ESSENDON fans would be confused at the moment. While the Dons have lost their past four games, they've won the inside-50 count in all those matches.

In fact the Bombers are second on this season's inside-50 table, behind only Collingwood, and yet their record is five wins, six defeats and one draw. The Dons clearly are not converting well.

The inside-50 count in the match between the Bombers and North Melbourne on Saturday was 60 to Essendon and 55 to the Roos.

Poor kicking for goal contributed to Essendon's demise; the final score was 17.9 (111) to 12.18 (90), but other reasons have been put forward for the Bombers' poor conversion.

The first is that while the midfielders and defenders have been adept at firing the ball into attack, the forwards have not been fighting hard enough to retain the ball.

The second is that the Bombers are struggling to penetrate deep into attack. Many of the shots from inside 50 on Saturday were taken from around the 40m mark.

The Bombers need to be in a position to fire the ball towards the goalsquare if they're to improve their conversion.

Of Essendon's 12 matches this season, it has won the inside-50 count in nine games and lost in three.

The Bombers were beaten in the inside-50 tally against Sydney Swans in round two (lost the match), Collingwood in round five (lost) and West Coast in round seven (lost).

Rare efficiency

CARLTON achieved a rare conversion rate in its victory over the Sydney Swans on Sunday, winning comfortably by 34 points despite having an inside-50 count of only 42.

A tally of 50 or more is usually necessary for victory, and Carlton's inside-50 count was the second fewest of any winner this season.

It suggests the Blues took the ball into the forward line with such efficiency that the forwards could shoot from friendly angles and distances.

The lowest inside-50 count for a victor this season has been the Swans' 38 in its win over West Coast in round three.

This figure backs up the Swans' plan of moving the ball forward and forcing stoppage after stoppage until players are in position to fire at goal.

Carlton's spread of goalkickers on Sunday showed just how much it has moved on from the era of funneling all attacks through Brendan Fevola at full-forward.

The Blues had 10 goalkickers in their score of 15.10 (100). Five players kicked two goals and five players kicked one.

Tons up

CARLTON was one of three clubs to score exactly 100 points at the weekend.

The others were Western Bulldogs, with 14.16, and Geelong, which like the Blues scored 15.10.

Every winning team scored 100 points or more, and every losing team scored less than 100.

Marginal rate

WHILE the average winning margin in the weekend's matches was high - 40.8 points - it was not exceptional.

The average winning margin for all home and away games in 2010 was 35.3.

The highest average winning margin in any round this season is 45.6 in round 11.

On the bounce

RICHMOND'S Brett Deledio set a season high when he took 13 bounces during the victory over Brisbane Lions on Saturday night, but his tally is nowhere near the record since Champion Data began taking stats in 1999.

In fact it's not even in the top 30.

Nathan Bock, the former Adelaide defender who is now at the Gold Coast, heads the list with 20 bounces in round five, 2009.
                                                                                                                             
PlayerRoundSeasonBounces
Nathan Bock5200920
Heath Shaw2200919
Jason Gram5200619
Rhyce Shaw4200918
Leigh Montagna17200617
Heath Shaw17200917
Jake King5200817
Jason Gram3200717

Striking a balance

Jordie McKenzie of Melbourne and Brett Stanton of Essendon certainly had lop-sided possession counts in round 13. McKenzie had two kicks and 26 handballs, while Stanton had 24 kicks and one handball. Some other players with lop-sided possession counts in matches in recent seasons include:
                                                                    
PlayerRoundSeasonKicksHandballs
Matt Priddis92010529
Nathan van Berlo212009526
Jobe Watson202010225

Numbers up

RICHMOND needed relative few possessions to achieve its 31-point victory over the Lions on Saturday night.

Most teams aim for at least 380 possessions if they are to win, but Richmond had just 331 against the Lions.

The Swans needed only 312 possessions to beat West Coast in round three and Richmond in round 10.

Rising Bomber

Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis confirmed his improvement when he gathered a career-high 29 possessions (18 kicks and 11 handballs) against North Melbourne on Saturday.

His previous best was 26 possessions (18 kicks and eight handballs) against North Melbourne in round 17 of last season.

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