Champion Data re-rank every side’s midfield

After 16 rounds of the 2017 season, Champion Data have updated and released their new midfield rankings, and there are plenty of changes around the top.

Before the season began, the AFL's official statistics provider suggested Collingwood had the best midfield in the competition, followed closely by GWS, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond.

However, Sydney have rocketed to the top of the leaderboard as we enter the back end of the home-and-away season, although that isn't the biggest improvement across the competition.

Amazingly, Melbourne - who were ranked 18th at the start of the season and were labelled as having the worst midfield in the league - have jumped into fourth of all midfields, with a 27% increase.

Sydney is clear out in front with 76%, while Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs sit in joint-second with 64%.

"We are not into projections, we were just giving the facts at that time in the publication," Champion Data's Glenn Luff told SEN's Pure Footy on Thursday.

"Collingwood have gone from first to 10th (52%).

"Their contested footy until four weeks ago had been pretty good. Their output and their damage of their midfielders has fall away.

"Someone like Steele Sidebottom, it was maximum damage in the past, but now his damage isn't as much. (Scott) Pendlebury is still elite – but his ratings have gone down a little bit. (Adam) Treloar is above average for a midfielder, Taylor Adams is average."

Carlton (+3) and Geelong (+3) have both enjoyed big jumps up the table, while Collingwood (-9), West Coast (-5) and Hawthorn (-4) have been the biggest declines.

Champion Data's updated midfield rankings