Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson is the worst kick in the AFL so far in 2024, according to Champion Data.
The All-Australian midfielder has had a tough start to the season, epitomising the Crows’ winless start.
Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne has crunched the numbers, suggesting Adelaide would benefit from moving Dawson to the half-back flank.
This would allow him to find his feet as the quality kick he has been in previous seasons, and give them some aggressive punch that they’re lacking in defence.
“The magnet move for mine is Jordan Dawson back to the half-back flank,” Hoyne told SEN’s Sportsday.
“Currently at the moment, he’s rated as the 309th best player in the competition. He is having no impact because he’s currently rated as the worst kick in the competition.
“He is kicking 17 per cent below AFL expectation this year, which makes him the worst kick in the competition.
“It’s not working as a midfielder. He has not spent one minute behind the ball this year.
“The modern game is about winning it across your half-back line, explode, counterattack, be aggressive and then score off the back of it.
“Adelaide’s clearance game in terms of raw clearance wins is the fourth best in the competition – their contest outside of clearance is the fifth best. How they defend ball movement is fourth best. There are aspects of their game that are working.
“When they start with possession across half back line, they’ve done that 135 times for the year, they’ve kicked two goals. It’s amazing.
“To me, there’s no one behind the footy that is a threat.
“It’s clearly not working with Dawson as a midfielder at the moment. They’ve got to try and do something to energise this ball movement game.”
Adelaide will be hoping to bounce back when they’re once again placed on the big stage that is the Thursday night clash in Gather Round.
They face the in-form Melbourne and will be hoping to replicate their incredible Gather Round performance from 2023, where the Crows blew Carlton out of the water.
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