By Nick Creely
Tyler Finn first learnt his craft as a budding statistician in the grandstands of the MCG, watching the mighty Hawthorn battle it out.
The 13-year old Narre Warren South youngster loves his footy stats, so much so, that he gave himself the hardest task for a statistician, compiling the numbers of one of the AFL’s biggest ball magnets.
“I just love tallying stats – I used to always go to Hawthorn games and watch one specific player, and follow them around and do their stats,” he said.
“Last year, I did Tom Mitchell’s stats against Geelong – he racked up like 46 disposals.
“I did kicks, handballs, marks, contested and uncontested possessions, tackles, inside 50’s, clearances, frees for, frees against, goals, behinds and score assists.
“After the game, I have one sheet of paper with stats I counted, then I’d have another sheet of paper with the AFL Live stats, and I’d correct any stats I’d miss.”
But he hardly missed a stat, and he was so impressive that he caught the eye of Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien, also his uncle.
“He had a chat with me around December, he asked me if I wanted to do the stats for the seniors, and I was so pumped and said ‘yes please’, and then he organised merchandise for me, it’s great fun,” he said.
Tyler’s job is vitally important for the coach, and a hectic one, as he explains.
“He’s (O’Brien) keen on the forwards having the pressure, so he wants me to do forward tackles, marks inside the 50, inside 50’s, centre bounce and stoppage clearances, intercept marks in the backline, so it’s a fair bit,” he said.
“It’s been awesome, I’m learning heaps, like the tactics, and it’s really good fun.
“I’m not trying to brag, but I have some experience, and I know what inside 50’s are and stuff like that, and I find it all a bit easy.”
While Tyler learns the craft of a statistician, he is a talented young footballer, who plays his junior footy in the powerful Eastern Football League and is coached by some esteemed names in junior development, and hopes to one day play in the big time.
“I’m at a new club this year at Waverley Blues, last year I played at Narre South Lions,” he said.
“I also go to school at Rowville Secondary College, where Darren Bewick and Mark Fisher are my coaches, and they’ve been so good with me, I’ve learnt so much.
“I play my 100th game this week against East Ringwood – so it’s my first game for the club, but my 100th game of football.”
“That’s one of my dreams (being a statistician), but every footballers dream is to play AFL, but if that doesn’t happen, I’d love to do stats.”
But does the young man count his own stats when he plays?
“Not necessarily, but I played a practice match on the weekend and Dad counted my stats – I had 19 touches, and two goals, but I wasn’t happy with my tackles, I’m normally a really good tackler.”
