Beating Richmond At Their Own Game
Last updated: Sep 25, 2018, 2:43AM | Published: Sep 25, 2018, 12:35AM
It was a jam-packed weekend of sporting action, and to celebrate another great round of sport we've picked out the key points that made *this* weekend so great.
We'll take a look through the weekend as Richmond were beaten at their own game, West Coast thrashed the Dees and we bare witness to another wild round of the English Premier League, plus much more.
This is Data Road Trip - investigating the key data points and numbers that formed what we saw in the week that was in sports.
Tigers Beaten At Their Own Game
Richmond got a taste of their own medicine on Friday night, as Collingwood mercilessly took them apart in every facet of the game in a clinical first half. The Tigers were shellshocked, and though they were able to play slightly better in the second half the scoreline ultimately flattered them.
Here's how it went down, with Collingwood dominating statistically:
- Disposal efficiency: 76% - 66%
- Inside 50's: 58-48
- Contested possessions: 155-149
- Uncontested possessions: 260-198
- Marks: 107-58
- Contested marks: 18-9
- Tackles: 72-61
- Clearances: 44-37
Stats Insider's Preliminary Final key factors outlined that Collingwood could reverse the trend on Richmond - and they did exactly that - in such a big way that (almost) nobody expected.
Eagles Shock The AFL
West Coast were incredible on Saturday, dismantling Melbourne in an absolute thrashing that shocked the entire AFL. The Eagles led by as many as 64 points in the first half, and from there the game was as good as over.
Melbourne's manic pressure wasn't there, and was completely turned around on them by the Eagles as they struggled to even manage the simplest of disposals.
Going into the clash, according to AFL data:
- West Coast are 17-0 when their contested possession count is -11 or better
- West Coast are 0-6 when their contested possession count is -12 or worse
Crucial as any statistic available, the Eagles won the contested possession count 158-145 and turned Melbourne's best asset against them, as they continued the trend on to an 18-0 record when their contested possession count is within 11.
Twelve Melbourne players didn't record a tackle at half-time, and their six behinds registered, represented the lowest-ever Preliminary Final score at half-time. The Demons managed just 34 tackles (compared to the Eagles 59), as the Eagles tore the Dees' season to shreds.
A Surprise NRL Grand Final Pairing
The Storm entered this season as defending premiers, and the Roosters, as favourites, so it's not a surprise to see these two teams playing in the Grand Final on Sunday.
Or is it?
Despite the fact 14 of the last 19 Grand Final's have featured either the Storm or the Roosters, they have never faced each other in the decider - until now.
Should the Roosters emerge victorious, it goes a fair way to justifying the punting of Mitchell Pearce for Cooper Cronk - even if Cronk doesn't play.
If the Storm go back-to-back on Sunday, they'll be the first premiers to do so in the NRL era.
Slater Shoulders Early Load
It may turn out to be the last first-half Billy Slater ever plays, depending on how his judiciary hearing goes on Tuesday night, but if it was, the 35-year-old will bow out playing brilliant footy.
That's a double for @billyslater!#NRLStormSharks#NRLFinals #NRL pic.twitter.com/rBbVel3cNg
— NRL (@NRL) September 21, 2018
By halftime, Slater had scored two tries, provided the last pass on another, and ran for 143 metres while registering eight tackle breaks. He was in everything, and played a leading role in the Storm building their formidable half-time lead.
Hopefully, he finds a way to get off his charge so fans of rugby league can see him one final time.
Defence Does It Again
We mentioned last week that the four best defensive teams in the NRL all featured in the Preliminary Finals and surprise, surprise: the two best defensive teams advanced to the decider conceding just 10 points between them.
The Roosters top the pile for the season (14.5 avg points conceded) after keeping the NRL's best attacking team, the Bunnies, try-less on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Storm sit just behind (15.3 avg points conceded) and will back themselves to contain a possibly Cronk-less Roosters on Sunday.
Premier League, Round 6
Let's take a look back at the weekend of Premier League action, with statistics taken from our friends at Opta.
- Sergio Aguero is Manchester City's all-time leading goalscorer with 204 goals; 27 more than any other player for the club.
- Since his debut for Fulham in Feb 2018, Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored more league goals across the top four tiers of English Football than any other player (17).
- Fred is the 500th different player to score a competitive goal for Manchester United (exc. own-goals).
- Jamie Vardy has found the net in his last three league appearances against Huddersfield.
- Man Utd have dropped six points from seven Premier League games at Old Trafford against newly-promoted opposition under Jose Mourinho; more than the Red Devils had dropped in 10 seasons in the top-flight between 2006-07 and 2015-16 (5 pts).
- There were 20 passes in the build-up for Riyad Mahrez's first goal for Manchester City vs Cardiff; the longest move for a goal so far in the Premier League this season.
- Chelsea midfielder Jorginho attempted 180 passes against West Ham – since 2003-04, this is the most by a player in a single Premier League match.
- Alexandre Lacazette has been directly involved in nine goals in his last nine starts in the Premier League, scoring seven whilst assisting a further two.
