We will call them the one-two kings.
Ever noticed two players who tend to always give the ball to each other when they have it?
It could be by design, by instinct or simply a result of positional familiarity, but there are certain players in every team who find each other when they've got it.
An unlikely pair sit at the top of the Champion Data rankings for a disposal from one player to an uncontested possession for their teammate.
The list confirms what we might have thought about the players who kick and handball to each other most and the duos who 'wax' with the ball, but also highlights some of the best fast starts this season by midfielders.
Bailey Smith features in two partnerships – having combined with Western Bulldogs teammates Jack Macrae and Adam Treloar both on 27 occasions.
Smith has been one of the best performed players in the AFL this season after settling into a full-time midfield position, averaging 34.4 disposals and 4.8 tackles from his five games so far.
Macrae has continued his impressive form from last year into this campaign, averaging 31.2 disposals and 7.8 clearances, while Treloar is impacting around the ground with an average of 26.5 touches and 4.3 marks.
Richmond duo Jayden Short and Nathan Broad lead the way, combining 29 times in the first six rounds - a number boosted by kick outs from opposition behinds being scored.
Player Combinations |
Disposals to uncontested possessions |
Jayden Short / Nathan Broad (Richmond) |
29 |
Patrick Cripps / Sam Walsh (Carlton) |
27 |
Bailey Smith / Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs) |
27 |
Shannon Hurn / Alex Witherden (West Coast) |
27 |
Adam Treloar / Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs) |
27 |
Jack Steele / Brad Crouch (St Kilda) |
27 |
Sam Walsh / George Hewett (Carlton) |
26 |
Christian Petracca / Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) |
25 |
Darcy Parish / Zach Merrett (Essendon) |
25 |
Clayton Oliver / Ed Langdon (Melbourne) |
25 |