Thread by @JonathanJWalsh

Score Involvement

Definition: The number of scoring chains where a player was involved with a disposal, hitout-to-advantage, kick-in, knock-on.

Ultimately, it's a guide on the ability of a player to influence the scoreboard. Particularly midfielders.

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#GoDons | #DonTheStat

Essendon has two midfielders in the Top 20 (mids only) for Average Score Involvements per game in 2023.

Darcy Parish - 6.9 per game. Equal 8th ranked midfielder.

Zach Merrett - 6.6 per game. Equal 17th ranked midfielder.

What's interesting is Essendon's performance when those two are performing above their season average.

Essendon is 6 wins, 2 losses when Darcy Parish has 7 or more Score Involvements in a game.

Essendon is 1 win, 8 losses when he has 6 or less.

Parish has had 6 Score Involvements 3 times. In 3 close losses to St Kilda, Port Adelaide and Sydney.

Essendon is 10 wins, 2 losses when Zach Merrett has 7+ Score Involvements.

When both Merrett and Parish have 7+, Essendon is 6 wins, 0 losses.

On the flip side, Essendon is 1 win from 8 games when Parish has 6 or less Score Involvements. Likewise for Merrett.

It's 1 win and 4 losses when both fail to have 7 or more in the same game.

The 1 win was on Saturday, both having 5 against North Melbourne.

The pair, particularly together have a big say in the ability for Essendon to get territory and hit the scoreboard. And on the win-loss.

And they clearly do it in very different ways. Parish on the inside, Merrett on the outside.

It's a powerful duo, as the next generation of Essendon mids development behind them to add further layers of midfield depth and variety.

Nic Martin an equal season high, 9 Score Involvements for him on Saturday to go with his season high Metres Gained, Disposals & Goals.