While Essendon's game plan and recent recruiting is under fire, the recruitment of Devon Smith has hit the target, the former Giant smashing the competition in pressure points.

Smith is top of the pressure tree this season from Brisbane Lion Dayne Zorko, and has recorded two of the top 10 performances this season – in round eight (97.3 points) and round one (92).

Essendon coach John Worsfold said on Saturday after the Bombers' disappointing loss to Carlton that Smith had been "wonderful" in setting the standard of desire to get inside and lay big tackles.

Smith racked up 15 on Saturday, which Worsfold commended despite dismissing raw tackling numbers as less relevant than players putting in "effort around the ball and how we attack it".

So, if tackling isn't everything in the eyes of coaches, just what is a "pressure point", and how is it calculated?

It's much more complex than you think.

Champion Data measure four levels of pressure players can apply; corralling, chasing, closing and physical.

Each level is worth a certain amount of points, which is worked out by how much harder it is for the opposition to record an effective disposal from that pressure, compared to when they are under no pressure.

Corralling, when the player guards a space so an opponent is limited with his run and where he can go, is worth 1.2 points.

Chasing a player from behind and gaining ground is worth 1.5 points.

Closing a player down from in front or to the side of his disposal is worth 2.25 points.

And, physical pressure – when a player gets a hand to a player while he is disposing of the ball – is worth 3.75 points.

Therefore, it's possible for a player to record a high number of pressure acts but accumulate a low number of points, if the acts aren't specifically closing or physical.

Interestingly, Zorko is ranked second overall this season in this area despite only recently emerging from a form slump and an inability to cope with taggers.

His possession numbers might have been down earlier this season, but the Lion has been making up for it in other areas given his impressive pressure points average.

Richmond's Jack Graham is ranked fourth overall by average, but tops the ladder for an individual performance; in the Tigers' opening-round win over Carlton, the 20-year-old racked up 105.6 points.

He's the only player to have cleared 100 points this season.

Adelaide's Hugh Greenwood, fifth overall, is the only other player outside of Smith to have recorded two single-game totals in the top 10 this year; in round eight against Port Adelaide and in round six versus Gold Coast.

Top 10 pressure players of 2018

Top 10 pressure points scores in 2018

Who is your club's best pressure player?

(average per game, minimum three games played)

Top 10 pressure games of all-time (2010-18)

All statistics provided by Champion Data.