IN 2008 Hawthorn's rolling zone was the innovation of the season. The Hawks used their tactical edge to unnerve Geelong and win an unexpected premiership.

This year the Hawks are again proving innovative, but it's in complete contrast to the tactics that were predicted before the season. Instead of kicking long in an attempt to kick over each team's presses, as was generally expected, the Hawks are kicking short—and safe.

They're unpicking presses with precision. It might yet prove the innovation of the season.

The Hawks had 305 uncontested possessions against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, the third highest total this season. The Bulldogs by contrast had 175 uncontested possessions.  The overall possession count was 439 to 299.

The Bulldogs barely had the ball. It's a wonder they finished only 29 points in arrears.

Geelong has had the most uncontested possessions in a match this year, 329 during its freewheeling romp against Port Adelaide in round three. Hawthorn has the second highest uncontested possession count, 310 against Melbourne in round two.

Both of Hawthorn's victories over Melbourne and the Bulldogs have been convincing. It stands to reason that you win by plenty when you've got far more of the ball, but the issue here is Hawthorn's high rate of uncontested possessions.

Rather than bomb the ball up to Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead as they did last year, they've worked hard to pick the pair out on the lead. Franklin, never particularly a strong pack mark, has revelled under the new regime.

Geelong and Adelaide are high on the uncontested possession count because they flick the ball about through handball. Both teams are handballing less than last year, but their number of uncontested possessions suggests they still handball a fair bit.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Sydney Swans have the lowest percentage of uncontested possessions. And their number of uncontested possessions this year is far lower than it was in 2010.

In essence, the Swans are kicking longer to contests, after which they force a stoppage. Another stat to consider here is the fact that the Swans allow their opposition roughly the same number of uncontested possessions as they pick up.

The Swans really do force 50-50 contests, as the saying goes.

Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Melbourne allow their opponents more uncontested possessions than the rest. Port Adelaide and Gold Coast are on the bottom of the ladder.

Melbourne, on the other hand, just lets its opponents to get the ball too easily. It's just as well the Demons are reasonably good at moving the ball forward with their feet.

Collingwood is low on the uncontested possessions count because its forward press, by its very nature, forces contested possessions. Collingwood also kicks far more than it handballs, meaning there's more chance for error and therefore a contest.

It's also Collingwood's style to kick to a contest, one generally offered by big forwards Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes on the lead.

It's not often made to pay for its propensity to kick to a contest because its forwards are stronger marks than most and because those contests are near the boundary. This is the Pies' safeguard against the opposition whipping the ball forward for a goal.

The overall figures say that the competition has 5 per cent fewer uncontested possessions this year when compared to last year. It's a massive drop, suggesting on the surface that long kicking is back in vogue.

Just look at the 2008 figure for uncontested possessions. That was a season in which Geelong's kamikaze handball was in vogue.

The only club that has maintained its rate of uncontested possessions across the past two years is Richmond. Coach Damien Hardwick is working off the same game-plan.

At least the Tigers are consistent in one respect.

At the start of this season Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson was criticised in some quarters for falling behind the times. His zone was passé, his press was no good, and there was too much reliance on seeking out Franklin and Roughead.

Those criticisms now appear to be unfounded. The big battle for the Hawks' new game-plan will come when it takes in Collingwood in round 15.

It will be an intriguing battle of styles. Bring it on.

Uncontested Possessions - 2011
ClubUPUP%
Hawthorn256.164.6
Geelong Cats246.062.0
Adelaide Crows219.861.5
Richmond217.961.3
Melbourne219.361.0
St Kilda213.060.9
Carlton223.659.5
North Melbourne211.459.1
Port Adelaide193.758.8
Fremantle206.358.7
Western Bulldogs211.058.5
Brisbane Lions199.958.3
Collingwood220.257.8
Gold Coast Suns192.357.6
West Coast Eagles203.956.8
Essendon203.855.7
Sydney Swans172.253.8
Averages212.459.30%

Uncontested Possessions - 2010 H&A

ClubUPUP%
Hawthorn219.662.6
Geelong Cats283.967.5
Adelaide Crows241.765.8
Richmond207.162.0
Melbourne231.963.0
St Kilda258.267.4
Carlton230.463.7
North Melbourne232.864.6
Port Adelaide207.360.1
Fremantle207.461.2
Western Bulldogs245.864.8
Brisbane Lions229.364.0
Collingwood228.261.8
West Coast Eagles219.362.0
Essendon228.562.8
Sydney Swans222.362.4
Averages231.563.40%

Top Uncontested Possession Games This Season
Round 3: Geelong v Port Adelaide - 326
Round 2: Hawthorn v Melbourne - 310
Round 10: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - 305
Round 6: Essendon v Gold Coast -  291
Round 9: Fremantle v Port Adelaide - 289

Percentage of Possessions Won Uncontested
(Competition H&A Average)
2008 - 66.8% of possessions were won uncontested
2009 - 66.5%
2010 - 63.4%
2011 - 59.3%

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL