The latest Ranking on Dashboard metrics data appears below, and now shows that the strongest rank correlations with ladder positions are currently associated with:

• Percentage of Quarters Won (+0.85)

• Opponent Scoring: Points (+0.83)

• Scoring Shots Conceded (+0.83)

• Opponent Scoring: Goals (+0.82)

• The MoS Win Production Function (+0.81)

• Q4 Performances (+0.77))

The weakest rank correlations with ladder position are associated with:

• Own Scoring Shot Conversion (+0.15)

• Opponent Scoring Shot Conversion (+0.43)

There’s no doubt that defence has played a major role in tteam success this year, as evidenced by the high correlation between a number of defence-related metrics and competition ladder performance. Currently, the Top 9 teams on the competition ladder include the Top 8 teams on Scoring Shots Conceded, the Top 8 teams on Goals Conceded, and 7 of the Top 8 teams on Points Conceded.

The full Extended Team Dashboard appears below, and shows that:

• Geelong, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, and Western Bulldogs are the only teams to have outscored their opponents in all four quarters taken separately.

• Sydney have outscored their opponents in Q1s , Q2s, and Q3s, but lie 13th on the ladder.

• Gold Coast, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and West Coast are the only teams to have been outscored by their opponents in all four quarters taken separately

• Brisbane Lions’, Fremantle’s, Geelong’s, and Melbourne’s conversion has fallen off dramatically in Q4s this season. West Coast have been outscored 2:1 in every quarter except Q3s.

• St Kilda, despite sitting 6th on the ladder, have lost more quarters than they’ve won.

• Collingwood’s opponents have converted at only 36% in Q4s this season

• By way of contrast, Port Adelaide’s opponents have converted at 61% in Q4s, and Richmond’s, Essendon’s and Fremantle’s at 57% or 58%.