Quantifying how pressure on the ball wins AFL quarters
A look at what captured AFL data tells us about pressure, winning quarters, and how to find your team's number.
In-depth coaching articles, film studies, and statistical analysis — written to help coaches read the game more deeply and coach with greater confidence.
Multi-part Series
Featured Articles
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Metres gained: useful by source, not as a total
A few coaches have asked us to add total metres gained. Broken down by source it's one of the sharpest signals we track — but the single grand tota...
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Correlation isn't causation — the principle behind this whole series
Some stats predict winning because they help cause it. Others predict winning because they're the scoreboard wearing a different hat. The principle...
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AFL Coaching Glossary, Part 3: Possession & Chain Play
How coaches talk about moving the ball from one end of the ground to the other — surges, switches, chains and handball receives.
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AFL Coaching Glossary, Part 8: Tactical Concepts & Cues
Short phrases coaches yell from the box — composed possession, fight forward, hold six forwards — and what they actually mean.
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AFL Coaching Glossary, Part 2: Stoppages & Clearances
Centre bounces, ruck contests, sweepers, and the language of getting the ball out of a stoppage.
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The AFL Coaching Glossary
An easy reference for the language coaches use in the box, on the boundary, and at training. Eight short articles, around 110 terms in total.
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AFL Coaching Glossary, Part 6: Player Roles & Mix
Who plays where, what a forward or midfield mix is, and why traits like fast feet, work rate and aerobic ability matter.
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AFL Coaching Glossary, Part 5: Defence & Pressure
Zones, references, +1s, pressure rating — how coaches describe shutting the opposition down as a unit and as individuals.
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AFL Coaching Glossary, Part 7: Stats & Metrics
Differentials, conversion rates, and the numbers that show up on a coach's iPad — explained in plain English.
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