What are the 99%ers

[ROK Lobster]

I get sick of hearing about players doing the 1%ers. Everything seems to be a 1%er. Are there simply 100 things that players are meant to do, and we applaud when someone does one of them? Or do all players do 99% of things, and only the elite do the last 1%?

[SimonH]

My reading of it is none-of-the-above. It's, "99% of the time this attempt at tackling/blocking/shepherding/chasing/providing a long lead etc will be a waste of time and achieve nothing; but I'm gunna do it anyway, for that 1% chance it will actually be of use".

If those companies that actually compile 1%-er stats actually told us what they included in, and excluded from, those statistics-- and backed that up with video footage examples of what is and isn't a 1%-er-- then everyone would have a good laugh and the myth of the 1%-er as a statistic that tells you anything at all about the game you're watching, would be well and truly exploded.

[Wardy]

I get sick of hearing about players doing the 1%ers. Everything seems to be a 1%er. Are there simply 100 things that players are meant to do, and we applaud when someone does one of them? Or do all players do 99% of things, and only the elite do the last 1%?

I dont get that crap either - to me you play footy - there are five levels of perfomance

Excellent
Good
Average
Below Average
Crap

Yes that is simplifying the situation - I think stats are getting in the way of good play. I really dont care about how many disposals a player has - all I care about is that the team get in, play hard, kick goals and hopefully win. that will do me! I know its a science now - and I guess it creates employment for statisticians, but I really think its all a bit over the top when at the day its only footy!

[Go Swannies]

Did anyone hear the ABC's hour-long interview with Leigh Matthews where he differentiated between viewing the game as a fan and as a coach? He said even he is sometimes guilty of viewing a player's performance through his "fan" eyes.

[Wardy]

Did anyone hear the ABC's hour-long interview with Leigh Matthews where he differentiated between viewing the game as a fan and as a coach? He said even he is sometimes guilty of viewing a player's performance through his "fan" eyes.

Why should he feel guilty? the thing is that he was first and foremost a footy fan, that is why he actually played the game. He was good at it too, and the fans loved him for it - so if there were no fans, there would be no game!

[Go Swannies]

Roughly paraphrasing him, he says that no professional player ever goes on the field to give less than 100%. So when he's annoyed by a player's performance, as a coach he has to analyse what is wrong with the player or the structure. As a fan, he's merely annoyed at a player apparently not giving his all and that simplicity leads him to him make mistakes.

[RogueSwan]

... I really dont care about how many disposals a player has - all I care about is that the team get in, play hard, kick goals and hopefully win. that will do me!

Here, here.
I have never really followed disposals/possessions. The only stats I really pay attention to are goals/behinds and marks. Sometimes I will wonder about tackles but that all.

[Mike_B]

Here, here.
I have never really followed disposals/possessions. The only stats I really pay attention to are goals/behinds and marks. Sometimes I will wonder about tackles but that all.

Marks are pretty meaningless these days too. Take Joel Bowden last weekend - 23 marks, all but one or two uncontested in miles of space. What does it mean except that they kept turning back/switching play to go through him?

[ScottH]

Very true mike.
Like the efficiency stats. The top 5 are our back line. they also site high in the uncontested possession list, indicating they can hit a free target when chipping it around whilst the opposition are sitting a kick away from play. (or is that flooding)

[CJK]

A '1%ers' = ye olde sporting cliche 'giving 101%'?

[RogueSwan]

Marks are pretty meaningless these days too. Take Joel Bowden last weekend - 23 marks, all but one or two uncontested in miles of space. What does it mean except that they kept turning back/switching play to go through him?

Okay, I will filter out uncontested marks.

[goswannie14]

My take on it FWIW,

1%ers are the spectacular, exceptional or unexpected.

99%ers are all the "normal" everyday footy stuff.

[ROK Lobster]

My reading of it is none-of-the-above. It's, "99% of the time this attempt at tackling/blocking/shepherding/chasing/providing a long lead etc will be a waste of time and achieve nothing; but I'm gunna do it anyway, for that 1% chance it will actually be of use".

I think that is an excellent definition.

[NMWBloods]

It represents the little things that often go unnoticed but can be rewarding for the team. They get the 1%er name because they are a little thing but they can add up to a lot. The stats for them reflect shepherds, smothers, spoils and knock-ons.