Ahead of a huge showdown between the two most in-form midfields in the AFL, Collingwood’s “Dancefloor Four” dominance and “Nick’s Octagon” have drawn huge praise.
The Western Bulldogs (+15 clearances, +57 points) and Collingwood (+10 clearances, +47 points) are ranked first and second respectively in the last six weeks in centre bounce differential as they prepare to go toe-to-toe at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
So which groups of players have contributed most significantly to that?
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When Collingwood’s Darcy Cameron, Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp and Nick Daicos are in at centre bounces in the past six weeks, they’re +27 clearance differential and +67 points scored on their opposing quartet.
The Pies quartet are ranked first in the competition in those areas ahead of Brisbane’s Oscar McInnerney, Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley and Jarrod Berry (+14 clearances, +39 points), then Carlton’s Marc Pittonet, George Hewett, Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh (+18 clearances, +38 points).
“The numbers were alarming when you look at this quartet — the Dancefloor Four,” King said of Collingwood’s midfield supremacy on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
King then delved deeper into it to determine Daicos, who’s been in red-hot form in recent weeks, has been the clear leading contributor to his side’s supremacy through the midfield.
Daicos ranks first in the league in clearances (22) and scores (10) over the last six weeks ahead of Hawthorn’s James Worpel and Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli (both 18 clearances, 10 scores).
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The North Melbourne legend highlighted a series of clips from the Fox Footy LAB that show the Pies midfielders working hard to free up Daicos at centre bounces, almost like running plays for the third-year superstar.
“You’re entering Nick’s playground and what they (the Pies) are doing is blocking and screening for Nick to go one-on-one with his direct opponent — they want one v one, they want their best player against whoever you want to put against him,” King said.
“It’s Nick’s Octagon, welcome into the cage. You’re going to play against the best loose ball-get player in the comp with a five-second delay for anyone else to get involved.
“This is great coaching, whether it’s by design or the players have controlled this themselves, that’s what you’re engaging in. This to me is innovation. Every team is on high alert now. I don’t know how you stop it, but be warned and be aware.”