Anyone who's been watching Fox Footy this season will know their obsession with The Triangle, the idea that teams who win 2 out of 3 of contested possessions, effective disposal percentage and tackles, win the game 96% of the time.
Looking over these stats - the average of these three KPIs of every winning finalist last year works out to be (with wooden spooner from last year, Gold Coast's in brackets):
* - 158 contested possessions a game (139)
* - 70% disposal efficiency (71)
* - 71 tackles a game (62)
Adjusting the stats for TOG, it would work out to be 7 contested possessions a game and 3 tackles a game per player.
Our stats as a team in these areas so far:
vs. Richmond - 151 contested possessions, 73% efficiency, 64 tackles
vs. Brisbane - 165 contested possessions, 73% efficiency, 65 tackles.
Measuring individual performances over the past two weeks: (adjusted for TOG, rounded to even figures)
Contested possessions:
Best:
1) Marc Murphy - 20 per game
2) Andrew Carrazzo - 19 per game
3) Chris Judd - 18 per game
4) Ed Curnow - 14 per game
5) Mitch Robinson - 9 per game
6) Matt Kreuzer - 9 per game
7) Chris Yarran - 9 per game
Jeremy Laidler - 9 per game9) Eddie Betts - 9 per game
Worst:
1) Jordan Russell - 1 per game (Kane Lucas with similar game time has 7 if you were wondering..)
2) Dennis Armfield - 4 per game
3) Jeff Garlett - 4 per game
4) Bryce Gibbs - 5 per game
5) Lachlan Henderson - 6 per game
6) Bret Thornton - 6 per game
Amazing work from the top 3, and perhaps a decent way of showing the gap between the bottom 6 and the rest is slowly eroding. Russell aside, all are pretty close to meeting targets here.
Disposal efficiency
Best:
1) Jeff Garlett - 86%
2) Kane Lucas - 83%
3) Bryce Gibbs - 83%
4) Paul Bower - 81%
5) Matthew Kreuzer - 79%
Worst:
1) Shaun Hampson - 61%
2) Bret Thornton - 63%
3) Mitch Robinson - 65%
4) Ed Curnow - 69%
5) Marc Murphy/Eddie Betts - 69%
Almost an inverted showing of the previous readout, showing the need for a happy median here. Thornton's could be justified with most of his possessions being shots on goal, and has been somewhat inaccurate so far this year. Hampson's is surprising.
Tackles
Best:
1) Judd - 12
2) Curnow - 9
3) Kreuzer/Robinson/Scotland/Tuohy - 8
4) Carrazzo/Murphy - 7
5) Hampson/Lucas - 6
Worst:
1) Bower - 2
2) Henderson - 3
3) Laidler - 3
Everyone else meets the KPI here. Outstanding effort. Compare this to 2008, where we averaged 51 tackles a game. Almost like playing with an extra midfielder.
Geelong averaged 151 contested possessions a game, 74% disposal accuracy, and 69 tackles a game last year. We're slightly behind in the latter 2 KRAs so far, if we're talking premiership standard.
Our opponent next week in Collingwood has averaged 147, 72% and 60 in the past two weeks. Well below what we've put up in all three areas. Continue our dominance in the contested ball stakes - we should win comfortably.
