THE BEHIND POSTS [II.01] (Miscellaneous)

First "The Behind Post" after the blog's anniversary. Featuring this week: Stats; Lycett; GremioPower as AFL Commissioner; and some more random stuff.

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2019 v 2017 in Numbers

There are two equally wrong approaches to stats: disregarding them as useless; and believing they are flawless. They are tools that, properly understood and handled, may be very useful. Nothing more, but nothing less either.

Up to now, there seem to be an agreement that 2019 has been very similar to 2017. The season is just starting, so the sample is very small. But the equivalences and the differences are, at least, amusing.

For instance, coincidentally, in both seasons: we started with 2 wins, 2 losses, and 1 win, in our first 5 games; we played 2 home and 3 away games; in Round 1, we have beaten teams that were considered flag contenders and set their seasons on fire; and we played against Carlton.

Here, some more meaningful numbers:

2019 v. 2017 - First five games (Avg.)

Port
Sc. Shots: 25.40 - 29.20 (-3.80)

Goals: 13.00 - 16.40 (-3.40)
Behinds: 12.40 - 12.80 (-0.40)

Points: 90.40 - 111.20 (-20.80)

Opponents

Sc. Shots: 19.40 - 22.40 (-3.00)

Goals: 11.80 - 11.40 (+0.40)
Behinds: 7.60 - 11.00 (-3.40)

Points: 78.40 - 79.40 (-1.00)

Basically, scoring shots have been down similarly between us and the opposition. However, the number of ‘goals against’ and ‘behinds for’ have remained constant. The difference is that we are both kicking fewer goals and conceding fewer behinds. That's mental!

Now, this is what is good about stats. They bring up questions. 

Still, so far, the opposition is scoring better than in 2017 from fewer shots, fewer I50, and fewer possessions, right? They don't get much of the ball as they did then, but, when they do, they go for the kill.

Are we turning the ball over more? Is this a consequence of the 6-6-6 rule? Are the opponents simply pulling goals out of their asses? Is it the umpires? Are they playing on our weak points?

On the other hand, why are we failing offensivelly? Are we kicking from bad spots? Are we giving the ball to the wrong players? have we been unable to explore the opposition's defensive weaknesses?

Sincerely, I don't know. It could be merely accidental, but we must answer those questions as soon as possible.

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Melting Done Right

Kenny Hinklueless. He can't help it! We have faced 3 bottom-6 sides for a 2-2 record, but everything is fine...

Magpies destroyed the Lions. We lost in Brisbane and went UNCHANGED against a depleted Richmond. We lost again and, now, we make ONE change.
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Mea Culpa

2019 RECORD
GremioPower's Game Day thread: 0-2
Anyone else's: 3-0

I'm not doing it anymore! You are all welcome.
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Age of Mistakes

It were different times back then, with the split and our post-2007 AFL free fall. We were wrong passing on Lycett in the 2010 Draft, but that happened in an "Age of Mistakes." It was merely one more for the record.

Still, Lycett to Port is a different kind of "homecoming". He is back to his CLUB. It would be more similar to Abblet's return to Geelong than a normal case of "homesickness." At least, that is my impression. You all are closer to the facts than I am. If I am wrong, please correct me.

Either way, it was a great pick up. With Ladhams and Hayes coming up, we seem ok in the ruck. However, there seems to be no such a thing as too many ruckmen. We should keep working on developing them — even eventual rucks like Dixon, Howard, and Frampton.

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AFL against Common Sense

There is a huge difference between ruling on the letter and on the spirit of the law. There are too many AFL umpires without common sense.

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Being Ironic

Finally, an opposition barracker come here confident that his team will beat ours comfortably! [Note: he didn’t.]

You all are favourites. The obligation to win is yours. Port is ripe for the taken. We always struggle after a big win. We don't play well at home. We cannot stop KPF. Our players will play as if they have won the flag on Friday. I fully expect Ben Brown to be BOG; Polec to destroy us from the wing; and Pittard to have the game of his life.

Look. We have still a lot of work to do to reach the level of the Victorian Powerhouses like North Melbourne. We are merely a small blue-collar suburban club from little Adelaide. We know it!

However, we have shown time and time again that Port can fight above its weight. You may be favourites and taking the 4 points for granted, but 100-point belting is an overstatement!
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Me the Comissioner

If GremioPower ran the AFL, the league would:

a) put the "North Football Club" in Hobart;
b) relocate the Dogs to Darwin (the "NT Footscray Football Club");
c) merge St. Kilda and Gold Coast (the "Kilda-Gold Saints");
d) rename the Lions as the "Fitzroy Football Club of Brisbane;" and
e) bring West Perth F.C. in as the 18th club.

So, the 12 original VFL clubs would all exist. Although 5 would have been relocated, their original identities would be preserved as much as possible.

I wouldn't rule out them regularly hosting some games in Melbourne - specially in their actual home grounds. I would also consider having their reserve teams playing in the VFL (which would be the first step towards the AFL Reserves league).

Now you all know why GremioPower will never run the AFL...

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BONUS

This boy looks a bit like me when I was a kid. Kind of scary, to be honest...