Club versus competition
Kicks and kick-ins
Collingwood are renowned for moving the ball quickly down the ground which resulted in a 2:1 (4,782:2,751) kick to handball ratio. The Magpies ranked second in kicks per game and finished 16th in handballs per game.
The team was extremely efficient in kick-ins that resulted in goals this season. From 80 inside-50s coming out of kick-ins, 27 inside-50s led to scoring goals. Once the ball moved in the Magpies attacking 50, the team converted at a staggering 34% of the time. This statistic proves that Collingwood’s disposal by foot, when done with accuracy, can move the ball from end-to-end in a timely manner giving the opposition little chance to defensively regroup.
Collingwood had an 11% chance of kicking a goal from a play derived from a kick-in.
The Magpie game plan proved efficient ranking second in the competition from goals from kick-ins.
The team favoured the right-side (on kick-ins) of the ground kicking there 45% of the time.
Goals
Collingwood ranked fourth in the league in points per game; an impressive ranking considering the injuries sustained to their forward line over the course of the season.
Collingwood kicked the most goals (111) in the competition from the range of 41 - 50 metres. They were successful from this distance 58% of the time.
Tackles
Applying defensive pressure was another key aspect in the success to make the finals as was evident in the win against Geelong (round nine). The team was fifth in the competition in tackles per game.
Endurance
The club’s endurance over the course of the season is a tell-tale sign of the youth coming through the club. They ranked first in the competition in least opponent tackles per game.
Collingwood players versus competition
Game Time
Defender Harry O’Brien was the least rotated player in the competition (three times in 22 games). He finished his season playing 99.4% of possible game time, which is first among players who have played more than one game.
Collingwood’s midfield was heavily rotated throughout the season. Dane Swan (168 interchanges) and Shane O’Bree (152 interchanges) led the league. This is a remarkable statistic for Swan who finished the year ranked 12th in total disposals (540).
Marks
Paul Medhurst was a marking machine ending the year with 165 marks (seventh). His move from forward to midfield saw the number of marks he took decrease by 23%.
Travis Cloke was eighth in the AFL in contested marks.
O’Bree: Hard as they come
O’Bree hit the century mark in total tackles with 101 leaving him in 13th position in the AFL. He finished the year in second position in “blocks” and ninth in knock-on’s.
