In Brenton Sanderson's first season at the helm, Adelaide jumped a remarkable 11 spots on the AFL ladder to go from cellar dwellers in 2011 to one kick away from a Grand Final berth in 2012. It was the Club's biggest jump in a single season since climbing from 12th in 1996 to win its first premiership in 1997. The Crows also improved 11 places to finish minor premiers in 2005, but finished the year in fourth spot.
There was improvement across the board this year, but afc.com.au takes a look at some of the key statistical comparions between 2012 (on the left) and 2011 (on the right).
(Comparisons are until the end of the minor round)
2012 vs 2011
Wins
17 vs Seven
Ladder position
2nd (3rd after finals) vs 14th
Goals
357 vs 252
Goals against
265 vs 315
Total score
357 goals, 284 behinds (2426 points) vs 252 goals, 229 behinds (1741 points)
The total of 2,426 points in 2012 is the highest in a single season in Adelaide's history.
Average winning margin (in points)
43 vs 28
Average losing margin (in points)
32 vs 43
Players used
38 vs 39
Debutants
Six vs Six
Home game attendance
405,122 vs 385, 221 (an increase of of 5.1% on 2011 and the biggest increase of any club in the competition. Adelaide and Brisbane were the only two clubs to record an increase in home game attendance from 2011 to 2012)
Ticketed membership
45,105 vs 44,719
Inside 50m (total)
1163 (Ranked 10th in the AFL) vs 1085 (Ranked 15th)
Kick-to-handball ratio (average)
1.63 (No.1 in the AFL) vs 1.24 (Ranked 15th)
Long kicks (average)
57.8 (No.6 in the AFL) vs 51.2 (Ranked 13th)
Contested marks (average)
12.7 (No.4 in the AFL) vs 12.5 (Ranked 8th)
Marks inside 50m (average)
13.4 (No.2 in the AFL) vs 11.1 (Ranked 12th)
Contested possession (average)
148.5 (No.2 in the AFL) vs 139 (Ranked 14th)
Clearances (average)
40.2 (Ranked No.2 in the AFL) vs 36.2 (Ranked 13th)
Goals (average)
15.5 (Ranked No.4 in the AFL) vs 11.5 (Ranked 16th)
Inside 50ms per goal (average)
3.3 (Ranked No.1 (equal) in the AFL) vs 4.3 (Ranked 15th)
Leading possession winner (total)
Scott Thompson (651 - Ranked 4th in the AFL) vs Scott Thompson (673 - Ranked 2nd)
Hitouts (total)
Sam Jacobs (656 - Ranked 2nd in the AFL) vs Sam Jacobs (611 - Ranked 4th in the AFL)
2012 Leading goalkickers 2011 Leading goalkickers
Taylor Walker (53) Taylor Walker (32)
Ian Callinan (38) Kurt Tippett (31)
Kurt Tippett (34) Patrick Dangerfield (23)
Jason Porplyzia (26) Jack Gunston (19)
Patrick Dangerfield (22) Matt Wright (18)
Rory Sloane (17) Nathan van Berlo (12)
Bernie Vince (17) Ricky Henderson (12)
Graham Johncock (17) Bernie Vince (11)
Jared Petrenko (16) Rory Sloane (11)
Matt Wright (14)
Nathan van Berlo (11)
Richard Douglas (11)
Josh Jenkins (11)
