GEELONG'S focus on team pressure has elevated it to the top of a very important statistical category.

The Cats now boast the greatest differential in the competition between pressure applied and pressure received during games.

The measurement of pressure is done by Champion Data, which is responsible for generating the official AFL statistics.

For every disposal during a match, Champion Data looks at what type of pressure was applied to the player with the ball.

Each type of pressure is then awarded a certain number of points.

* 3.75 points - Physical
* 2.25 points - Opponent Closing
* 1.20 points - Opponent Corralling
* 1.50 points - Opponent Chasing from Behind
* 1.00 points - No Pressure
* 0.75 points - Set Position

When it comes to Geelong, the data for this season shows that the Cats are applying an average of 1.79 pressure points per disposal when the opposition has the ball, but they are receiving an average of 1.70 pressure points per disposal when they have the ball.

This puts the Cats at the top of tree when it comes to the pressure differential.

And high pressure differentials often have an impact on the scoreboard. Last season, 17 of the 21 teams who enjoyed a pressure differential of 0.2 or greater across an entire match also won the game.

Here is how the competition shapes up when it comes to pressure applied and received per disposal per game:

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