{"id":577575,"date":"2026-04-01T02:20:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T02:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/577575\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T02:20:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T02:20:15","slug":"droppin-50-the-afls-offensive-stat-everest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/577575\/","title":{"rendered":"Droppin’ 50 – The AFL\u2019s Offensive Stat Everest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you believe I didn\u2019t actually update the Droppin\u2019 50 column after the 2025 season?<\/p>\n

Can you believe that most of you haven\u2019t heard of it, anyway?<\/p>\n

Can you believe I am going to tell you about it and you\u2019re going to think Hey, that is pretty cool\u2026 I should become a member here and support this bloke to provide innovative and sexy ways of covering footy, whilst managing to retain such rugged good looks and manly exterior?<\/p>\n

Yeah, the last couple are a stretch, I know.<\/p>\n

Anyway, are there Monty Python fans amongst the Mongrels that read this? I sure hope so, or I hope that you\u2019ve at least watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail\u00a0at some point, otherwise the next line will be totally lost on you.<\/p>\n

\u201cFifty shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be fifty…\u201d<\/p>\n

No, I\u2019m not going to request you throw the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch at a killer rabbit. Nevertheless, 50 is a number of great importance to this article.<\/p>\n

How so?<\/p>\n

Well, I am always in search of ways to accurately rate the individual games of the players who seem to dominate, and listening to a basketball podcast a few years back, I heard someone talking about a simplistic way of assessing the value of an individual on a game of basketball. They used the number 42 as a cumulative measure of stats that indicates whether a player had a significant influence on a game. The higher the number, the more influence on the game that player has had.<\/p>\n

The concept in basketball is as follows. Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks = the total score of an individual player. If you\u2019re tracking at a score of 42 points or over, you\u2019re performing well. If you\u2019re under, you\u2019re probably playing a role and not a genuine star of the game.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a relatively simple equation in a sporting landscape that tends to over-complicate matters at every turn. Hell, a couple of years back, we had some bozo telling everyone that Lance Franklin actually tops the all-time goal-kicking ladder if we allow for weighted stats due to the era he played in. You know\u2026 the era with stadiums with roofs, the era where defenders cannot arm chop and there is an umpire watching them all the time in case a defender holds them, they play extra games and finals \u2013 that difficult era.<\/p>\n

Righto, so in terms of the model, there are probably holes in it all over the place, but for simplicity\u2019s sake, I genuinely liked it.<\/p>\n

I got to thinking about how I could apply a principle so simplistic to our beloved game, and whether there\u2019d be any merit in it.<\/p>\n

This is not meant to be some sort of revolutionary idea \u2013 more thought usually goes into ideas of that nature. It\u2019s just a novelty kind of stat that may be of interest to some. Save the \u201cyou\u2019re Americanising our game\u201d stuff, please. If you don\u2019t like the little more outside-the-circle stats, you may as well stop reading.<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re still here, congrats!\u00a0You\u2019re not a knob.<\/p>\n

In regard to getting a simple game score for Aussie Rules Football, I started thinking that if we simply add disposals, tackles, marks and goals all together, we may get a total number representative of the impact a player had on a game, or at least his standing in the game as compared to his peers?<\/p>\n

I hit a couple of snags initially, as midfielders pick up a ton of possessions, and in the case of Tom Mitchell, Harry Sheezel, or Lachie Neale, could have 50 points in possessions alone. Remember the start of the article?<\/p>\n

\u201c50 shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be 50.\u201d<\/p>\n

But how about if we counted only effective disposals?<\/p>\n

Hmmmm, now that throws a spanner into the works of the accumulators who throw the footy on their boot and hope for the best. It kind of means Tim Taranto likely won\u2019t be making his way onto this list at any point, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

To test this, I applied it to one of the most significant record-breaking efforts in recent memory \u2013 Tom Mitchell\u2019s 54-disposal clinic against Collingwood in Round One, 2018.<\/p>\n

