AFL Teams

The stats that matter for your AFL club in Opening Round

What key stat does your club need to master in first week of the season?

Published by
Callum Farquhar

Each AFL club has a unique playstyle, and it often can be reflected in a certain metric post-match. These specific stats play a vital role in whether your club will succeed on gameday throughout the 24 rounds of an AFL season.

Whether that be through defensive tackling pressure, the ability to hit the scoreboard or midfield clearance work, there are statistics for every team that defines how they play.

With Opening Round almost upon us, let's take a look at the aspect your club has to nail, in what will be four tight matches across the first weekend of AFL football in 2024.

Sydney vs Melbourne

Sydney – tackles

The Swans are all about bringing the pressure, which was demonstrated last year as they were second in tackles across the competition (66.8 per game) as well as fifth for tackles inside 50 (11.3 per game).

However, when Sydney are unable to apply pressure, they can be beaten comfortably. In last year's Round 2 matchup against the Demons, the Swans lost by 50 points when they laid only 45 tackles, a sharp decrease on their season average.

In two season-defining games towards the rear-end of 2023, the Swans applied 85 tackles in back-to-back games versus Gold Coast and Adelaide, both resulting in critical wins that would secure them a finals spot. If the Swans can apply that sort of relentless pressure against Melbourne, a win to start the season may be on the cards.

Melbourne – marks inside 50

Boasting a formidable forward line of premiership player Bayley Fritsch, Jacob van Rooyen, and occasionally All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn, it is obvious that marks inside 50 are crucial to the Demons' scoring capabilities.

In 2023, Melbourne averaged the sixth most marks inside 50 (12.8 per game), assisting the Demons to finish top-four.

However, the Demons only recorded nine marks inside 50 in the qualifying final loss despite nearly doubling Collingwood's inside 50 count.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Jacob van Rooyen of the Demons celebrates a goal during the 2023 AFL Round 06 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 24, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Melbourne showed a demonstrated improvement in the AAMI Community Series however, notching up a ridiculous 20 marks inside 50 in their win over Carlton. A number close to that on Thursday night would surely reward the Demons with a high-flying start to 2024.

Brisbane vs Carlton

Brisbane – clearances

To put it simply, the Lions are the clearance kings of the AFL. Brisbane were first in total clearances, first in centre clearances and second in stoppage clearances in 2023. Who can be surprised though, with a midfield possessing two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale.

Clearances allow Brisbane to attack frequently and produce several scoring opportunities for their forward line. The Lions ranked third for shots on goal in 2023, and scored the second most goals per game on average.

The ability to generate scoring opportunities from the midfield's clearance work is what will determine whether Brisbane win on Friday night. Carlton were 11th in the league for shots on goal last year, and scored six less times than Brisbane in the 2023 preliminary final.

If the Lions can win the clearance battle, it could be the defining aspect of what looms to be a tight contest.

Carlton – goalkicking efficiency

As comedic as it may be for rival fans, it was a painful watch for Carlton's faithful throughout 2023, as easy goalkicking opportunities continuously went astray.

Of course, Harry McKay had an infamous season of poor form, but as an overall team Carlton faltered in front of goal. The Blues had a goalkicking efficiency of just 22%, the fifth worst in the league. In addition, Carlton sat at 11th for goals per game in 2023, yet sixth for behinds per game, highlighting the poor goalkicking from the 'Baggers'.

A straighter-kicking display of 14.9 beating Collingwood in Round 20 indicates that when the kicking boots are on, Carlton are undoubtedly a premiership-contending team.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Harry McKay of the Blues celebrates a goal during the 2022 AFL Round 02 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Carlton Blues at Marvel Stadium on March 24, 2022 In Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Despite some shaky efforts in front of goal from McKay in the pre-season match against Melbourne, Carlton kicked an impressive 10.3. A straight-kicking display versus the Lions could prove the difference between winning and losing on Friday night. 

Gold Coast vs Richmond

Gold Coast  – clearances and contested possessions

The Suns head into 2024 with Damien Hardwick at the helm, and he sure would be licking his lips at the midfield selection. The class of Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell and Touk Miller provide the Suns with the ability to win stoppages, ranking fourth in the competition despite a 15th-place finish in 2023.

The Suns also ranked seventh in contested possessions last year, even while being ranked 16th for total disposals.

If the midfield bulls can get their hands dirty at the contest, Hardwick could be lining up a win against his old side in Opening Round.

Richmond – clangers

Yet another team under new management, the Tigers will be aiming to not only win, but play with fewer turnovers. Richmond had the most clangers in the AFL per game in 2023, averaging 65.4, four more than second-worst St Kilda. The Tigers ranking in disposal efficiency reflects the clangers figure, sitting 16th in the competition.

The last time the two clubs faced off, Richmond's disposal efficiency sat at 69% in the four-goal home loss. In their pre-season hitout versus Collingwood, the Tigers efficiency sat at just 71.1%.

Although it may take time getting used to Adem Yze's playstyle, if Richmond are to produce a win on Saturday they need to cut the clangers down.

GWS vs Collingwood

GWS – tackles inside 50

The Giants are another club that thrives from pressure acts, especially in their forward half. Hosting a forward line of plucky smalls such as Toby Greene and Brent Daniels, GWS were able to average 12.6 tackles inside 50 per game in 2023, the most in the AFL.

Tackles inside 50 will ultimately be what allows GWS to overcome the reigning premiers in Opening Round, the team which they fell agonisingly short against in the preliminary final last year.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Toby Greene of the Giants celebrates kicking a goal during the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Collingwood Magpies at GIANTS Stadium on July 20, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos via Getty Images )

In that game against the Magpies, the Giants laid only seven tackles inside 50. However, they accumulated 12 in their strong showing in their pre-season match versus the Suns on Thursday night.

A repeat of that in Opening Round could see them edge out Collingwood this time around.

Collingwood – goal assists

Coming into 2024 as the reigning premiers, one specific stat doesn't do Collingwood enough justice for the well-oiled machine they are. When it comes to team chemistry, the Pies are as good as it gets, which can be indicated through their goal assists.

Finishing equal first for goal assists per game in 2023 (9.8), Collingwood players evidently know how to link up with their teammates. Their forward line has been bolstered by the addition of Lachie Schultz, and proven players Jamie Elliott and Brody Mihocek will be an ominous presence once again.

Add the classy midfield that includes the Daicos brothers, Scott Pendlebury and Jordan De Goey, Collingwood are primed to have another season of chiselling kicks and counter-attacking play. Anything similar to 2023 on Saturday night will give them a loud shout at beating GWS.

Callum Farquhar is an avid football writer and a student at the Swinburne University of Technology, studying Media and Communications. 

Published by
Callum Farquhar