Stats Central Stats that mattered in the GF - NAB League

Stats Central: Stats that mattered in the GF

Stats Central examines which stats influenced the Sandringham Dragons’ 17-point triumph over the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup Grand Final.

Sandringham’s defence often came to the rescue of its midfield on Sunday. Murray’s on-ball division – led by Will Brodie (22 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven clearances) and James Cousins (20, nine, six) – helped the Bushrangers win the contested possession count by five, the clearance count by eight and inside-50 count by seven.

But crucially, Murray was only able to score a goal from 19 per cent of its inside-50 entries (the Dragons scored a goal from 30 per cent of entries) thanks to the work of Sandringham’s reliable defensive group.

Ari Sakeson played a crucial role in limiting Bushrangers key forward and potential match-winner Todd Marshall to three disposals, one mark and two goals, recording 21 disposals and nine marks himself. Fellow taller defender Max Williams (13 disposals, five marks) was also a strong presence, while smaller play-makers Reuben Hayward (25 disposals, six marks) and Darcy James (13 disposals, seven rebound-50s) capitalised on their teammates’ work in the air by providing drive off half back.

Jack Scrimshaw was composed and skilful when played mostly in defence in the first half, typifying Dragons head coach Jeremy Barnard’s clear game plan to control the ball and the tempo of the match in defence – often by handball – before finding the right option moving forward.

The plan was evident in Sandringham’s +90 advantage in disposals, +88 advantage in uncontested possessions and +58 advantage in handball-receives. TAC Medallist Andrew McGrath was his team’s biggest weapon in implementing the plan, recording game-highs of 38 disposals, 23 handballs and 14 handball-receives, while Corey Lyons (24 disposals, 14 handball-receives), Tim Taranto (31, 12) and Harrison Burt (24, 12) also helped make the Dragons particularly potent when going inside 50.

But after the main break, Sandringham lifted its intensity around the contests too. McGrath had 28 disposals in the second half and finished with a game-high eight clearances, while Taranto’s 11 tackles was clearly the highest tally for the match. Scrimshaw moved forward and took advantage of their work as well, booting a goal and setting up two others.

The Dragons claimed the 2016 TAC Cup flag by absorbing what Murray threw at them and counter-attacking the best way they knew how.

Grand Final stats leaders:

KICKS
Ryan Garthwaite	Murray Bushrangers	17
Fletcher Carroll	Murray Bushrangers	15
Tim Taranto	Sandringham Dragons	14
Reuben Hayward	Sandringham Dragons	14
Oliver Florent	Sandringham Dragons	14

HANDBALLS
Andrew McGrath	Sandringham Dragons	25
Tim Taranto	Sandringham Dragons	17
Charlie Spargo	Murray Bushrangers	12
Harrison Burt	Sandringham Dragons	11
Jack Scrimshaw	Sandringham Dragons	11

MARKS
Ari Sakeson	Sandringham Dragons	9
Goy Lok	Sandringham Dragons	9
Ryan Garthwaite	Murray Bushrangers	9
Nick Richards	Murray Bushrangers	8
Tim Taranto	Sandringham Dragons	7

HITOUTS
Lachlan Filipovic	Sandringham Dragons	27
Max Lynch	Murray Bushrangers	12
Harry Boyd	Murray Bushrangers	9
Esava Ratugolea	Murray Bushrangers	8
Hayden McLean	Sandringham Dragons	6

TACKLES
Tim Taranto	Sandringham Dragons	11
Darcy James	Sandringham Dragons	6
Ryan Garthwaite	Murray Bushrangers	6
Will Brodie	Murray Bushrangers	6
Jack Scrimshaw	Sandringham Dragons	5

2016 LEADING GOALKICKERS
		Goals	Total
Karl Brown	Calder Cannons	DNP	46
Brett Blair	Geelong Falcons	DNP	40
Lachlan Tiziani	Murray Bushrangers	1	40
Sam Fowler	Dandenong Stingrays	DNP	35
Kayle Kirby	Bendigo Pioneers	DNP	32

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Stats Central: Stats that mattered in the GF

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