I thought Mitchell would make the cut in this game. It seemed as though he was more or less over the line before he started, with the disposal count alone. However, the elimination of ineffective disposals had a significant impact on his total score. He scored 48 total points, falling short by two, due to inefficiency with the ball. Yep, \u201conly\u201d 36 of those 54 were considered effective. He also only laid two tackles for the game.<\/p>\n

However, his second 50-disposal game of the year in 2018 got him to the mark as a result of hitting the target with 80% of his disposals. Not only did he get to 50 points with the game that returned 40 effective disposals, nine marks and 13 tackles, but he also smashed through the 60-point barrier as well.<\/p>\n

Make no mistake; this is no Mount Buller in terms of statistics \u2013 this is Everest. I am struggling to find those who\u2019ve hit 50, and Mitchell notches a 62. He is the only man to reach 60 points in this format, to this day.<\/p>\n

The 50-point game isn\u2019t a mountain that\u2019s meant to be easy to climb. It\u2019s supposed to be a rarity. I don\u2019t want to add another stat layer to make things easy \u2013 it is supposed to be tough to achieve. Some will never hit this mark despite having sterling careers. Not that it means much, but you know what? I like it. I\u2019m a bit of a numbers geek and seeing names on a list like this makes me happy. Shoot me.<\/p>\n

To test how the formula works, and to demonstrate how difficult it is to achieve this number, we look at the game of Bailey Dale in Round Ten, 2025. he had 49 touches in that game.<\/p>\n

Of his 49 touches, 38 were deemed effective. Immediately, that sounds like trouble to me. He had five marks, but only two tackles and didn;t hit the scoreboard. That leaves him stranded at 44 points. Nice game, Bailey\u2026 you don\u2019t make the list.<\/p>\n

And then there is the big one \u2013 Harry Sheezel\u2019s record-tyoing 54-disposal outing in Round 23 of 2025.<\/p>\n

Ding, ding, ding\u2026 we have a winner!<\/p>\n

Sheezel hit 50 for the second time in his career, and was the only player in 2025 to make the cut. He had 36 effective disposals, but his work in other areas paid off, as well \u2013 seven marks, five tackles, and two goals \u2013 50 points all up. Congrats Harry!<\/p>\n

So, we probably need to go historic to find more massive games for Harry and friends, right?<\/p>\n

You bet your ass we do, because there was nobody else getting close in 2025.<\/p>\n

With Lance Franklin now a fond footy memory, his\u00a0 \u201c13\u2026 13\u2026 13!!!\u201d game in 2012 was as big a game as you\u2019ll find from a modern forward, but Buddy actually wasted the ball a bit that day. From the 23 touches he collected, only 16 were effective. It cost him a score of 50, as he dipped to 47 as a result of those stray disposals.<\/p>\n

How about Wayne Carey\u2019s 31-possession, 11-goal effort in 1996? Sadly, there are no advanced stats available for that game, but if we assume, naively, that all of Carey\u2019s 31 touches hit a target on the day, he clocks in at 61 points. Sadly, I\u2019m not going to count that in here, as if we can\u2019t discount his ineffective possessions, we probably shouldn\u2019t be deducting them for any player. And I\u2019m not here to make reaching this mark easier. You don\u2019t install an escalator on the side of the mountain to help the old blokes, right?<\/p>\n

The Little Master chimes in with a 50-point game, though, courtesy of his career-high 53 touches against the Pies in 2012. 37 of his 53 touches hit the mark, dropping him down from 68 points to 52 overall. He added nine marks and six tackles.<\/p>\n

Patrick Dangerfield had a massive 58-point game in his 2016 Brownlow Year against the Roos, collecting 40 effective touches (out of 48 total\u2026 amazing), taking 13 marks, laying three tackles, and kicking two goals to be Mitchell\u2019s closest competitor.<\/p>\n

Another Cat, Steve Johnson, went for 51 against the Dees in an absolute massacre in 2011. Not only did Stevie J have 31 effective disposals, seven goals, nine marks and four tackles, he did what only he has ever done, and added a record 10 goal assists to the stat-line as well. Unbelievable.<\/p>\n

