Is our percentage a reflection of where we are really at?

[WilliamPowell]

I guess that says we are a middle of the table team, at best. If effort is anything to go by then our players deserve to play finals this year.  But, basically, I think that in the hurly burly of up-tempo, full on finals footy, we still have a way to go, and our percentage simply reflects that.

Agree - I reckon it shows that if we do make the finals we can say we have least earnt the right because we will need 13 wins rather than 12. 12 will get a team with decent % in the eight. Our % wont.

If you look at the Pies and the way they are plying at the moment - if they make the finals you question whether they've earnt it with their soft draw in the last 7 rounds (only 2 games teams in the top eight).

While if we make it we've earnt it because we are going to have to win against at least 2 possibly 3 games against teams in the top 8 - Saints, Doggies, Swans, Eagles.

[mightytiges]

A healthy percentage often seems to point to a competitive team.  And I think our percentage reflects the fact we have a team that is in re-building mode, which has been able to do better than many would have expected.  I don’t know how it reflects that, it just does, ok.  Just humour me.

In the Port game, which we won, there were some really good signs, but there was also a passage of play where it seemed to me that we resembled a bottom 4 side.

Even though Melbourne didn’t make us pay, it felt like an 8 goal loss to me, just because of how the ‘team’ went about things on the night.

Guess we can dissect all our wins and losses, but the extremes of form from one game to the next tell a story and even though we haven’t had any really convincing wins, we have copped some shellackings.

It also tempers things a bit when you consider that we play the style of footy we do because we have to, in order to get a win and to just be competitive.  Had TW not implemented the different game styles then chances are we wouldn’t still be in contention to play finals this season.  You could say that the way the game is now played is contrived and has the ability to hide or distort the reality of a team’s true ability.

If we don’t know what that ability is, then we do know that when we have the footy and are able to dictate terms we look ok, without dominating, but it’s when we give up possession to a skilful team where the concern has been and still remains.  Good luck then trying to get the footy back, without them kicking goal after goal.

I guess that says we are a middle of the table team, at best.  If effort is anything to go by then our players deserve to play finals this year.  But, basically, I think that in the hurly burly of up-tempo, full on finals footy, we still have a way to go, and our percentage simply reflects that.

Top post TS 

What you say TS reflects in our scores this year. When we've been able to contain an opposition we've won more often than not despite us only reaching the ton twice so far this year. When we've conceded 100+ points, in 5 games this year, we've lost them all  and 4 of those were heavy defeats. We don't as yet have the class and experience to go head-to-head in a shoot-out and blow a side away on the scoreboard. Last year we reached the ton in 8 games but conceded 100 points in 10 games which we lost 9 out of the 10. We play to contain so when that succeeds we win by only narrow margins but when it fails we get pumped.

[mightytiges]

The answer would be a definite yes after tonight's woeful display  .

[PuntRdRoar]

Cant win games of footy kicking 7 or 8 goals a game. Wallace needs to be careful he doesnt stuff the kids with a bad defensive mindset.

[mightytiges]

Cant win games of footy kicking 7 or 8 goals a game. Wallace needs to be careful he doesnt stuff the kids with a bad defensive mindset.

The SCG is too small a ground to play possession footy. Especially when its wet. I dont know what we were thinking. If you don't move the footy quickly then the Swans will easily flood your forward 50 then kill you on the breakout. We played right into their hands all night going wide. Mind you we were getting smashed in the contests so they controlled the centre corridor. We haven't played the run and carry footy with teammate support and been too indirect the past two weeks. Lack of workrate, teamwork and footy brains. That's why we've struggled to kick goals. If we don't go out with a attacking frame of mind next week against the Saints and go head to head then we might as well shut up shop for the year.

[PuntRdRoar]

We need a CHB and CHF a clearance midfielder and a playmaker type centreman. One of those has to have the ability to swing a game.

[cub]

If we don't go out with a attacking frame of mind next week against the Saints and go head to head then we might as well shut up shop for the year.

