Can you actually measure momentum?
Every coach talks about momentum. “We’ve got it.” “We’ve lost it.” “Stop their run.” But can you actually measure it? We decided to find out—and what we discovered changed the way we think about the game.
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
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.
All articles
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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