Starting at the top of the ladder, the Swans are first half bullies. Of their 104 goals (#1 in competition) that they have kicked this year, 62 of them have come in the first half (#1 in competition), 30 first quarter (#1 in competition), 32 second quarter (#1 in competition). They ease off a little in the second half of games kicking 42 goals (equal #1 in competition), showing that they are consolidating on the good work they do in their first halves. They have kicked 21 goals in each of their third and fourth quarters of their games. They have kicked a total of 63 behinds (#4 in competition) for the year giving them a goal accuracy of 62.28% (#1 in competition). They are also #1 in shots on goal, with 167. Next, we will have a look at where they are getting their goals. Gavin Knee is having a great year in the Swans midfield kicking 23 goals (#1 in competition) so far this year. Along with fellow midfielders, Lachlan Rowling (2), Andrew Donohue (4) and Captain, Damien Wendt (3), that totals 32 goals (#1 in competition) and most footy experts suggest that games are won in the midfield. If they can add to the goal tally, then they are even more effective. The Swans forward line is also standing up well with Dean Hoy 18 goals (#2 in competition), and Jason Darcy 10 goals, being their main contributors.
The Saints are second on the ladder and have kicked 82 goals (#2 in competition) for the year so far. Unlike the Swans, the Saints are a more even scoring team kicking 40 goals in their first halves (#2 in competition), 19 first quarter goals (#3 in competition), 21 second quarter goals (#2 in competition). They have kicked 42 goals in their second halves (equal #1 in competition), 18 third quarter goals (#2 in competition) and 24 fourth quarter goals (#1 in competition). This shows that the Saints are the best finishing team in the competition. The goal accuracy (52.57%) for the Saints has always been, and continues to be, its main problem. They have kicked 74 behinds (#2 in competition) and are #2 in shots on goal with 156. The Saints are less reliant on the midfield, with only stand-out recruit, Peter Heath 15 goals, and its forward line of Mick Viney (15), Gary Hadland (10), and Co-Captain Chris Whitton (13) being their main options to score. Now that Whitton has suffered a serious knee injury, they will need someone else to stand up and fill his position.
Third position on the ladder is occupied by the Kangaroos and they have kicked 71 goals for the year (#3 in competition). They have also scored 71 behinds so far this year (#3 in competition) which puts them at #4 in shots on goal, 142. This means they have an accuracy rate of 50%, which will need to be improved if they hope to go back to back in the Premiership stakes. The Kangaroos have kicked 35 goals in their first halves (#3 in competition), 18 first quarter goals (#4 in competition) and 17 second quarter goals (#3 in competition). The Kangaroos are also a fairly even scoring team kicking 36 goals in their second halves, 17 third quarter goals (equal #3 in competition) and 19 fourth quarter goals (equal #4 in competition). Like the Saints the Kangaroos are more reliant on their forward line to score their goals with twin spearheads Andrew Hawkins 17 goal (#3 in competition) and Dan Overeem 15 goals (equal #5 in competition) contributing just under half their goals. Their midfield does hold its own as well though, with Captain, Tim Cotter 9 goals, Patrick Walton 8 goals, Ben Coombes 5 goals and Michael Filosi 2 goals. Cam Douglas returned to the Kangaroos this year and has boosted their midfield stocks, but I think the Kangaroos would probably have thought he may have had a bigger impact on the score board (2 goals) streaming out of the centre.
In fourth spot we have the Bulldogs. They have had quite a ride so far this year winning their first 2 games, losing their next 2 before finishing the first round with another win. The Bulldogs have scored most of their goals at the bookends in the first, 20 goals (#2 in competition) and last, 19 goals (equal #3 in competition) quarters. In the second quarter is where the Bulldogs drop off a bit only scoring 8 goals for the year (#5 in competition). Their third, 17 goals (equal #3 in competition) quarters are also quite acceptable. However their accuracy rate (44.76%) is a not good enough and you can see why with their totals being 64 goals and a massive 79 behinds for the season. They are #3 in shots on goal with 143, just ahead of the third placed Kangaroos. 37.5% of the Bulldogs goals have come from their forward Farran Lamb, 16 goals (#4 in competition), and Mark Ewington, 8 goals (equal #11 in competition). Ewington, though, has only played 3 of a possible 5 games this year due to work commitments and this hurts the Bulldogs. On the upside for them, young ruckman Sam Naismith, 5 goals, is improving with each game and is yet to turn 19. Naismith along with Lamb, 20 years old, are the future of this side.
The Nomads find themselves in fifth spot after 5 rounds but could so easily have been equal 1st. Like the Bulldogs their goal accuracy (41.76%) is their main problem. The Nomads have kicked 38 goals (#5 in competition) and 53 behinds (#5 in competition) for the year. They are also #5 in the competition for all goals scored in each quarter, first 7 goals, second 13 goals, third 9 goals and fourth 9 goals. These figures are a little distorted though by the fact that the Cats forfeited to them in the second round and this is why they are #5 in shots on goal with 91. But had they kicked straight in the third quarter against the Saints and the second and fourth quarters against the Kangaroos, then their whole season is turned around. Their main avenue to goal, as expected, remains Weston Whitby, 13 goals (equal #7 in competition), and why not? When he is on fire, he is unstoppable. The Nomads have had a big turn over of players this year and are still learning to play together as a team and will improve. They are definitely still in the hunt for a top 4 berth.
In last place we find the struggling Cats. We all feel for the Cats and they showed that they have not given up the fight by travelling to Inverell with only 13 players available. As predictable as it is, the Cats are last in all aspects of the points we have been looking at. Total goals 12, total behinds 20, total shots on goal 32, accuracy 37.5%, first quarter goals 4, second quarter goals 4, third quarter goals 3 and fourth quarter goals 1. As you can see by this because of their lack of player numbers the Cats tire and drop off in the second half of games. Just like the Nomads, the Cats have scored most of their goals through their star forward Stuart McAdam, 7 goals. McAdam is a former League leading goal scorer and is tremendously accurate. As a league we need to help the Cats through this difficult time as best we can, and the Saints showed their appreciation for the Cats making the long road trip by supplying some of their players on match day permits.
Not all clubs are able to this, but if clubs could reactivate past players and grant match day permits for them, and loan them to the struggling Cats, then they would not only be helping the Cats but helping their own club by making sure their team gets much valued game time.
Last Modified on 02/06/2009 13:14