Ouch

West Coast v North Melbourne in the 2012 First Elimination Final at Patersons Stadium, Subiaco, from 13:15 09Sep12.

Oi! Pick on someone your own size!
And age!! Adam Selwood and Brent
"Boomer" Harvey size up at Subi. 

North has not been in a finals series since 2008 so it was time for the Shinboners to step up. But it appears that this was not to be their year.Slow out of the blocks (2.8 for the first half, vs 11.8 from the home-side) they bounced back in the third with 6.2 to 4.3, but the Eagles put that all behind them, with a staggering 9.7 to 1.2 in the last.

Arden Street will be left to assess the ruins of their finals campaign for another year, a little earlier in the year than they would have wanted, but later than some other clubs which should have been in there but simply capitulated... Half of the league has started trimming the fat, but North aren't one of them .. just yet.

Final Scores
West Coast 7.4 11.8 15.11 24.18 (162).
Scorers Kennedy, Darling, Embley 4; Lynch 3; Hill, MacKenzie,  Hurn, Kerr, Nasten, Natanui, Shuey, McGinnty, Cox.

North Melbourne 0.3 2.8 8.10 9.12 (66)

Scorers Campbell, Harvey 3; Petrie, Hansen, Cunnington.

The  Weagles  travel to Melbourne next week to face the Magpies in a do-or-die battle to see who plays Sydney at the Olympic Stadium in the qualifying finals the following week. It's all shaping up to be an excellent Finals Series!

Here’s the final instalment of the Carlton player stats 1974-2012. Following the club’s dramatic and disappointing exit from the finals this year, this sheet has been posted a little earlier than I would have liked, but this gives me the chance to concentrate more on uni now the season’s over for another year. Yes, I’ll be following the finals with interest, hoping that some teams make it in favour of some others, but come the last Saturday inSeptember, I’ll probably be watching with a little less interested that I would otherwise have been.

This sheet, like the others before, is a snap-shot of the performance of every player to have appeared in the old dark Navy Blue during this short century, and features many players from the 1980s and 1990s as well as those who (would want to) don the jumper every week in this, the second decade of the 21^st Century.

You’ll also see, from 2009, Dreamteam (DT) scores and values. DT is one of two fantasy football leagues operated for AFL fans; the other being Supercoach (SC), which is run by News Limited separately and independent of the AFL. Many statistics websites, including those sourced for my stats spread sheets, show both the points and values for each of these leagues. I have only recorded the DT points and values because I played in that fantasy league during 2009 and 2010 but found that I couldn’t put the required amount of time into it to make it a good go of it.

The points and values are generated using codes and algorithms which are a closely guarded secret of those who wrote them. Each player is given a salary cap and can then choose any 25 players from across the AFL and pit them against teams either created by friends or other people in the league. Many players are well known commentators and former players and it was always interesting to see how the average Joe went up against these guys every week- I think I was up against Leigh Matthews, Dermott Brereton, and Barry Hall during those furtive attempts at fantasy footy.

In compiling these spread sheets, I find I am learning more about the players who generated these numbers. Why were some careers so short? What kept some players going and going and going? While these questions can’t necessarily be answered by these numbers, they certainly help explain the decisions made to delist or re-sign the players they do- that and following the game every week with a certain bias toward one of the League’s foundation clubs. A little more time, like fantasy footy, needs to be spent following the lower and other State leagues, the SANFL,* WAFL, and VFL, and the draft, to understand it more. This is also something I can’t do, but I get enough out of Australian football doing this!

