VIEWERS of the highlight reels over the weekend would have been struck by the footage of West Coast ruckman Dean Cox shoving the ball down Daniel Kerr's throat during the match against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
Kerr would then speed into the clear and boot the Eagles into attack, just like he did during the Eagles' Grand Final years of 2005 and '06.
It raised the question: is Kerr in the best form since those days?
According to the figures for the three most prominent elements of his game - disposals, contested possessions and clearances - yes, he's in form to match his best years. And in terms of clearances he's in the best nick of his career.
Kerr on Saturday picked up 12 kicks and 15 handballs, and of those 27 possessions, 18 were contested. He also had six clearances.
That game ranked just behind his best effort this season, against Essendon in round seven when he had 28 possessions, 16 of which were contested, and eight clearances.
Since that match he's shown that he's fully recovered from the groin, knee and hamstring injuries that blighted his past three seasons.
Kerr's possession count in 2011 is behind only his best season, in 2007 (although it should be noted that possession counts have risen across the board since then). In 2007 he averaged 27 possessions; the figure this season is 24.
His contested possessions count average in 2007 was 12.5; it's now 12.4.
His clearance rate, however, exceeds his 2007 mark, in which he had an average of 5.2 clearances a game.
Kerr's average this season is 5.8 per game, a figure that reflects the form of West Coast ruckmen Cox and Nic Naitanui as well as the soundness of his body.
Kerr previously was at his peak in an era when West Coast was towards the top of the ladder.
The sight of him bursting clear of stoppages in 2011 is one reason the Eagles are back in the reckoning for a top-four spot.
Daniel Kerr career averages
| Year  | Avg. disposals | Avg. contested possessions  | Avg. clearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 15.6 | 8.8 | 3.1 |
| 2002 | 17.9 | 8.9 | 4.2 |
| 2003 | 19.3 | 8.7 | 5.2 |
| 2004 | 19.8 | 7.6 | 3.2 |
| 2005 | 20.9 | 8.9 | 4.6 |
| 2006 | 23 | 9.6 | 4.8 |
| 2007 | 27.1 | 12.5 | 5.2 |
| 2008 | 23.7 | 11 | 5.2 |
| 2009 | 19.5 | 11.3 | 4.5 |
| 2010 | 19.5 | 11.5 | 4.5 |
| 2011 | 23.8 | 12.4 | 5.8 |
Daniel Kerr 2011
| Game  | Disposals | Contested possessions  | Clearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| R2 v PORT | 25 | 10 | 4 |
| R3 v SYD | 13 | 8 | 4 |
| R4 v HAW | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| R6 v MELB | 27 | 10 | 6 |
| R7 v ESS  | 28 | 16 | 8 |
| R9 v WB  | 26 | 16 | 5 |
| R10 v COLL | 24 | 11 | 5 |
| R12 v ADEL | 27 | 18 | 9 |
| Average | 24 | 12 | 6 |
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Another player who's turning heads after a period in the doldrums is North Melbourne playmaker Daniel Wells, who picked up 33 possessions in the Roos' thrashing of Gold Coast on Saturday.
Since 2006, Wells has picked up 30 or more possessions in just five games, including this week's.
His match on Saturday was the first time he's passed 30 this year. What was more notable was his kicking efficiency — 88 per cent — which is exceptional.
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In Monday's match between Collingwood and Melbourne at the MCG, the Magpies had 75 inside-50s to Melbourne's 35.
The differential of 40 ranks as the equal third highest since Champion Data began taking stats in 1999.
The highest differential for inside 50s is 45 (Geelong's defeat of Brisbane Lions in round five, 2009). The next highest is 42 (West Coast's defeat of Carlton in round 15, 2003.)
The other differential of 40 was achieved this year by Hawthorn (round two against Melbourne).
The fact that two inside-50 differentials of 40 have been achieved against Melbourne this season says a lot about the Demons' inability to stop an opposition run-on.
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SYDNEY Swans defied convention (again) when they defeated Richmond by 10 points at the SCG on Sunday.
The Swans' total possession count was 312, a very low figure for a winning team, and the equal lowest this season.
In round three, the Swans needed only 312 possessions to defeat West Coast at Patersons Stadium.
Port Adelaide needed just 316 possessions to defeat Richmond in Darwin in round 10, while the Swans needed only 328 possessions to defeat Essendon at ANZ Stadium in round two.
Gold Coast defeated Brisbane Lions with 328 possessions at the Gabba in round seven.
The fact that the Swans have won with low possession counts at the SCG, ANZ Stadium and Patersons Stadium tells us that it has nothing to with ground size.
It's all about the Swans' style of locking down games and forcing stoppages.
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TRAVIS Cloke took three contested marks (and kicked six goals) in Collingwood's mauling of Melbourne at the MCG on Monday, keeping him on track to break Matthew Richardon's season record for contested marks (as judged since Champion Data began taking stats in 1999).
Richardson took 75 over 20 games in 1999.
Cloke has 45 from 11 games.
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The Swans team on Sunday had four former students of Melbourne's Xavier College: Ted Richards, Josh Kennedy, Daniel Hannebery and 18-year-old Alex Johnson.
Some private schools enhance their ranks by offering football scholarships, with Caulfield Grammar and Scotch College recent examples.
But Xavier would be at the top level for schools that have not offered football scholarships.
In matches in 1987 and 1988, Essendon played with five former students of St Bernard's College, West Essendon: Simon Madden, Garry Foulds, Paul Hamilton, Gavin Keane and David Johnston.
St Bernard's has the enviable record of producing three 300-match players: Simon Madden, Justin Madden and Foulds.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
