Ordinarily statistics like clearances and contested possessions are excluded from general commentary. They are more for SuperCoach fanatics and hard-core stats ‘nerds’.
But not this time. Not when Josh Kennedy is about to become the outright all-time AFL leader in not just one but both statistics.
Or at least since the League keeping records for such things. In 1998 for clearances and 1999 for contested possessions.
They are numbers that confirm what Swans fans already know – that the 33-year-old three-time All-Australian, three-time Bob Skilton Medallist and 2012 premiership player is one of the game’s great inside players.
Kennedy already shares top spot in all-time AFL clearances with Hawthorn midfielder turned coach Sam Mitchell at 1803, although Kennedy’s 286-game career is 43 fewer than Mitchell’s 329.
The numbers say he gets one this week to go clear – he averages 6.30 clearances a game.
The 33-year-old warrior is presently second all-time in contested possessions with 3992 – eight behind dual Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett Jr (4000).
Again, the Swans favorite is ahead on averages – he averages 13.96 per game to Ablett’s 11.20 – and again the numbers say he’ll top the former Geelong and Gold Coast star this week.
Among all players who have played at least 50 AFL games Kennedy ranks fourth all-time in average clearances and average contested possessions. Some numbers, though, are incomplete.
Brett Ratten, Carlton champion turned St Kilda coach, is listed at #1 in average clearances at 7.21 per game, but only the last six years and 113 games of his 14-year and 255-game career are counted.
Realistically the only two ahead of Kennedy are current Carlton captain Patrick Cripps (ave 7.01) and Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver (ave 6.65).
There is no disputing Kennedy is fourth in average contested possessions at 13.96, with Oliver (15.26), Cripps (14.26) and Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe (14.17) ahead of him.
Kennedy is also the Swans’ all-time leading possession-winner at 7099, and is second all-time in tackles with 1429, behind only Jude Bolton’s 1490.
In Swans-only statistics for contested possessions and clearances, nine players are included in the top 10 in both. The only variation is Daryn Cresswell 10th in clearances and Heath Grundy is 10th in contested possessions.
Top 10 all-time for the Swans are:
CLEARANCES
1 – Josh Kennedy – 1764
2 – Jude Bolton – 1215
3 – Luke Parker – 1188
4 – Brett Kirk – 948
5 – Adam Goodes – 903
6 – Kieren Jack - 863
7 – Jarrad McVeigh – 728
8 – Ryan O’Keefe – 685
9 – Dan Hannebery – 669
10 – Daryn Cresswell – 635 +
+ Only the last six years and 128 games of Cresswell’s 244 games over 12 years are included.
CONTESTED POSSESSIONS
1 – Josh Kennedy – 3888
2 – Jude Bolton – 3006
3 – Luke Parker – 2790
4 – Adam Goodes – 2783
5 – Ryan O’Keefe – 2250
6 – Kieren Jack – 2182
7 – Brett Kirk – 2064
8 – Jarrad McVeigh – 2021
9 – Dan Hannebery – 2020
10 – Heath Grundy – 1301
