The Sydney Swans' midfield is still equipped with the best ball winners in the competition, according to Champion Data.
The AFL’s official number crunchers rank the Swans first in the competition for overall midfield quality, with Josh Kennedy considered the pick of the bunch.
Champion Data had no choice but to name Kennedy among the AFL’s elite earlier this year after he averaged more than 30 disposals per game in 2015, including an average of 16 contested possessions.
The 27-year-old also managed seven clearances and six tackles a game.
And when you narrow it down to the Swans’ top six on-ballers (Kennedy, Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker, Kieren Jack, Tom Mitchell and Jarrad McVeigh), the red and white also rank well, coming in third behind Fremantle (1st) and Geelong (2nd).
On paper, the numbers point to the Swans having a strong season as matches are usually, especially in modern football, won or lost in the middle.
A fully functional, hard-working midfield has a considerable impact on the game. If the opposite happens, even by a small percentage, results can be unfavourable.
Following the loss to GWS last weekend, senior coach John Longmire referred to the stats sheet and pointed to one specific column – uncontested possessions.
GWS enjoyed more free footy (154-206) at Drummoyne Oval, while the Swans had to work harder for their possessions (46% of disposals were contested vs GWS’ 39%).
The flow-on effect was that the Giants were able to move the ball more effectively and efficiently around the ground.
“That's a measure of your work rate versus the opposition, both to get the ball and stopping the opposition getting the ball," Longmire said post-match.
“We just thought too often they were able to get the ball from one end of the ground to the other without enough pressure on them.
"It's the ability to use the ball when we have our turn, but the work rate to get across to stop the opposition from using it was probably pretty low.
"We're not happy with the way we played and we need to get better at it (on Friday against Carlton).”
And the Swans will, according to defender Heath Grundy.
Grundy believes with the quality of players in the Swans’ midfield group, it will only be a matter of time before things fall into place.
“I don’t think you can point that (criticism) at the midfield, we’ve got some pretty good players in there,” Grundy told media on Wednesday.
“It’s just a matter of getting everyone on the same page and play how we want to play … and how Horse (Longmire) wants us to play.
“And of course getting the younger guys on board with that.
“We’ve got some things to work on and we look forward to that challenge.”
Only McVeigh will be missing from that on-ball division when the Swans take on the Blues at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
