Champion Data explain ratings system

Champion Data representative Daniel Hoyne has revealed the methodology behind the official AFL data partners controversial club ratings for the 2020 season.

The ratings received harsh feedback from football fans throughout social media, with a number of findings being questioned by confused followers.

While Geelong were the best defensive side last year, Champion Data had ranked them as the 16th best defensive club heading into the new season.

The Lions were handed a harsh grading of their forwards, being rated as the second-worst side heading into 2020 after being the only club to surpass 2,000 points-for last season.

Hoyne explained to SEN Breakfast that the ratings took individual player performances into account and did not consider team success within their analytics.

“So basically, a quick snapshot of how the ratings actually come about, it is based off a two-year period and it is based on individual talent. It doesn’t take into account how a team plays,” he told SEN Breakfast.

“It doesn’t take into account how a team defends behind the footy or with the footy. We saw last year that Geelong set up behind the ball with their controlled, slow, go wide ball movement.

“It worked a treat, but that’s not how the ratings favour individuals. If I’m Geelong, I’m looking at that and going ‘the way we defend is not suited to this rating system and hence why we are 16th’.

“It’s not a criticism of Chris Scott and his game style and his defence it’s just that the way that they move the footy is not suited to the actual ratings system.

“The rating system is based on how you win it, where you win it and what you do with it.

“So if you win the footy in an uncontested situation and go sideways to another uncontested teammate, you’re not going to get recognised because your teammate isn’t in a better position.

“Whereas if you’re a Patrick Cripps or a Patrick Dangerfield and you’re winning the footy in a contested situation and releasing the ball to a teammate in a better situation, you’re going to come up high on the ratings.

“If you think about the way Geelong defended, when they won the footy in the back half last year it was slow, go wide, go to an uncontested teammate – you’re not going to get recognised in this ratings system, but they defended as a team probably better than most in the competition.”

Reigning premiers Richmond were rated as the best defensive side in the league, with Hoyne explaining the Tigers brand of football suited well with their ratings system.

“Richmond were more aggressive with ball in hand, wanted to take the game on, which is favourable in this ratings system,” he said.

“Two teams who were probably the best defensive units in the competition defended in different ways.

“One was suited to the way this ratings system works, one was not.”

The Tigers were rated as the best side overall heading into 2020, with the Bulldogs and Collingwood following in 2nd and 3rd respectively.