Tom Rockliff has a 50-pointer to his name as well, notching 54 in 2016 against Carlton. 36 of his 48 possessions were effective, and his nine tackles, eight marks and a goal put him over the top.<\/p>\n

So, what about the most recent? About time I got to the current blokes, right?<\/p>\n

Oh yes\u2026 indeed, it is. All from 2024, this lot.<\/p>\n

Caleb Serong kicked this off with a blistering start to his 2024 season. He opened up his year with 37 effective disposals, six marks, and seven tackles for a total of 50 against the Lions in Round One.<\/p>\n

Harry Sheezel saw his star continue to rise, notching his maiden 50-point game with 31 effective disposals, 15 marks, three tackles, and a goal in Round Five, 2024 against the Cats.<\/p>\n

Bailey Dale scored the season-high in 2024, with a 54-point blast in Round Six against the Saints. His 36 effective disposals, 15 marks, two tackles, and a goal came a week after he was used as the sub. What a way to answer a challenge from your head coach!<\/p>\n

Luke Ryan picked up his second career 50-point game in Round Eight, notching 34 effective disposals, 15 marks, and two tackles against the Tigers.<\/p>\n

And in the same round, Dayne Zorko was pretty bloody handy filling in at half-back for Keidean Coleman, notching his own 50-point game, with 29 effective disposals, 16 marks, and five tackles. Not bad for an old fella.<\/p>\n

It was great to see five players hit this mark in 2024, after such a drought in 2023. Pity that form didn\u2019t carry over into 2025\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Below is the list we\u2019ve come up with. Feel free to list any we\u2019ve missed along the way and we\u2019ll add them as we go.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 50 Club<\/p>\n

* note \u2013 none from 2020\u2026 what a horrible season, that was. Let\u2019s never do it again.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tom Mitchell \u2013 62 points (Round 15, 2018)<\/p>\n

