Dusty Shines Bright In The September Spotlight

It was an action-packed weekend of AFL & NRL action as Premier League and La Liga underwent an International Break, and to celebrate another great round of sport we've picked out the key points that made *this* weekend so great. 

We'll take a look through the weekend as Richmond made it 22 in a row at the MCG, Buddy and the Swans fell flat, and Cooper Cronk turned it on for the Roosters.

This is Data Road Trip - investigating the key data points and numbers that formed what we saw in the week that was in sports.

Dominant Dusty

Dustin Martin shined in the September spotlight on Thursday night, turning in another display of brilliance as he led the Tigers to an equally dominant win. He racked up 29 disposals, including 17 contested, 10 clearances, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s and 1 goal we won't be forgetting anytime soon.

GET OUT OF HERE DUSTY!

YOU'RE KIDDING!#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/LeemsbrcUJ

— AFL (@AFL) September 6, 2018

Dees Delight

Melbourne got it done on the big stage on Friday night, out pressuring and outmanoeuvring Geelong when it mattered, riding a fast start to a 29 point win. Their five-goal to zero first term was the platform on which they built their victory, winning key statistical categories on their way to a win.

The Demons won the clearances 37-27, inside 50s 60-44, contested possessions 162-144 and tackles 89-81 and it laid the foundation for a memorable win.

Cats Clawless

It didn't come together for Geelong in season 2018, as the Cats finished with Chris Scott's second-worst home-and-away record in his eight-year tenure (13-9), and are now 3-9 in Finals since their 2011 Premiership. Additionally, they are now 1-11 after bye rounds, and it's a trend that's becoming a problem.

Giant Display

Greater Western Sydney beat Sydney in a Final in a big way for the second time in three years, bettering their 36 point effort in 2016 with a 49 point win on Saturday. They crushed the Swans in all areas, but particularly in Inside 50s (63-39) and contested possessions (163-124).

Sydney had no answers, as they registered their lowest score (30 points) as the Swans in a Final. They did not kick a goal between the seven-minute mark of the second quarter and the 23-minute mark of the last in an ugly showing.

Too Buddy Reliant

With Buddy Franklin kept quiet by the ongoing hip problem he's had in the latter stages of the season alongside a commanding display by Phil Davis on the Swans superstar, it wasn't a pretty night for the Swans. Since going 4-0 in goalless Buddy games in 2015, they are 2-6 in the previous three seasons and need to spend the offseason trying to find a way to lessen the load on their 31-year-old talisman.

Eagles' *Other* Two-Headed Monster

Were you thinking Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy? Think again. Elliot Yeo and Jack Redden were best afield on Saturday out West, as they ran rampant on the Magpies. 

They collected 285 ranking points between them (Yeo 144, Redden 141), as Yeo finished with 36 disposals (24 contested), 6 marks, 5 clearances, 9 tackles and 9 inside 50s and Redden tallied 32 disposals, 12 marks, 4 clearances, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s and 1 goal as the Eagles came back to win a classic at Optus Stadium.

Rabbitohs Ruck Speed

The Storm are the kings of the wrestle in the ruck. Their "control the head, control the body" technique makes it difficult for any team to manufacture a quick play-the-ball over 80 minutes. However, the Rabbitohs average PTB speed on Friday night was 3.16 seconds - their equal fastest of the season.

The Bunnies are usually at their best when they generate a quick PTB. Damien Cook is able to dominate out of dummy-half which forces the defence to cave in on the middle. That's when they send it wide and find points on the edges. That wasn't the case on Friday as Damien Cook was limited to just 66 metres. Maybe it had something to do with the referees not blowing a single offside penalty?

Cronk's Quality Shines

Cooper Cronk has been questioned all season but displayed all the reasons why the Roosters were so keen on getting him to the club on Saturday night. His try and try assist will be what most people remember from their win over the Sharks, but it's his game management that makes him an elite halfback. In particular, how he controls a game with his boot.

Cronk found a massive 685 metres on Saturday on 20 kicks to pin the Sharks in their own end and direct where on the field they would start their sets. 

Linebreaking Dragons

Some were optimistic of a Dragons revival on Sunday (see: match page), but nobody tipped them to win by 30 points. Their forward pack, Tariq Sims, in particular, ran all over the Broncos through the middle to lay the foundations for seven line breaks and 48 points.

The seven line breaks the Dragons made on Sunday is as many as they had done in their last four games combined and saw the Red V cover their +11.5 Line by 41.5 points.

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