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The early signs after two rounds of the 2019 season are that Fremantle are utilising the long kick more to move the ball around the ground.

It’s a stat that Fremantle last led in 2015, when the club finished on top of the ladder after the home and away season.

According to champion data, Fremantle leads the league for long kicks (kicks longer than 40m) after two rounds.

Fremantle are averaging 102 long kicks per game, just ahead of Hawthorn, who have been among the top teams for long kicks in the past decade.

Most importantly, Fremantle also leads the league for effective long kicks, running at an average of 78 per game, ahead of Geelong (73) and Hawthorn (71.5).

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Fremantle has led the league for effective long kicks in both of the opening two rounds, with 75 against North Melbourne and 81 against Gold Coast.

Ed Langdon is leading the way for Fremantle with 9.5 effective long kicks per game (3^rd in AFL), ahead of Nathan Wilson (8 per game, 6^th in AFL) and Bradley Hill (6.5 per game, 15^th in AFL).

While it is too early to claim if these numbers will become a trend this season, Fremantle’s numbers are significantly up on their past few seasons.

LONG KICKS (AVG PER GAME)
2019 – 102.5 (1^st in AFL)
2018 – 85.2 (10^th in AFL)
2017 – 81.9 (15^th in AFL)
2016 – 87.3 (9^th in AFL)
2015 – 76.4 (1^st in AFL)

EFFECTIVE LONG KICKS (AVG PER GAME)
2019 – 78 (1^st in AFL)
2018 – 56.8 (12^th in AFL)
2017 – 58.1 (13^th in AFL)
2016 – 62.6 (12^th in AFL)
2015 – 59.8 (1^st in AFL)