With round one in the rear-view mirror, we turn our attention to the second round of the AFLW season. Stories are already unfolding as we await ‘what’s next’. Can Daisy make it two for two when the Eagles take on the Bombers on Saturday afternoon? Will the Hawks continue some good early form when they take on a slow starting Collingwood? And how about an AFLW match at the best footy venue in the country? Will the Dogs and Port put on a show at the G’ in their curtain raiser fixture before the men take the stage at 7.40 this Friday night? There’s excitement everywhere you look, but this week on The Numbers Don’t Lie, we’re looking at some numbers that we think are just as exciting as the games to come.
The AFLW Hawks HOK selfie after their round one victory over Carlton. Photo courtesy: Hawthorn FC AFLW.
We speak often in our blog about the ball winners, the best in the business. The players who appear every week at the top of the stats list when you open up your AFLW app. It’s no surprise that some of those very superstars set the competition alight again in round one, and we simply have to talk about it. But this time, we’re changing it up a little. We’re so interested in these superstar players that we took a deep dive into just how good their last 20 games have been. As you’ll see, career wise they lead the way. However, if you look a little closer, their averages across their last 20 games are simply outstanding. Are these players about to take themselves, their teams and the game to the next level? Let’s take a look.
Jasmine Garner
2024 is Garner’s 9th AFLW season. Following two initial years with the Pies, Garner has solidified her position as a key cog in North Melbourne’s engine room. With 76 games to her name so far (62 for the Kangaroos), she continues to push her numbers up each season. Though it’s hard to separate her consistent form from season to season, 2023 was certainly her best from a numbers point of view.
Jasmine Garner continues to star for the North Melbourne AFLW team. Photo courtesy: AFLW.
Garner played all 13 of North’s games, including the Grand Final. She averaged 28.6 disposals per game, the most of her career so far (next best 2022 with 22.8 per game), and she averaged 7.2 tackles and 6.5 clearances per game. A stellar season, Garner averaged a massive 123.5 AFLW Fantasy points per game.
Garner’s Last 20
Career numbers are up there with the best the game has seen in its short history, but if we isolate just her last 20 games, the numbers are quite staggering. Garner’s last 20 games have seen increases in four of five key statistics including average disposals, tackles, clearances and contested possessions.
Jasmine Garner's last 20 games have seen some of her best averages yet. Stats courtesy: AFLWstats.com
Ebony Marinoff
Like Garner, Adelaide superstar Eb Marinoff continues to sit at the top of the tree when it comes to key numbers in the game. Through her ninth season, Marinoff has played 80 games, consistency her middle name. Only twice in her career has she averaged less than 20 possessions per game (her first two seasons), and she averages a massive 8.9 tackles per game.
Ebony Marinoff continues to dazzle on the field for the AFLW Crows. Photo courtesy: AFLW.
She’s amassed 711 total tackles in her career so far, the most in the league. And she sits behind only Kiara Bowers (Fremantle) with her 8.9 average - Bowers averaging a huge 12.4 tackles per game.
Marinoff’s Last 20
What is particularly impressive for Marinoff is continued improvement as her career progresses. Her last 20 games more specifically have driven her numbers through the roof. She’s seen increases across five key categories.
Marinoff's career numbers are outstanding, but how about her last 20 games. Stats courtesy: AFLWstats.com
Garner and Marinoff are stat queens of the AFLW. It’s hard to believe they are both getting better after the numbers they have produced over recent years, in particular their last 20 games. They’re hard to separate when you break down just how important they are to their respective teams. What we do know is that their ability to gather the football, pressure the opposition via tackles and clearance and give their teams a chance is playing a role for both the Crows and Kangaroos who will both be pushing for a top four finish in 2024.
Two of the best in the game. Garner and Marinoff are hard to split, particularly over their last 20 game averages. Stats courtesy: AFLWstats.com
There is no doubt that Adelaide and North Melbourne are heavyweights of the AFLW competition. With wins in round one, they will both be looking to cement themselves as two of the teams to beat yet again with victories in round two. Can Garner and Marinoff continue their great form from their last 20 games? Will two new superstars show themselves in round two? We can’t wait to find out. Stay tuned for the next edition of ‘The Numbers Don’t Lie’ next week thanks to Extra Time Media.
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