(Written & Created By The Salamander)
A new season, a competition, a new scoring system. Sounds like it’s time for a new stats guide!
Full and detailed stats, including SalamanderCoach 2.0 scores, for every AFLW match ever played are attached below, but here is a quick summary to get you started:
2018 Top 10 Defenders
2018 Top 10 Midfielders
2018 Top 5 Rucks
2018 Top 10 Forwards
Potentially Underpriced:
CARL Darcy Vescio (FWD) $407000
Averaged 99 in 2017, dropping that to just 74 in 2018. This year, Carlton has a revamped midfield, a lot of extra leg speed, and is tipped to swap out the stodgy, stop-start ball movement of yesteryear for a run-and-gun style. This could be great for Carlton’s forwards – more (and hopefully better) entries, and a lot more one-on-ones (rather than the five-on-ones they had to endure due to the slow ball movement of previous seasons). Given the opportunity, Vescio has the capability to absolutely maul opposition defences.
CARL Tayla Harris (FWD) $621500
Already the fourth-highest averaging forward of 2018, Harris could take her scoring to another level in the situation I have described above.
ADEL Sarah Perkins (FWD) $264000
Averaged 112 in 2017, dropping to just 48 in 2018. If she and the Crows can recapture at least some of their 2017 form, she could be an absolute steal. There is, of course, also the chance that she and the Crows could repeat last year’s performance. But surely she’s worth the risk at that price.
ADEL Erin Phillips (MID) $605000
Having averaged 196 (!) in 2017, Phillips posted a somewhat more pedestrian average of 110 last year. A steal If she can get back to her best, and still a potential top 10-15 mid if she doesn’t, can you afford not to start her?
BL Lauren Arnell (MID) $302500
Now at Brisbane, the former Carlton captain averaged 99 in 2017, before falling out of form (and favour) in 2018. At her best, she is capable of scoring very highly.
GEEL Madeline Keryk (MID) $110000
Now at Geelong, Keryk averaged 68 in 2017, before managing only two games last year, for an average of just 20. Risky, but the Cats seem to be impressed with her, so at that price she is definitely worth considering if named for round 1.
MELB Karen Paxman (MID) $693000
With Daisy Pearce out for the season with pregnancy, can Melbourne’s number 2 midfielder step up in her absence? Has averaged 126 and 127 over the last two seasons.
WB Ellie Blackburn (MID) $687500
With Emma Kearney off to North Melbourne, Blackburn could improve on her 2018 average of 125. She also averaged 151 in 2017.
CARL Brianna Davey (MID / DEF) $632500
Averaged 115 in the opening two rounds of last year, before doing her ACL. Unfortunately, she doesn’t get a discount for having only played two games, but she did average 131 in 2017. There are risks in selecting her, however. First, ACLs can have a nasty habit of reoccurring; and second, because she is slated to move to the forward line this year, and I have no idea how that will affect her scoring. Maybe she’ll kick 12 goals per game and average 350. Maybe she’ll average 70. Maybe it won’t have any effect at all. Or maybe the experiment won’t work, and she’ll get sent back to defence after a couple of weeks. Who knows. Personally, I think I’ll probably be staying away this year, but I’m sure I’ll still think about it.
Who Not To Pick:
A comprehensive injury list has been hard to come by, but Wikipedia provides the following list of inactive players:
In addition to the above list, 2018 leading goal kicker Brooke Lochland has broken her leg, and will miss most, if not all, of the 2019 season.
If you know of any other players who are going to miss a good chunk of the season, let the rest of us know in the comments below!
Further Reading:
Club-by-club season previews, by a guy whose predictions were pretty good last year:
A summary of each club’s draft haul:
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-10-23/aflw-draft-who-did-your-club-select
Each club’s AFLW playing list, with player profiles:
DOWNLOADS:
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P.S. For any stats fiends or data nerds out there: I also have the raw data, which contains all kinds of extra information that didn’t find its way into the spreadsheets. Want to know what the weather was like when a game was played? Or if a team’s behinds went left, right, or hit the post (and which post)? Or how long each team spent in front? Or how long (in seconds) each quarter went for? All this and a whole lot more is there, in glorious, easy-to-use JSON format.
If you want to get your hands on it, let me know below, and I’ll send it through to you (be sure to include an email address).
Another player you should probably avoid: GEEL Richelle Cranston (MID) $522500
Suspended for the first two games due to an incident in a practice match.
Adelaide’s no. 1 ruck, Rhiannon Metcalfe, will miss the season with an ACL.
Jessica Allan (RUC / FWD), $192500, and Jessica Foley (RUC), $142000 are suddenly very relevant.
Collingwood is also in need of a new no. 1 ruck, with Emma King having moved to North Melbourne. Look out for Eliza Hynes (RUC / FWD), $220000, and Ruby Schleicher (RUC / FWD), $181500 when the round 1 teams are announced.