Stat Attack: The newbies

In the first Stat Attack of 2012, collingwoodfc.com.au looks at the form of the eight Collingwood debutants from the first week of the NAB Cup.

Debutants
Jonathon Ceglar (one game)
3 kicks, 3 handballs, 6 disposals, 50% disposal efficiency, 0 marks, 1 tackle

Split his time between full forward and the ruck, where he managed six hitouts and a goal. Didn't take a mark, but was involved in several pack contests where he brought the ball to ground.

Michael Hartley (two games)
3 kicks, 1 handball, 4 disposals, 50% disposal efficiency, 1 mark, 1 tackle

Hartley played at centre half back in both matches. His primary opponent was Bulldog Matthew Panos, and he conceded only three disposals in 21 minutes. He spent more time on the interchange against Greater Western Sydney, and conceded five disposals in 16 minutes.

Caolan Mooney (one game)
0 kicks, 1 handball, 1 disposal, 100% disposal efficiency, 0 marks, 1 tackle

The Irishman had his first taste of senior football and was afforded only nine minutes of game time. He managed his first handball and played mainly across half forward.

Jackson Paine (two games)
4 kicks, 0 handballs, 4 disposals, 1 mark, 50% disposal efficiency, 1 tackle

The Magpies’ first selection in last November’s National Draft made his mark with his miracle match-winning goal from the forward pocket. He played 61 minutes across the two matches and won three of his four disposals in contested situations. Paine played against veteran Bulldog Ryan Hargrave for most of the first match and failed to pick up a possession while Hargrave himself won four.

Paul Seedsman (two games)
4 kicks, 1 handball, 5 disposals, 60% disposal efficiency, 2 marks, 1 tackle

Was given only seven minutes against the Giants but played 35 minutes against the Western Bulldogs. Used mostly at half back where he gathered five disposals and showcased his ability to read the play, intercepting one of the Dogs’ forward fifty entries.

Marley Williams (two games)
6 kicks, 4 handballs, 10 disposals, 80% disposal efficiency, 1 marks, 1 tackle

A real standout for the Magpies, particularly in the first match against the Western Bulldogs. When drafted, Williams was touted as a contested ball winner and he didn’t disappoint. Of his 10 disposals, six were contested, and he used the ball with 80% efficiency. He also booted two goals in the second half having begun the match as a substitute.

Jarrod Witts (one game)
3 kicks, 2 handballs, 5 disposals, 60% disposal efficiency, 0 marks, 2 tackles

Sat out the first match and debuted against Greater Western Sydney. Won two hitouts, five disposals and a clearance against former Port Adelaide ruckman Jonathan Giles.

Peter Yagmoor (two games)
9 kicks, 5 handballs, 14 disposals, 71.4% disposal efficiency, 5 marks, 2 tackles

One of Collingwood’s best across two matches at half back. Read the play well, illustrated by his five marks and five rebounds from the defensive fifty. Recorded a 77.8% disposal efficiency and played 96.%% of the match.

What impact did the double substitute rule have?
The AFL’s decision to increase the amount of substitutes on the interchange during the NAB Cup (two interchange players, two substitutes) meant that all clubs had to reassess the way they looked to rotate their players.

Saturday’s matches comprised two 20-minute halves, with the Magpies playing a total of 84 minutes.

Of Collingwood’s 24 players, only Chris Dawes, Heath Shaw and Alan Toovey played 100% of the game time across the two matches. Youngsters Peter Yagmoor (96.5%) and Jackson Paine (94.8%) also spent most of the match on the field, which was a fine effort considering the humid conditions.

Substitutes Caolan Mooney (23.4%) and Jarrod Witts (47.4%) spent less than half the night on the ground, while the unfortunate Brent Macaffer (14.6%) was sidelined early with a knee injury.

The substitutes in the first match were Shae McNamara and Marley Williams (who replaced Macaffer at half time), and in the second match Caolan Mooney and Tom Young started in the red vest.

The leather magnets
The usual suspects rose to the fore when the ball was there to be won. Dale Thomas was the most consistent ball winner of the evening with 26 disposals.

1. Dale Thomas - 26 disposals (80.8% efficiency)
2. Steele Sidebottom - 20 disposals (80.0% efficiency)
3. Luke Ball - 17 disposals (64.7% efficiency)
3. Heath Shaw - 17 disposals (64.7% efficiency)
3. Dane Swan - 17 disposals (64.7% efficiency)

Dream Team heroes
Simon Buckley and Heath Shaw shared the spoils n the match against the Western Bulldogs with 47 DT points each. Steele Sidebottom (44), Dale Thomas (42) and the Dream Team king himself Dane Swan (37) were other prominent point scorers.

Thomas recorded Collingwood’s highest DT score of the night (71), followed by stand-in captain Luke Ball (51), Heath Shaw (43) and rookie Shae McNamara (39).