Analytics in the AFL - The Most Data Rich Sport on Earth

In this episode of The Numbers Game, we look at how advanced data in the AFL shapes match strategy, media coverage, and the fans’ experience of the sport they love.

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[andrewmilici]

Even the stats guy has to pay for parking at the MCG...lol

[SteveMarksMusic]

Gosh, im here in 2020 saying: "wow, crazy technology these days..." Video is from 2016!!

[Acemanveryspecial]

I've always wondered who tracked all the stats in the games. There's a lot of stuff they keep track of, it's mind blowing.

[mehhhhist]

0:27 the statue shows tom wills, the founder of the game. his story is a fascinating one. he survived a massacre in which his family was killed by aboriginals. despite this event,  he coached and captained the first aboriginal cricket team, which became the first australian team to tour overseas in 1868. sadly tom suffered from ptsd and eventually drank himself into oblivion, and committed suicide by stabbing a pair of scissors through his heart

[SP-free]

I played this as a little child to grown man. I have played a lot of sport. No other sport expects you to run non-stop, be tackled by anyone coming from 360 degrees, be able to kick a ball 60metres with accuracy, handball to a teammate, and be able to mark(catch) in the air on somebody’s back....all without pads & helmets.
One day in the future, the world will catch on to this great game. Invented by Aistralians 👍

[EarlJohn]

I can remember a time when the coaches would 'adjust' the official stats
When the team won they would increase the number of kicks (52 became 61),
while decreasing the number of handballs (60 became 50) & conversely
When the team lost they would decrease the number of kicks (58 became 48),
while increasing the number of handballs (54 became 66)...

This was to keep their opponents from realising that the team was winning by having a close to 1:1 kick to handball ratio

[thedonfonz]

wow .. imma hardcore Rugby Union fan.. An All Black supporter, this was fascinating, i dont anything about AFL Footy but this was very enlightening..

[dylanlagarde]

So these are the blokes who do me over when I need 1 more disposal for my multi

[Epimpin]

There are a couple of American's playing in the AFL who never even heard of the sport a couple years before they were playing professionally... Mason Cox is one of them. Former college basketball players.

[zurawrath]

Great work vice. Would never of known this so thank you.

[TheMrFrontera]

this is pretty cool. as a decently big sports fan, particularly ncaaf, nfl, ncaab, i always wondered where all the stats came from. like some sites have more detailed stats than others, espn shows where all the shots are taken from etc.

[nikoninja]

I barely understand any of this... but i watched the whole thing lol

[boredincan]

I'm an Aussie Rules fanatic (go GWS). I'm honestly surprised that American Basketball or Football doesn't have more statistical analysis.

[tg]

Very different now. The players have trackers On the jerseys that tracks where they are at all times and how fast how much they run ext.

[jws]

00.33 seconds in, cheeky perv at the cute ticket girl

[Jordan-schv]

Quite cool, always wanted to do this, had just about perfect player ID since I was 14.

[sergiodoubleshot]

How do i get the interchange operator job? has to be one of the easiest jobs in the world

[ian__watts]

Really interesting but I think too much focus on stats could take/is taking our game in a bad direction. It all becomes too sterile, everyone is focused on getting X number of contested possessions, X number of smothers etc. We'll lose the importance of the player who might only have 10 possesions but creates a game changing moment. I dunno, I just think over analysing anything eventually destroys the best thing about it.

[AlexBriggs]

Funny I am watching this now when hawthorn are about to play Richmond this weekend in 2018

[Jellybeantiger]

Champion data trolled Richmond after our premiership by naming us the 9th best team lol.CD got a bit salty.