B I N G O   

[PuntRdRoar]

The saints are in form and will flog us, as will the bulldogs.

[mightytiges]

The saints are in form and will flog us, as will the bulldogs.

If that happens then we might as well fall away somewhat by playing the kids to get a top 5 draft pick and the KPP we need. Geelong will probably jump above us tomorrow and Brissy aren't far behind and are in form.

[mightytiges]

Just 79% now and only just above those of the bottom 3 clubs. 

[mightytiges]

This probably sums up our low percentage and shows we are bottom 4 side as far as scoring and defending goes. We have kicked the least number of goals. Almost 80 goals less than Adelaide which equates to almost 5 goals less per game. The Crows have the best conversion rate too. We also have the 2nd worst offence (Avg 80 points) and the fourth worst defence (Avg 100 points).

Best Offence

1920 1 Adelaide 107
1900 2 Collingwood 106
1876 3 Western Bulldogs 104
1802 4 West Coast 100
1763 5 Melbourne 98
1707 6 Sydney 95
1665 7 St Kilda 93
1646 8 Geelong 91
1635 9 Brisbane 91
1603 10 Essendon 89
1601 11 Fremantle 89
1552 12 Port Adelaide 86
1484 13 Kangaroos 82
1450 14 Carlton 81
1437 15 Richmond 80
1406 16 Hawthorn 78
1653 Average

Best Defence

69 1 Adelaide
77 2 Sydney
78 3 St Kilda
85 4 Melbourne
85 5 West Coast
89 6 Geelong
90 7 Collingwood
90 8 Fremantle
95 9 Western Bulldogs
96 10 Kangaroos
97 11 Port Adelaide
99 12 Brisbane
100 13 Richmond
102 14 Hawthorn
104 15 Carlton
112 16 Essendon

http://www.prowess.com.au/pro-stats/reports/team_category_leaders.pdf

[JohnF]

Pretty damning numbers. Our lack of fire power in particular is a big worry and has been for ages. When was the last time we could guarantee 2 goals each from our two prime forwards? Richo has been a good goal scorer for us over the years but he's pretty much been a lone hand.

[mightytiges]

We are too slow in getting the ball moving forward as our skills overall aren't good enough to break through the lines and we don't kick anywhere enough running goals if at all. Our guys cross the 50 and then pass to a contest  . That's why it was great to see Blingers long running shot, even though he missed, after quick end to end movement of the footy. That's what we should be aiming to do and then only fall back into tempo footy mode if the opposition gain the initiative/momentum. The Swans are the best at tempo footy but if they get on top they will kick goal after goal with hard running and fast clean footy.

[mightytiges]

The way the year has turned out even if we had won 13 games we would've still missed out on the finals thanks to our crap % .

The top 8 sides have the top 8 attacks. We've moved up to 11th offensively thanks to kicking 20 goals the last 3 weeks but still have only the 13th best defence in the comp.

Best Offence

2206 1 Collingwood 105
2179 2 Adelaide 104
2164 3 Western Bulldogs 103
2084 4 West Coast 99
2052 5 Melbourne 98
1966 6 St Kilda 94
1962 7 Sydney 93
1928 8 Fremantle 92
1910 9 Geelong 91
1896 10 Essendon 90
1848 11 Richmond 88
1839 12 Port Adelaide 88
1787 13 Brisbane 85
1747 14 Carlton 83
1701 15 Hawthorn 81
1683 16 Kangaroos 80

1935 Average

Best defence

74 1 Adelaide
76 2 Sydney
81 3 St Kilda
85 4 West Coast
86 5 Melbourne
87 6 Fremantle
89 7 Geelong
90 8 Collingwood
95 9 Port Adelaide
97 10 Kangaroos
98 11 Western Bulldogs
98 12 Hawthorn
99 13 Richmond
101 14 Brisbane
109 15 Carlton
111 16 Essendon

http://www.prowess.com.au/pro-stats/reports/team_category_leaders.pdf