- Star recruits to match up
- Brayshaw brothers set for rematch
- NGA: Tendai and Johnno in the Kimberley: Day 3
Fremantle take on Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday, here are some interesting numbers to look out for.
154.4 contested possessions
This week pits two of the AFL’s best-ranked teams for contested possessions, with Freo ranking third (154.4 per game) and Melbourne ranking fourth (154.2 per game).
The obvious suspects lead the way for both teams. Nat Fyfe averages 18.1 contested possessions per game, the most in the AFL. Clayton Oliver leads Melbourne with 16.4 per game, the fourth-most in the AFL.
41.3 per cent accuracy
Sometimes, winning games of footy comes down to kicking straight.
Melbourne have lost four on the trot, incidentally, all against teams that currently sit in the top five. In that time, they created more scoring opportunities than their opponents but kicked 38.54, running at 41.3 per cent accuracy.
78.7 per cent rebound 50 rate
Fremantle’s defence has been on song this season, turning 78.7 per cent of the opposition’s inside 50s into a rebound 50.
While Freo’s defence has excelled in this area, Melbourne’s forwards have struggled, with the Demons ranked 18th in the AFL for goals per inside 50, running at 17 per cent.
8.3 intercept possessions
Champion Data currently ranks Luke Ryan as the AFL’s sixth best defender, and it’s easy to see why.
Ryan currently leads the league for intercept possessions, averaging 8.3 per game. He also leads the league in ground ball gets in defensive 50, totalling 42 so far this season.
23.3 per cent forward
Michael Walters is kicking goals at the same rate as any time in his career – despite spending less time forward.
In 2012 and 2013, Walters averaged 2.2 goals per game. In this time, he averaged 42.9 per cent time forward in 2012 and 37.3 per cent time forward in 2013.
In 2019 as an attacking midfielder, he’s kicking 2.1 goals per game but spending only 23.3 per cent time forward. As well as hitting the scoreboard, Walters is putting up career high numbers in disposals (21.4 per game) and inside 50s (4.3 per game)
| Year | Disposals | Goals | I50 | F50% | MID% | D50% |
| 2009 | 10.7 | 0.7 | 3 | 40.6 | 56.3 | 3.1 |
| 2010 | 13.8 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 26.1 | 68.1 | 5.8 |
| 2011 | 8 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 33.3 | 66.7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 11.9 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 42.9 | 52.9 | 4.2 |
| 2013 | 15.4 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 37.3 | 58.3 | 4.3 |
| 2014 | 13.4 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 42.1 | 56.1 | 1.9 |
| 2015 | 15.1 | 2 | 3 | 33.1 | 62 | 4.8 |
| 2016 | 18.2 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 25.7 | 66.6 | 7.7 |
| 2017 | 19.3 | 1.3 | 3.9 | 19.8 | 73.5 | 6.7 |
| 2018 | 19.8 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 21.6 | 68.5 | 9.8 |
| 2019 | 21.4 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 23.3 | 67.3 | 9.3 |
