Understanding stats

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,686]

I don't get involved in Dreamteam, etc, but I still like to review stats of games. But I have a couple of queries I'd like some help with.

Query Number 1:

According to the AFL website, Nicho had 5 contested possessions and 10 uncontested possessions against PA. My maths tells me he had 15 possessions (unless there is another type). But he had 10 disposals. I can accept that discrepancy if it means there were 5 instances where he got caught with the ball and didn't dispose of it properly, or he got possession at the end of a quarter and the siren went. If that logic is correct, what I can't understand is how the same website says Frawley had 4 contested possessions and 10 uncontested possessions yet 15 disposals. How does that work? How can he have more disposals than possessions?

Query Number 2:

What is G%, which the wesbite helpfully tells me is "Goal Accuracy Percentage"? Every player has a number yet only 9 kicked goals last night. Is it meant to be each player's longterm accuracy? If so, has James Strauss ever kicked a goal...and if he hasn't how can he have an accuracy rating of, apparently, 84%?

Any help gratefully received.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,801]

Second would be time on ground %.

Not sure on the first.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,686]

Second would be time on ground %.

Not sure on the first.

I suspect you're right about the second. Nice of the AFL website to be so misleading. Who would have though "Goal Accuracy Percentage" actually meant "Time on Ground Percentage".

[deanox 9,896]

I cannot fully explain point one, but have read the definitions for 'contested' and 'uncontested' possessions used by the stats dept are something like those that follows:

-A contested possession is one where the ball is in dispute, which will therefore include loose ball gets (i.e. bombed into space, you run over and pick it up) and hard ball gets (two players dive for the ball, one gets it).

-An uncontested possession is one in which you receive the ball from a team mate (i.e handball receive, or mark).

I am not sure of how a contested mark is viewed (it would be strange if it wasnt a 'contested' possession), although strictly speaking it could fall into both categories. I am also not sure if 'they' have decided that loose ball gets in space with no real contest is actually an uncontested possession (this would introduce a subjective grey area.

Obviously there are lots of possessions that do not result in correct disposal, in fact there are way too many than there should be (dropping or releasing the ball appears acceptable these days).

With regards to the Frawley situation, my only thoughts are kicks off the ground (where disposal is never taken), unless the definition of contested and uncontested possessions are such that some possessions do not actually fit these criteria?

[Guest fitness]

Re point 1: quite simply, taking possession of the ball (i.e. a possession) does not always result in a disposal. The two terms have different meanings.

Edited July 17, 2011 by fitness

[jnrmac 20,053]

Re point 1: quite simply, taking possession of the ball (i.e. a possession) does not always result in a disposal. The two terms have different meanings.

If you are tackled and the ball spills free?

[Friday 71]

tap it onto another player

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,686]

Re point 1: quite simply, taking possession of the ball (i.e. a possession) does not always result in a disposal. The two terms have different meanings.

I don't disagree. But it hasn't answered the converse. How can Frawley have had more disposals than possessions? Another poster has suggested a kick off the ground. Perhaps that's the answer.

[Guest fitness]

I don't disagree. But it hasn't answered the converse. How can Frawley have had more disposals than possessions? Another poster has suggested a kick off the ground. Perhaps that's the answer.

I'd say that's almost certainly the answer - or a kick out of mid air a la Alan Didak or Marco Breciano.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,686]

Is this a coincidence? Or does someone at the AFL monitor Demonland Forums?

Not long after querying in this thread the 'G%' which according to the AFL website was measuring 'Goal Accuracy %', but wasn't, the AFL stats have now been fixed so it has the correct reference to time on ground.

[You can't see me, but assume I've got a self-satisfied smirk happening. And, yes, I'm easily satisfied.]