Hopefully the URL that I generate for this sheet will lead to the page that I update every week next year. Otherwise I’ll just upload the next chapter with, more than likely, some deletions, some additions, and some old faithfuls that keep turning up each time to, hopefully, sing that famous song more than once of a weekend!

peterg
08Sep12

*I followed the SANFL during Rhys O’Keeffe’s final year at North Adelaide- the main aim of following this league was to follow both previous and former Carlton players like Rhys, Cain Ackland, Adrian Deluca, Mark Passador, and many of the current and rookie Port Adelaide and Adelaide player (Port players came mainly from the original Port Pies club, but Crows players played for all SANFL clubs when not selected for AFL Seniors duty). I compiled and posted statistical reports for Talking Carlton and got to know another stats nut at SA Footy who we might be able to mutually assist. But that’s another project for another lifetime…. 

Carlton VFL/AFL Player Statistics Page 2

Statistics weren’t always a part of Australian Rules football - it was not until 1974 that records* were kept beyond the number of games played and the number of goals scored. In 1987 those records were extended to include the number of tackles laid by a defensive player.

In 2008 those records were extended again to include: 

• Inside 50s: the number of times the ball is inside a side’s forward-50. An individual’s inside-50s count is the number of times that player has put the ball into his side’s forward-50. As with many AFL statistics, this may also count toward a goal-assist or, for the more powerful (or lucky) kickers, a goal.
• Goals contributed: the number of goals kicked as well as the number of goal-assists
• Goal-assists: a statistic which shows the last player to have had the ball prior to the one that scored the goal. Players like Chris Judd have a lot of goal-assists as they would prefer the “glory” to be taken by another player, whereas players like Brendan Fevola would prefer that glory for themselves.

After Round 12, 2012, these details were hidden from public view, changing back to the “standard” stats which were recorded from 1987. And from 2010 additional statistics of which I am yet to ascertain the meaning have been recorded. So my next page of stats is going to take a little longer to collate and post- do I include these new numbers, or just continue on with the ‘87s?! We will see in time enough!  

As we are seeing in the modern game, each touch of the ball represents a number of stats- follow a game live on www.afl.com.au any weekend and you’ll see that a game statistician’s is not an easy job! Contested or uncontested possessions, effective or ineffective disposals, errors, clangers, the list is huge. This spread-sheet is only a snap-shot of the main player stats from 1987 to 1999.

On the front page you will see the name of every man to have worn the old dark Navy Blue in that period, including names like Silvagni, Bradley, McKay, Ratten, Kernahan, Camporeale, Koutoufides... The first page shows the totals for each stat for each player for his entire career (Silvagni 312games 1985-2001, Bradley 375 games 1986-2002, McKay 244 games 1993-2003, Camporeale 233 games 1995-2006, Koutoufides 278 games 1992-2007, etc). The subsequent pages show the numbers for those players alongside those of his team mates for that year.

Have a look, bring back some memories, or wonder about memories you could have had of the late 1980s and the entire 1990s of the old dark Navy Blue!

peterg

16Aug12

*Champion Data, AFL Tables, FinalSiren, and All the Stats are just examples of statistical repositories for AFL players. The detail available is determined by how deep you want to drill!

Carlton VFL/AFL Player Statistics Page 1

This is a snap-shot of the player-statistics for every man to wear the Old Dark Navy Blue between 1974 and 1986.

Some of these players had been playing for years prior to this period, and others started during this time and continued on afterwards.

The numbers for those who started playing prior to this period cannot reflect their games from that time because these statistics (for the time being) were not recorded before 1974. For example, John Nicholls played from 1957 to 1974 but this sheet only reflects his statistics from those last 14 matches that he played in 1974. And Bruce Doull (1969-1986) only has the details of games played in the last 12 years of that era.

Records for 1897-1973, at the time of writing, only include Games Played/Won/Drawn/Lost, and the player’s Goals. Brownlow votes were recorded from 1924.

However, Stephen Silvagni, who started his playing career in 1986, continued on to the early years of the next century. While his summary shows the total for that career, you will only find the numbers from 1986 in this spread-sheet. The next pages in this series will fill that out more.

Players in each year are recorded according to their jumper number. Some changed : this has not been reflected on the summary page. The link to the web-page embedded in the first cell will lead you to that player's page at AFL Tables.

