Not only do the two teams possess the top two spots on the ladder, but based on this season’s statistics, the two sides go together like a pie and sauce.
Let’s take a look at how the two sides match up:
Average points against
Geelong can currently take pride of place as the AFL’s stingiest team. The Cats backline has let through a meager 64.25 points a game. The Hawks on the other hand sit sixth with, on average, another two goals a game more than the Cats let in (76.25).
Average points for
Both sides can thank the thrashings they handed out on the weekend for the high placings in the points for column. The Hawks sit atop the tree with an average of 128.5 points per game whilst the Cats are in third spot with 101.5 points per game.
Disposals
Both sides figure highly in the average possessions column with the Hawks precision passing game putting them second (417.2) whilst the Cats more play on style of football placing them fifth (372). Leading the Cats in average possessions in 2014 are Steve Johnson (31.2, 2nd in AFL), Mathew Stokes (30.2, 6th in AFL) and Joel Selwood (29, 12th in AFL). For the Hawks, Sam Mitchell (31, 3rd in AFL) is the only Hawk in the league’s top 20.
A key area where next Monday’s game may be won and lost is the contested possession. The two sides could not be any closer in average contested possessions in 2014 with the Hawks ranked fifth (147.7) and the Cats ranked sixth (147.5). However the only player from the two clubs ranked in the top 20 in the AFL is Cats skipper Selwood who averages 15 (5th in AFL)
Marks
Both sides possess talent capable of taking a mark in any part of the ground. The Hawks sit second in the AFL for average marks per game (105.2) whilst the Cats aren’t far behind in fourth (97.7). Helping the Hawks to the high figure is Jack Gunston who is ranked 11th in the AFL with 8.2 a game.
Going inside 50 the Cats rank second in the AFL for average marks inside the forward arc (15.5). The Hawks are one spot behind the Cats in third with 13.2 a game. The main target for the Cats will be Tom Hawkins who has averaged 3.5 marks a game inside forward 50 making him the AFL’s number one ranked player. For the Hawks Luke Bruest is their main target averaging 2.5 forward 50 marks a game (5th in AFL).
In the centre
Eventually there had to be a spot where the two teams are poles apart. The Cats rank a lowly 17th in clearances per game with the Cats securing just 35 a game. The Hawks on the other hand sit fourth with 42 a game. Bizarrely, Joel Selwood is the number one player in the AFL for clearances per game, averaging 8.5.
The pressure of the Cats side has never been more evident than in 2014 with the Cats averaging 77.7 tackles a game (2nd in the AFL). The Hawks on the other hand rank dead last for tackles with a mere 47.7 a game. Cam Guthrie is currently ranked fifth in the AFL with eight a game.
Important players
With the new cap on rotations, a player’s ability to spend more time on the ground has never been as important. For the Hawks, defensive duo Josh Gibson (98.7% time on ground) and Kyle Cheney (97.2) are the highest ranked while Jimmy Bartel (95%) and Harry Taylor (93.8) are the two Cats out there the most.
Firepower
The Hawks have kicked the most goals this season in the AFL (78) with the Cats the third most (59). Helping the Hawks to this mammoth tally is the fact two of their players, Jarryd Roughead and Luke Bruest, sit second in the Coleman Medal race with 12 goals each. Tom Hawkins is the Cats main avenue to goal with 10 and sixth place in the Coleman. Jimmy Bartel is the Cats second highest goalkicker with 8.
So, as you can see, both sides are humming along, which will get their first wake-up call of 2014?
