Could position_dodge(preserve = 'single') centre bars/boxs where not all categories are present like in dodge2?

[davidhodge931]

Might not be possible, but thought I'd chuck it up just in case

See how waterpolo and gymnastics categories are treated in dodge. I'd prefer they were centred like in dodge2

library(tidyverse)
library(patchwork)

sports <- c("water polo", "swimming", "gymnastics", "field", "netball")

p1 <- ggridges::Aus_athletes |>
  dplyr::filter(sport %in% sports) |>
  ggplot(aes(height, sport, fill = sex)) +
  geom_boxplot(position = position_dodge(preserve = "single")) +
  labs(title = "position_dodge(preserve = 'single')") +
  theme(legend.position = "none")

p2 <- ggridges::Aus_athletes |>
  dplyr::filter(sport %in% sports) |>
  ggplot(aes(height, sport, fill = sex)) +
  geom_boxplot(position = position_dodge2(preserve = "single")) +
  labs(title = "position_dodge2(preserve = 'single')") +
  theme(legend.position = "none")

p1 / p2

^{Created on 2025-09-15 with reprex v2.1.1}