Such a great finals series.

Instead of three in a row at home it's now...

Brisbane
Sydney
Adelaide

FFS

Such a great finals series.

Instead of three in a row at home it's now...

Brisbane
Sydney
Adelaide

FFS

Contested possessions on average have increased in all bar three finals campaigns since 2005, while the average number of stoppages typically increases markedly. There were almost 12 more stoppages per game in last year’s finals series compared to the home-and-away campaign. Although that was nothing like the 2017 finals when there was an average of 23 more stoppages per game, the September in which Richmond’s territory-based game plan and pressure at the contest played a role in such a major uptick en route to ending a 37-year premiership drought.
That contested possessions and stoppages increase highlights how much more physical contests can be.
That pressure around the ball correlates with an increase in tackles in all but four finals campaigns since 2005, while this could also explain, in part, why the number of free kicks typically have risen, although this hasn’t been the case in three of the past four seasons.

“You have got to win contest, and it’s real territory based, lots more contest to contest to contest,” McRae said.
“Teams that play uncontested [football] tend to get to finals, then it’s hard to be that team. Those sort of things get taken away from you quickly. You have got to be tough to win finals, and you have got to have players that step up.

“There are usually less marks, there is usually more pressure, there are usually more mistakes, particularly unforced ones. We have tried to create a game style that will stand up.”
Those mistakes Mitchell alludes to give opponents the chance to score off turnover, which is crucial, for 18 of the past 19 premiership teams have ranked top three in this category. Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Sydney, Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn rank top five in this sphere this season.
An increase in the number of inside 50s can be attributed to the typically heightened midfield skill and depth levels of the finalists, despite the increased number of stoppages and overall pressure, but one reason for the decrease in scoring is that the majority of the best eight teams boast blue-chip defenders and tight defensive set-ups.