Suns captain Gary Ablett and Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy have both enjoyed dominant seasons in 2014, with the pair currently placed first and second respectively in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.
Ablett and Kennedy’s consistent brilliance has translated onto the stats sheet, with the pair battling it out for top spot in a range of key statistical areas.
Kennedy, who has notched 30-plus possessions in the Swans’ last four matches, leads the competition for total disposals with 317 for the season, at an average of 31.7 per game. Ablett, on the other hand, is hot on his heels with 314 disposals at 31.4.
Interestingly, Kennedy’s possession count after the opening ten matches is his best ever start to the season, with his average also exceeding his record best and fairest year in 2012 (26.2 after ten rounds) and also last season’s start (27.1).
Kennedy has also improved his contested possession count to see him average 18 per game, an improvement from 16.2 in 2012 and 16.5 in 2013, while Ablett is placed just ahead with the dual Brownlow medallist averaging 18.1 per game.
When it comes to clearances, Ablett is again just on top with 79 for the season, while Kennedy is in second place with 70 for the season.
Ablett has also moved to the top of the list for centre clearances this year with 35 for the season, with Kennedy’s the Swans’ leading ball getter out the middle with 24 for the year.
While the Suns captain is ahead in centre clearances, Kennedy has his nose in front in the stoppage count, with the 25-year-old averaging 4.6 per game, which places him second in the competition.
Gary Ablett and Josh Kennedy will face off in the midfield on Sunday afternoon
Ablett is not the only Sun the Swans need to contend with this week, with a number of other Gold Coast players ahead of the curve this season.
Defender Steven May leads the competition for one per-centers, with the young player clocking up 116 for the season and averaging 11.6 per game. Ted Richards is leading the Swans, with 77 for the season, which ranks him fifth in the league.
Suns forward Tom Lynch is also enjoying a strong season, with the key tall taking 22 contested marks to date, which sees him share the mantle with Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands for most contested marks this season.
Jaeger O’Meara is also a player on the rise for the Suns, with the 20-year-old ranked second in the competition for most tackles laid (72 tackles). Ben McGlynn, however, is placed above him when it comes to average tackles per game, with the Swans midfield laying an average of 7.3 tackles, ahead of O’Meara’ 7.2.
Kennedy v Ablett
Total disposals
Kennedy (1st in league) Total: 317 Average: 31.7
Ablett (2nd) Total: 314 Average: 31.4
Handballs
Kennedy (1st) Total: 188 Average: 18.8
Ablett (4th) Total: 158 Average: 15.8
Contested possessions
Ablett (1st) Total: 181 Average: 18.1
Kennedy (2nd) Total: 180 Average: 18.0
Clearances
Ablett (equal 1st with Callan Ward) Total: 79 Average: 7.9
Kennedy (2nd) Total: 70 Average: 7
Centre clearances
Ablett (1st) Total: 35 Average: 3.5
Kennedy (7th) Total: 24 Average: 2.4
Stoppages
Kennedy (equal 2nd with Tom Liberatore) Total: 46 Average: 4.6
Ablett (4th) Total: 44 Average: 4.4
AFL Fantasy
Ablett (2nd behind Dayne Beams) Total: 116.2
Kennedy (4th) Total: 112.1
AFLCA Votes
Ablett (1st): 55
Kennedy (2nd): 52
