Ex-Wallaby Ben Darwin is back in the media chatting about cohesion and player familiarity accounting for around 40 percent of sporting success - according to the number crunching of his data analytics company Game Line (for the record, he attributes just 2% to coaching, but I think it's probably a little more complex than that as to game-plans/tactics etc.). There's not much here to dig into but there are other sources if you search around: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2020/oct/19/ben-darwins-theory-of-sport-evolution-familiarity-breeds-success.

I recently noted that Clarry, Harmes and Trac were all in the top ten for current consecutive games played (Langdon is also up the top of the list). Harmes has since dropped out, but it's interesting to note that Darwin highlights player positional moves (i.e. cohesion) as having another serious but detrimental impact on performance (something we're all aware of, but not something I'll ride the coach for just yet). Throw in Salem and Brayshaw (bar the end of this season), and our core midfield talent are starting to string a lot of games together alongside one other. 

While the article focuses on rugby and soccer, I do believe the AFL was part of the sizeable data-set (I admittedly have no idea how it's been quantified and interpreted though). How well do you think such a notion translates to the intricacies of the AFL? Are there many counter-examples? Off the top of my head, the recent AFL dynasties do seem to have been built off a core group of players coming through the draft together (some through concessions, but that's not entirely relevant here). We look at other chips falling in place, but are these partially incidental? 

 

As I have said before in a post, the late Dean Bailey used to say that it takes 70 games played as a group to build the sort of cohesion and understanding needed for success. We are getting to this target -  Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Salem, Harmes, Gawn, TMac(?), Viney, Jetta and maybe others. It is significant that Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw and Gawn have been prominent in recent Brownlows.

MaCartney used to say that it takes 5 years to build an AFL footballer. Combine the two and 2020 was supposed to be our year but it will now have to wait for 2021. With good coaching and leadership it's nearly time for this group to burst out and find success.

 

16 minutes ago, tiers said:

As I have said before in a post, the late Dean Bailey used to say that it takes 70 games played as a group to build the sort of cohesion and understanding needed for success. We are getting to this target -  Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Salem, Harmes, Gawn, TMac(?), Viney, Jetta and maybe others. It is significant that Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw and Gawn have been prominent in recent Brownlows.

MaCartney used to say that it takes 5 years to build an AFL footballer. Combine the two and 2020 was supposed to be our year but it will now have to wait for 2021. With good coaching and leadership it's nearly time for this group to burst out and find success.

 

Far too scientific by Darwin.

BUT the games together is a fact providing you are doing the right thing !!!

HOWEVER we need another 5 good players to join this season and a Bout 5 progress to C+ or B -B- to give greater depth to our list .

Clearly   this years form of our top end ( other thsn Gus) played well And are looking like A or B to B + players.

But our depth disappointed ie Hannan Smith AVB ANB Jets Harmes Melksham Tommy Omac snd Bedford And Baker should have Been played more fir development sake.

Our recruiting  was great 3 draftees who are 200 potential gamers and Ed Langers  great and Tommo will be a Serviceable  versatile Player over the next 3 years. Add Sparrow and Lockhart developing very handy from prev year.

BUT Coaching and development agsin down and needs quick improvement.

It takes 4/5 years to develop a fun SF is dude snd we Are nearly in the cusp.

Hang in and let's see what 2021 brings but 5 extra B and 5 C graders are needed in draft and natural improvement yo become a CST or Tiger team to challenge each year. 

 

 

38 minutes ago, 58er said:

Far too scientific by Darwin.

BUT the games together is a fact providing you are doing the right thing !!!

Correct! What is this hypothetical group doing while they are chalking up 70 games together?

Learning an effective game plan and how to execute it?

Or just marking time, waiting for the magical 70 games milestone to appear, and then blammo! Automatic premiership cup.

 

Games as a group, and good football .... which one is the cause and which one the effect?

1 hour ago, 58er said:

Clearly   this years form of our top end ( other thsn Gus) played well And are looking like A or B to B + players.

But our depth disappointed ie Hannan Smith AVB ANB Jets Harmes Melksham Tommy Omac snd Bedford And Baker should have Been played more fir development sake.

I'm of the view that our depth wasn't the major problem this year but our most senior players being shot (or not firing a shot) - Jones, TMac, Jetta and Melksham (leading to a lack of cohesion with three of the four in and out of team). Obviously these blokes have played a lot of games together as well now and in tandem with our younger guns - so age profile obviously also plays an important role when considering cohesion. Darwin points out that in his opinion the correlation is strong enough to conclude causation. But I guess it's a matter of working backwards - looking at the attributes of the most successful teams, with a 40% figure assigned by way of some in-house formula to cohesion and player familiarity. It may not be the major single predictor of success though. 

2 minutes ago, Skuit said:

I'm of the view that our depth wasn't the major problem this year but our most senior players being shot (or not firing a shot) - Jones, TMac, Jetta and Melksham (leading to a lack of cohesion with three of the four in and out of team). Obviously these blokes have played a lot of games together as well now and in tandem with our younger guns - so age profile obviously also plays an important role when considering cohesion. Darwin points out that in his opinion the correlation is strong enough to conclude causation. But I guess it's a matter of working backwards - looking at the attributes of the most successful teams, with a 40% figure assigned by way of some in-house formula to cohesion and player familiarity. It may not be the major single predictor of success though. 

Skuit thanks but my point was ( and Jones and Tmac  also guilty) that the  if the depth  players had good seasons like our top end we would prob have won 3  more Games and been about 4/5/6 going  into amFinals.

Playing  well means being part of the team and fitting in to the plan ( which is the elephant in the Room in any case).
 

Thsts why our depth needs strengthening in the draft and trade plus in development of players like Geelong  have done  this season.
 

Thrn we will have 25/30 C/B graders and above to challenge fir a flag.00