Why I place little faith in player stats

[Matabele]

There was the infamous stats king over at ME and it appears in recent weeks as though Fluff has taken on that mantle for AE.

Here are Menzies' stats for the City vs Country game.

Tackles 28
Missed tackles 6
Hit up 10
Total metres 42

A lot of people would pan those stats. The reality was that he had a blinder and jagged man of the match.

So much for stats ..........

 

[ads]

It's because stats work in cold numbers. They are an indicator rather than a conclusive proof.

They don't take into acount the impact of the metres, or the tackles, or other onfield organisation stuff. 42 vital metres is much more useful than 100 pointless metres.

So they are useful but not the be all and end all.

 

[KaZa]

metres is crap. Donald may do nothing the whole game and make a 90 metre bust in the 80th minute and have more metres made than Menzies.

 

[c_eagle]

I agree mata. Stat queens like Fitzgibbon and Swain look great on paper but play a bit like Michael Bevan played cricket, to improve their average.

 

[byso]

I think stats like

Line breaks
Offloads
Missed tackles
tackles
Try Assists
Hitups

Are important.

 

[byso]

<img src='http://www.alternateeagles.com/byso/General/2005 stats rd9 Monas v orford.jpg' alt='' style='vertical-align:middle; border:0' />

Mata, So what do you think of these stats?

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

"Stats are like mini skirts. What they reveal is great,but what they hide is vital"

 

[Fluffy]

Stats pick up the things you miss with the naked eye - the naked eye picks up the things you miss with stats.

However stats are objective and the eye is subjective.

 

[Volley]

I agree mata. Stat queens like Fitzgibbon and Swain look great on paper but play a bit like Michael Bevan played cricket, to improve their average.

Quit drugsmoking.

I agree with most sentiments, but Kiwi's is probably the best.

 

[Matabele]

Rubbish Fluffy. Stats can only be viewed within the context of the game. When taken in isolation, as you're prone to do, they're less than meaningless.

Byso, why don't you compare the stats between Orford and Monaghan in the games they played against the Broncos?

 

[Blunty]

Byso, why don't you compare the stats between Orford and Monaghan in the games they played against the Broncos?

beat[/b] Melbourne. Those stats might be interesting to compare.

 

[c_eagle]

While I was drug smoking I compiled this list. It shows how much crap a stat like Try Assist is.

Try Assists for the NRL Halves combos

1. Parramatta 21 (Tim Smith 14, John Morris 7)
2. Broncos 15 (Darren Lockyer 8, Brett Seymour 7)
3. Cowboys 12 (Johnathan Thurston 9, Justin Smith 3)
4. Sharks 12 (Brett Kimmorley 8, Adam Dykes 4)
5. Storm 12 (Matt Orford 8, Scott Hill 4)
6. Panthers 11 (Craig Gower 10, Preston Campbell 1)
7. Sea Eagles 10 (Michael Monaghan 7, Michael Witt 3)
8. Dragons 9 (Matthew Head 7, Trent Barrett 2)
9. Bulldogs 9 (Brent Sherwin 7, Braith Anasta 2)
10. Tigers 8 (Scott Prince 7, Benji Marshall 1)
11. Knights 8 (Andrew Johns 4, Kurt Gidley 4)
12. Roosters 7 (Brett Finch 5, Jamie Soward 2)
13. Warriors 6 (Stacey Jones 4, Lance Hohaia 2)
14. Souths 6 (Joe Williams 4, John Sutton 2)
15. Raiders 6 (Jason Smith 5, Lincon Withers 1)

Raiders last? Smith with only 5? Very deceptive...

 

[willstyles]

I wish I was that productive when I smoked drugs.

 

[Volley]

I was referring to your Bevan pay out. The other stuff I agree with.

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

I reckon the biggest waste of time stat is kicking metres.

If your forwards are useless and only make 40m every set,you will have more metres than a guy who has good forwards making 60m a set

 

[c_eagle]

I reckon the biggest waste of time stat is kicking metres.

If your forwards are useless and only make 40m every set,you will have more metres than a guy who has good forwards making 60m a set

That's the weakness with the 40/20 rule. Why should a halfback with a forward pack who can get him over the halfway line be penalised. A 50/10 rule should be introduced imo.

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

True,would make it a more skillful kick too with only 10m to play with

 

[Fluffy]

Speaking of skill, watching monas tonight - one bounce - less than 2m was the difference between genious and ok. 3 kicks went dead just - but the other kicks were good.

The chase where we kicked it into the ingoal from 10m and only had 4 chasers and they made it out was abysmal.

 

[byso]

Mata would simply pick and choose. I prefer over the season...........it shows Orfull to be marginally better!