Patrick Dangerfield- 58 points (Round 12, 2016)<\/p>\n

Heath Shaw \u2013 57 points (Round Nine, 2016)<\/p>\n

Lachie Neale \u2013 57 points (Round 23, 2019)<\/p>\n

Lachie Neale \u2013 56 points (Round Three, 2015)<\/p>\n

Tom Mitchell \u2013 56 points (Round 18, 2018)<\/p>\n

Lachie Whitfield \u2013 56 points (Round Nine, 2019)<\/p>\n

James Sicily \u2013 56 points (Round 11, 2023)<\/p>\n

Brandon Ellis \u2013 56 points (Round Seven, 2021)<\/p>\n

Kade Simpson \u2013 55 points. (Round 24, 2011)<\/p>\n

Brent Stanton \u2013 55 points (Round Six, 2012)<\/p>\n

Tom Rockliff \u2013 54\u00a0points\u00a0(Round 11, 2016)<\/p>\n

Bailey Dale \u2013 54 points (Round Six, 2024)<\/p>\n

Stephen Coniglio \u2013 54\u00a0points\u00a0(Round 11, 2019)<\/p>\n

Gary Ablett \u2013 53 points (Round One, 2012)<\/p>\n

Matt Rosa \u2013 53 points (Round Nine, 2012)<\/p>\n

Jack Ziebell \u2013 53 points. (Round 6, 2021)<\/p>\n

Harry Himmelberg \u2013 53 points (R13, 2022)<\/p>\n

Brent Stanton \u2013 52 points (Round Four, 2012)<\/p>\n

Gary Ablett \u2013 52 points (Round 10, 2012)<\/p>\n

Jake Lloyd \u2013 52 points (Round Nine, 2018)<\/p>\n

Jack Macrae \u2013 52 points (Round 14, 2019)<\/p>\n

Jack Macrae \u2013 52 points (Round 23, 2018)<\/p>\n

Steve Johnson \u2013 51 points (Round 19, 2011)<\/p>\n

Kane Cornes \u2013 51 points (Round Four, 2013)<\/p>\n

Josh Gibson \u2013 51 points (Round Two, 2016)<\/p>\n

Tom Mitchell \u2013 51 points (Round Ten, 2016)<\/p>\n

Bryce Gibbs \u2013 51 points (Round 13, 2017)<\/p>\n

Tom Mitchell \u2013 51 points (Round 21, 2021)<\/p>\n

Tom Stewart \u2013 51 points (Round 11, 2022)<\/p>\n

Jai Newcombe \u2013 51 points (Round 22, 2023)<\/p>\n

Harry Sheezel \u2013 51 points (Round Five, 2024)<\/p>\n

Luke Ryan \u2013 51 points (Round Eight, 2024)<\/p>\n

Dane Swan \u2013 50 points (Round 23, 2012)<\/p>\n

Jack Steven \u2013 50 points (Round Eight, 2015)<\/p>\n

Leigh Montagna \u2013 50 points (Round Three, 2016)<\/p>\n

Sam Gibson \u2013 50 points (Round Eight, 2016)<\/p>\n

Kade Simpson \u2013 50 points (Round 6, 2017)<\/p>\n

Tom Mitchell \u2013 50 points (Round Nine, 2017)<\/p>\n

Joel Selwood \u2013 50 points (Round Five, 2017)<\/p>\n

Sam Docherty \u2013 50 points (Round Six 2017)<\/p>\n

Steele Sidebottom \u2013 50 points (Prelim Final, 2018)<\/p>\n

Angus Brayshaw \u2013 50 points (Round Three, 2022)<\/p>\n

Tom Stewart \u2013 50 points (Round Seven, 2022)<\/p>\n

Luke Ryan \u2013 50 points (Round 21, 2022)<\/p>\n

Caleb Serong \u2013 50 points (Round One, 2024)<\/p>\n

Dayne Zorko \u2013 50 points (Round Eight, 2024)<\/p>\n

Harry Sheezel \u2013 50 points (Round 23, 2025)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dropping 50 now sits as an elite indicator in the Mongrel Stats realm. You can have a look at all our weird stats HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Who will be next, and who have we missed?\u00a0Let me know.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

OVERALL 50-POINT LEADERS<\/p>\n

5 \u2013 Tom Mitchell<\/p>\n

2 \u2013 Gary Ablett, Lachie Neale, Jack Macrae, Brent Stanton, Kade Simpson, Tom Stewart, Luke Ryan, Harry Sheezel<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stanton notching two may come across as surprising to some, particularly given the heat he\u2019d receive from Bombers supporters at times, but he is the in here twice and makes an appearance in as one of the eight players to ever notch a Quadruple Double (double figures in kicks, marks, handballs and tackles in the same game) since stats have been kept. He\u2019s a statistician\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

TEAMS WITH THE MOST 50+ POINT PLAYERS<\/p>\n

The Hawks have seven, with four of Tom Mitchell\u2019s 50+ games coming in brown and gold, and one each for Sicily, Newcombe, and Josh Gibson, as well. The Cats, by virtue of the double from Tom Stewart, have five. And the Blues and Dockers have four apiece, as well.<\/p>\n

Just two teams have never had anyone register this stat \u2013 The Crows, and Tigers are all yet to have a player crack 50.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

WHERE ARE THE FORWARDS?<\/p>\n

It seems it\u2019s pretty difficult for forwards to make the cut, doesn\u2019t it? But Stevie J\u2019s inclusion indicates it can be done.<\/p>\n

A few of you threw Nick Riewoldt\u2019s 26 possession, 21 mark and nine-goal effort in 2016 out there as a possibility. Close\u2026 but no cigar. He had only one tackle, and only 16 of his disposals were considered effective, for a grand total of 47. Sorry, St Nick\u2026<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely\u2026 thank you \u2013 HB<\/p>\n

Like this content? You could buy me a coffee \u2013 I do like coffee, but there is no guarantee I won\u2019t use it to buy a doughnut\u2026 I like them more. And I am not brought to you by Sportsbet or Ladbrokes\u2026 or Bet365, or any of them.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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