Statistically Speaking: Round 3

In our weekly column, Statistically Speaking, we scoured the Champion Data stats to review Round 3 by the numbers.

STAR PERFORMER

Brisbane midfielder Ryan Bastinac did his chances of an AFL recall no harm on Good Friday with a standout performance against Aspley. Bastinac finished with 31 disposals, six marks, 10 clearances, five inside 50s and three goals as a strong Lions side ran out 48-point winners to keep their undefeated start to 2019 intact. On top of his individual stats, Bastinac also had 10 score involvements for the day.

RANKINGS RULER

For the second week in a row, Aspley champion Matt Payne led the competition in Champion Data ranking points in stunning fashion against Brisbane. Battling a side boasting 21 AFL-listed players, Payne led the way for the Hornets with 39 disposals, 19 contested possessions, 10 clearances and six inside 50s, totalling 180 ranking points. After three rounds, the 33-year-old leads the NEAFL in disposals and contested possessions.

ROOKIE WATCH

Sydney rookie Sam Wicks produced arguably his best game for the Swans against the Bombers at Blacktown on Saturday. The former Swans Academy member and first-year draftee led Sydney for disposals with 27, and finished the day with nine tackles, seven clearances, six inside 50s and a goal as Sydney came from behind to beat Redland by seven points in a thriller.

RUCK DOMINANCE

Craig ‘the mailman’ Malone once against delivered for Redland on Saturday with a dominant display in the ruck. Named best-on-ground – and deservedly so – Malone amassed 73 of the Bombers’ 76 hit-outs, which places him second on the all-time leaderboard for most hit-outs by an individual in a game (the record is held by former GIANTS Andrew Phillips with 82 against Aspley in 2015). Impressively, Malone actually holds three places in the top 10, having also recorded 72 hit-outs (v Sydney Uni in 2016) and 67 (v Sydney in 2016) previously in his career.

CLEARANCE BONANZA

There were some big numbers in the midfield this week with five players all recording 10 or more clearances. Redland’s Jack Rolls led the way with 13, followed by Tyler Roos (Southport), Nick Shipley (GIANTS), Payne (Aspley) and Bastinac (Brisbane) with 10 each. After three rounds, Rolls leads the competition for clearances with 28.

TACKLING MACHINE

Canberra’s Connor Owen-Auburn was one of the Demons’ best performers in a six-point loss to Southport at Phillip Oval. The 21-year-old laid 12 tackles – the most in Round 3 – to go with his 11 disposals and four inside 50s. Overall, Owen-Auburn led the competition for total ‘positives’ this week with 14, adding a spoil and a knock on to his team-orientated performance.