The calendar has just clicked over to September, and despite having to now worry about bouts of hay fever, overprotective magpies and acclimatising to daylight savings, I’m still excited, because it means the AFL final series is on.

That’s right, a blog about the footy, but don’t worry it is research related. I’ve loved footy for as long as I can remember, and one thing I’ve especially latched onto is the statistics for each game. But I’ve only truly appreciated how crucial this collection of stats really is after recently researching Champion Data, the AFL’s official partner for game day statistics.

Champion Data has collected stats from every AFL game played since 1999. Not only is the sheer amount of data they’ve stored amazing, but the richness of that data and the impact it has on the game is what’s really incredible. The game has been massively shaped by big data in more ways than one: from the coaches and commentators, to the fans and the fantasy players, big data has a big impact on our game.

In such a performance-based industry, clubs are looking to gain any insight to boost player output; with coaches observing the numbers to track player trends and better inform game plans and tactics. The demand is so strong in fact, that Champion Data has invested time in making their data more sophisticated. For example, they have taken the raw numbers such as possession counts and combined this with a player’s GPS data – giving the stats incredible value.

The stockpile of data has also impacted the fans’ engagement with the game. Ask any diehard fan about a player’s standout game and you’ll hear something like this: “Mate, he had 30 disposals – 19 of them contested – 13 tackles, 9 score involvements, 12 clearances and a goal, what a game!” This appetite for player stats has had a significant impact on fantasy sports and added another layer to the way spectators watch the game. Fantasy players spend hours analysing players’ past performances and creating fantasy teams to compete against their friends, with competitions such as Supercoach and Draftstars sky rocketing in popularity.

Looking to the future, the potential uses for this wealth of information and data is countless. Every move of every player from every game has been tracked and recorded at such a detailed level, meaning games can be replayed in a virtual setting. Combined with VR technology, you could pick your favourite player and live out the Norm Smith Medal performance from their perspective.

Now this blog may just sound like a good excuse to write about the footy, but this example of the AFL and Champion Data really highlights how valuable big data can be when executed in the right way. Big Data can be a powerful tool for any company or organisation – and often it is already being collected – the real skill is to collate and present the data in a way that can provide actionable insights.

Written by James