If, like most people, you’re not familiar with AFL analysis Twitter, there was something of a blow-up yesterday.
To tell a long story short, there are a few hard-working footy analysts on the web. Many of their statistics are painstakingly curated by amateurs to make up for the dearth provided by the AFL itself. These include individual players stats, team stats and long-term trends over the duration of a season.
Champion Data is the AFL’s official stats provider and a great deal of its stats are privately released only to clubs and broadcasters. Naturally, the AFL wants to keep a great deal of this a secret to benefit those parties, which is fine.
Unfortunately, many believe the degree of restriction is too great. This was highlighted on Friday when the AFL’s own website referred to statsinsider.com.au to frame an article around players shooting for goal outside 50 metres.
This was a glaring acknowledgement that other organisations, and sometimes just fans, are doing a better job of curating stats than the AFL’s official public records.
Yesterday, AFL journo Marc McGowan – whose podcast specifically relates to this area – chastised the amateur statisticians for thinking they were “as worthy” as the clubs when it came to accessing data.
If ever there was a glaring example of the disconnect between the AFL’s media and fans, this was it.
McGowan’s tweet was misguided because it operated on the false presumption that a “small minority” are greedy for wanting more stats.
I’m not really sure what the unwashed swill seek to gain other than more numbers to enhance their enjoyment of the game.
There’s no secret agenda or conspiracy to undermine the clubs’ and media’s access to stats, just a pressing desire for more knowledge.
I get that most fans probably aren’t interested in detailed models to enhance their understanding of why some players are poorer at set shots, but the point is that some really are.
To suggest that anyone outside the AFL’s inner sanctum is unworthy of enhancing their understanding of the game with detailed stats is a giant middle finger to that part of its fan base.
And we’re not talking about half a dozen nerds in their mums’ basements either. Max Barry of the excellent squiggle.com.au says his site receives 15,000 visitors a week. That’s more than a few fans interested in the deeper mechanics of Australian football.
These amateur footy statisticians aren’t seeking to usurp Champion Data or the AFL. Rather, they simply have a great love for the game and its numbers.
If you haven’t already, I can highly recommend purchasing the book Footballistics, with contributions from a range of these guys including The Roar’s own Ryan Buckland. It’s full of titbits that provide an extra insight into the common beliefs in AFL circles, like the amount of Victorian bias in the Hall of Fame and how travel really affects interstate teams.
Footy stats aren’t for everyone but for a nuffy like me, they can genuinely enhance my understanding of the game.
Opening up some more data for the public will increase engagement in the code, not weaken its foundations.
The AFL and its media would do well to show this subset of fans a bit more respect. That anyone would devote hours to curating stats for little tangible reward demonstrates the enormous appeal the game has.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Between the arcs? Where is the forward fifty located then,the frontal lobe? Some players have more space than others
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
At a high level it's a numbers game and the elite know that soo... If the Afl is into making stats scarce for the General Public. I smell money and the AFL are supposed to be a benefit to grass roots so stats must be part of that data sharing if they are serious about that role and it's tax free status. Is GILL and CO just "Kerrrching!!" Demetriou's in hiding? Share the intelligence you dummies. Us and Them is the criminal mind at work. 'It doesn't matter what we do to them cos they ain't one of us.' The close shop insiders behind the money wall. Stinks.
IAP
Guest
Stats are boring. The mental game is much more interesting - footy is won between the ears.
Boo
Guest
Doubt even Champion Data stats could explain some of the results this season.
Slane
Guest
Stats are rubbish? They are objective and verifiable numbers. Analysis of those stats might be rubbish, but the numbers exist whether you record /publish them or not.
Maximus Insight
Guest
This is a classic case of knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing - both in McGowan and the AFL's case Talking about business models completely misses the point. The AFL apparently have a 49% share in champion data with an option to purchase a controlling share. The broader benefits of providing free - or greatly enhanced - access to the data to the general public are enormous. Champion data could still provide curated services to clubs and media with the former paying a licence fee via AFL distributions. McGOwan should know better given his podcast suggests he has an interest in the area. It is not just about fanalysts themselves it is about overcoming the analytically impoverished footy media we are adled with.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Most of the Champion Data stats are rubbish anyway (IMHO). Just watch the game and you will see which players are playing well (and which ones aren't)!
Zach
Guest
Great article, totally agree. Desperate for more stats, never feel like we get enough. Disappointing tweet from McGowan and definitely appreciative of any extra stats I see on Twitter and the like
Liam Clarkson
Roar Rookie
Yeah I understand that. I'm certainly not demanding a free-for-all but giving fans a bit more info so they can engage with the sport isn't too much to ask. It would certainly be better than Fox just hand feeding stats to David King every week.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
The fundamental problem is this - Champion Data is a business. They make money from their data. The more data they release for free, the less valuable they believe their data is. Oztam has the same problem - but worse. Cant publish the publicly released tv ratings data in any kind of format without paying for a subscription (20k a year).
TomC
Roar Guru
Jesus, what a terribly stupid tweet from McGowan. Of course people don't understand how Champion Data work. They are deliberately opaque. That's the problem.
Downsey
Roar Pro
Absolutely agree. I'm not great with numbers but when I seek them out it's to understand a player, a team, the game better, and I appreciate the efforts of the unpaid stats addicts out there who put it all together for us. McGowan was way off the mark...
Ben
Guest
This is interesting, one has to wonder why an AFL journo decides to have digs about peoples motives and honesty to a bunch of people who keep everything open. If I were to read between the lines, I would say its just a case of Marc wanting everyone to know that he is within the circle and others are not. Which unfortunately is the attitude of the AFL itself
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
I am not sure what stats NRL has, but wouldn't have thought it was too many. Whereas, I find there are too many in AFL for me to digest.
Tom
Guest
Interesting article. Surely the massive demand for stats in NRL, cricket, and just about every American sport would show there certainly is a market for it.