Adelaide has the fifth-best list in the AFL according to Champion Data analysis.
For the second straight year, Hawthorn tops Champion Data’s list assessment. The reigning premiers have a quality ranking of 64.3 per cent, with the Sydney Swans, who recruited star former Hawk Lance Franklin in the offseason, close behind on 61.4 per cent.
West Coast is ranked third despite finishing 13th this year. The Eagles were ranked second heading into 2013, but endured a frustrating season of injuries. Rounding out the top eight sides in list assessment are Richmond (fourth), Adelaide (fifth), Fremantle (sixth), North Melbourne (seventh) and Essendon (eighth).
The Crows are ranked fifth despite being the only club without a single-figure national draft choice on its list (taking into consideration the players' original drafting). Patrick Dangerfield, who was taken with pick No.10 in 2007, is the lowest selection on Adelaide’s list.
Champion Data's list assessment takes into account a number of different aspects. The analysis uses player rankings points over a two-year period with 75 per cent weight given to scores from 2013 and 25 per cent from 2012.
The ranking points assigned to each action on the field are defined by what correlates to winning an AFL game. At the completion of each season, the formula is reviewed to determine and identify changes in the values of each event from a win/loss point of view, with points for certain stats adjusted accordingly.
All players are measured relative to their peers, tagging them as elite, above average, average, below-average or poor. For a player to be given a rating they must have played at least 10 games over the two years.
Hawthorn is deemed to have the most "elite" players in the AFL heading into 2014 with six. Champion Data rated Sydney, Fremantle and Geelong each with five.
Sydney ranks as the second oldest team in the AFL behind Fremantle - the eighth season in a row ranking in the top five of the competition. The Swans' average games per player ranks No.1.
Geelong is the 10th oldest team - its lowest ranking since its breakthrough 2007 season. The Cats have 20 players with less than 25 games experience - the second most behind GWS.
AFL Prospectus 2014 available at championdata.com.au for $39.95
