. Western Bulldogs: 17.6%
15. Brisbane Lions: 13.7%
16. Melbourne: 13.7%
17. Collingwood: 11.8%
18. Richmond: 7.8%HOW THE PLAYERS STACK UP:1. Jordan Ridley (Essendon): 41 kick-ins, 88% self, 20% inside 50 rate
2. Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne): 32 kick-ins, 88% self, 17% inside 50 rate
3. Dougal Howard (St Kilda): 30 kick-ins, 80% self, 17% inside 50 rate
4. Luke Ryan (Fremantle): 28 kick-ins, 68% self, 15% inside 50 rate
5. Jayden Short (Richmond): 28 kick-ins, 71% self, 10% inside 50 rate6. Isaac Cumming (GWS Giants): 26 kick-ins, 73% self, 12% inside 50 rate
7. Jake Lloyd (Sydney Swans): 25 kick-ins, 100% self, 24% inside 50 rate
8. Jack Bowes (Gold Coast Suns): 25 kick-ins, 96% self, 12% inside 50 rate
9. Shannon Hurn (West Coast Eagles): 23 kick-ins, 96% self, 22% inside 50 rate
10. Daniel Rich (Brisbane Lions): 23 kick-ins, 96% self, 10% inside 50 rate
11. Jordan Dawson (Sydney Swans): 19 kick-ins, 95% self, 15% inside 50 rate
12. Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs): 19 kick-ins, 84% self, 10% inside 50 rate
13. Tom Stewart (Geelong Cats): 16 kick-ins, 88% self, 15% inside 50 rate
14. Brodie Smith (Adelaide Crows): 16 kick-ins, 50% self, 5% inside 50 rate
15. Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn): 15 kick-ins, 73% self, 10% inside 50 rate
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2021-champion-data-index-kick-in-record-stats-kick-ladder-jake-lloyd-jack-ziebell/news-story/6d73493dbc067eea06db75fcd5d3e2f5