There is only one more page in this series for the moment, being 1987-1999. The reason for the breaks:

- More and different statistics were being recorded after 1987, and again after 2007

- I thought the end-of-the-Century would be a good break, anyway

More statistics began again in 2007, but as many of the players from that period are still playing, it's best not to upload it until there's another opportunity for a break. That will ensure accuracy of the data. 

My reason for doing this? I became interested in AFL as a sport in the 1990s, began following it in earnest in 2002, and became interested in the statistics of the game from 2006. These pages began to be compiled in 2007 and were renewed / revitalised this year when I found many, many mistakes, as well as new / more / older data.

Please let me know if there is any more explanation needed! Check my About Me page to get up-to-date stats on a game-by-game basis: snap-shots are taken at every break and posted to my Google Docs, with links tweeted and +'d almost immediately after the game.   

peterg

01Aug12

- Horse's birthday

- Swiss National Day

- Pinch-and-a-punch
- only 30 days left of my 47th year on earth. 

My Personal AFL Ladder

Just got talking to a couple of tweeps about which sides we don’t like and I got thinking about my old ladder.

For years I had a physical ladder from some publication or other onto which you could place each of the sides according to the official ladder of the time. I tired quickly of that but, instead, made up a ladder of my favourite sides in order.

Having sent five tweets this afternoon on the subject, and because I haven’t blogged for a while on any subject, I thought I’d revisit the situation for the new line-up.

1. CarltonFairly obvious
2. Greater Western SydneyI live in Western Sydney and have always loathed the Swans. Partly because I knew the Edelstens, and mainly because of Warwick Capper and what he continues to do for bogans everywhere. Plus the supporter-base of ex-rugby league no-nothings who constantly call to the referee for a penalty. Thankfully the Giants are going great guns: they have only won once this year but have come close on occasion: I saw their efforts against Richmond this weekend and have to give them props: they’re going to do much better, and soon! 
3. FremantleThere’s no real reason why these guys are up here. There’s just no real reason to dislike them
4. Western BulldogsI attended my first AFL match at the G: it was the Dogs vs the Tiges in Round 16. I flipped a coin as to whom I would support: it came down for the Dogs, so I bought a hat. But they lost (only narrowly)! See http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1994/071419940709.html
5. St KildaI have liked this side since Spida Everitt played for them, but before his racial rant against Scott Chisholm (http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/spida-wants-to-erase-a-dirty-memory/story-e6freck3-1225700538744) for which he atoned quite heavily (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Everitt), making him a better person for mine. I can’t think of any other reason than I always liked being there whenever I visit Melbourne, and my mate Dave (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=719080725).
6. North MelbourneCan’t say why I like these guys. Have to say that Wayne Carey is close to King Gronk, and is at least in the court, as is Denis Pagan, but for different reasons. I like Boomer, Arch, and big Micky Martin. Can’t think of a reason not to like them, to be honest
7.  EssendonThis side, among my compatriots, is referred to as the Scum. I’m sure the feeling is mutual! But I can’t think of a reason not to like them. I like Dean Rioli, James Hird (to an extent- was watching the match when he went to the fence and hugged the punter), and others I’m sure. When I was choosing a side to support, back in the mid 1990s, it was between these guys and the eventual “winners” which probably means they should be up at No.2…
8.  RichmondKnown as the Punt Road Ferals (the Punt Road runs through Richmond and past the MCG), Ninthmond (for their ability to finish ninth in a competition where the top 8 go on to the finals), and the Tiges. They’re the side I love to see do well, except when playing the Blues. They were on the tele when we went to see my nephew for the first time (R12, 2003: http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/2003/031420030614.html).
9. MelbourneKnown as the Dees, they’re a side which have been doing quite woefully these last few years. But there was a time in my lifetime that they were playing finals. Their last flag was 1964 (they beat Collingwood 8.16 to 8.12) and their last Grand Final appearance was 2000 (when they lost to the Bombers 11.9 to 19.21). Some sides just deserve better than they’re getting ….
10. Gold CoastJoined the League last year and have so far only won 3 games to Round 11, 2012 (all of them last year). I like an underdog…
11. Port AdelaideDon’t like them enough for them to be higher but like them more than their cross-town rivals. Their only problem is that David Koch is the #1 Ticket-holder (see also Gronk list).
12. AdelaideMost of their fans are feral to the extreme, but many of my good friends are Crows supporters.
13. HawthornA powerhouse in the 1980s, appearing in more Grand Finals than not. And looking toward becoming so again during the twenteens. Apart from that, I feel nothing...
14. West Coast
    Another powerhouse side back in the day, and doing surprisingly well this year. But, like Hawthorn, I got nothin'. 
15. Geelong
    Rising with Hawthorn as the team to beat in the Twenteens. But, like Hawthorn and West Coast ... meh
16. BrisbaneThey started the last decade as The Team to Beat, and have sunken to obscurity since. That arrogance has seen them tussle with 17 below for second-last spot on this ladder
17. SydneySee GWS above
18. CollingwoodThe team everyone loves to hate, for reasons too numerous to mention. Their president is Eddie Maguire (see also Gronk list). But some of my good friends are Pies supporters. So go figure. The hatred of Collingwood (and the mutual hatred by their supporters of all others) goes back to the days of the Gold Rush when Collingwood streets were running with the waste of the other suburbs. Just quietly, they still do (to an extent).

