EYEBROWS were raised over the weekend when Champion Data rated Collingwood as the competition’s best midfield going into season 2017.

But the AFL’s official stats gurus have defended their numbers, reiterating that the Magpies midfield group is among the deepest and most talented in the AFL.

Despite a 12th-placed finish last season, their third straight campaign without finals, Nathan Buckley’s side led the league for midfield player ratings.

The statistics, which are based over a two-year period, take into account all midfield players that have featured in more than 10 games in that time, with a 75 per cent weighting to last season.

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And while Collingwood’s spot at the top of the tree might be a surprise to some, key additions over the last couple of years has seen their midfield become one of the most revered in the AFL.

“If you have a look at Collingwood’s midfield, it’s all quality in there,” Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne told SEN Radio.

“Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar are the stars and both rate elite. Then you’ve got Steele Sidebottom, Daniel Wells and Taylor Adams, who all rate above average.

“They actually only have one midfielder rated in the bottom 35 per cent (in the competition), which is quite rare. That’s why they rank number one at the moment.”

Collingwood’s midfield is rated the best in the competition. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia

Collingwood is followed by Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs in terms of the competition’s strongest midfield groups.

Yet the gap between the three is slim and, given the age profile of both the Giants and the Bulldogs midfield, Hoyne expects that gap to close by season’s end.

“It has to be said, the gap between Collingwood, GWS and the Bulldogs as the top three is very marginal — there’s hardly anything in it,” Hoyne said.

“If you’re talking depth, I don’t think there’s a midfield in the competition that runs deeper than what the Bulldogs do.

“The only thing that separates them from Collingwood and GWS is that they have those blokes who haven’t played too much footy. They’ve played 10 games, but their rating isn’t too high.”



Sydney’s midfield has long been considered among the best in the AFL, but the loss of Tom Mitchell to Hawthorn during the off-season means the depth isn’t quite there anymore.

“Sydney has the fifth best midfield in the competition,” Hoyne said.

“Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery are the stars of that midfield. Kieren Jack, over the last two years, is now rated average.

“Aside from that, it really does fall away for the Swans. They do have a few players who rated in that below average and poor category, which is the reason why their ranking isn’t in the top three.”