And that’s it. Numbers 4-17 are subject to change according to my mood or to what one of their number says in the press, etc. 

AFL Best and Worst

The shellacking that several sides copped this weekend sent me to the record books this morning to try to ascertain the best and worst ever.

Unfortunately the best-ever was the 1929 Filth side (18:0 1918:1117 171.71%). The 1995 Carlton side (20:2 2357:1711 90.91%) shares equal 8th spot with the 2009 St Kilda side (20:2 2197:1411 90.91%), but at least the Blues went on to win the Grand Final that year! (beating Gary Ablett's hapless Cats 141:80!!)!

The worst-ever, however, is a shared "honour" between
1913 and 1914 Students
1928 and 1950 Hawks
1931 and 1934 Kangaroos
1964 Lions
and the 1898-9 and 1902 Saints - all sides losing every match that year. The 1913 Students have the "honour" of having the lowest-ever end-of-year percentage of 47.02%.

What I was looking for, though, was the lowest-ever end-of-round-2 percentage. GWS are currently on 32.16% [unofficial at time of writing] with the Suns on 41.67% and the Demons on 47.72%. Looking back through the last ten years of the AFL and the first ten of the VFL, the 2008 Demons came close with 36.8, and the 1897 Geelong side had 38.7%. But the lowest of the low goes to the 1901 Blues with 16.8%, and the 1898 Saints 18.6%. Doubtless later years will reveal lower Round-2 percentages, so the Giants are not as bad as all that!


Sources-
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/seas/1897.html
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/seas/1898.html
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/seas/1901.html
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/seas/2008.html
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1995/030919950930.html
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/teams/allteams/season.html

Information management

The current uni course is on Information Management and the embedded video was recommended by eine Mitstudentin. The following description was also added - 

I thought I would share this with you all. It is the oldest system using metadata that I know.
The Mumbai Dabbahwallahs are basically a courier service delivering lunches around Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) in India. They collect lunches from the office workers’ homes in the suburbs and take it into the city to be delivered in time. They deliver around 200,000 lunches each day and they make less than one mistake per six million deliveries.
The whole system is also paperless, as most of the couriers are illiterate. They rely on colours, numbers and some letters. This system is over a century old and is nothing short of brilliant.
I am attaching a youtube video by National Geographic which shows you how they work. The Dabbahwallahs come into the video at about 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I am also adding a Wikipedia entry about Dabbahwallahs for those interested in more details.

Simply mazing!

peterg