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2024 Season Roundup

· 6 min read
Nick Eggleton

With the AFL Premiership season done, and AFLW 2024 approaching the finish line, we thought it would be a good point to summarise everything added to the AFL API this year.

New API Features​

Match Statistic POST endpoints​

At the start of the year, we introduced the Match Statistics POST Endpoints. While they perform the same function as the GET Endpoints, they enable you to make multiple statistic queries against a match in one API call, rather than several. They are both faster and more efficient, plus they save on API calls when you're watching your usage limit.

AFLW Matches​

AFLW is now formally supported by the AFL API, providing both past, live and future matches as they happen. AFLW matches work near identically to their Premiership counterparts, so you can reuse existing reports, dashboards and applications for AFLW simply by querying their match ids.

'Last X' match statistics filter​

The match statistics endpoints can now be filtered to a time range within a period, or to the last few minutes of play in a period. This can be used to drive a match day dashboard that shows how players are doing for the past 10 minutes.

Match Transaction & Summary File Support Package Functions​

The R Package (and later this year, the Python Package) now provides functions to generate these support site files from the AFL API.

New Metrics​

The following metrics were added to the AFL API between March and October this year.

  • ABSENCE_CENTRE_BOUNCE_LOSS_PCT

    The percentage of a players total centre bounce absences that result in a clearance to the opposition squad.

  • ABSENCE_CENTRE_BOUNCE_NEUTRAL_PCT

    The percentage of a players total centre bounce absences that do not result in a clearance for that centre bounce for either team.

  • ABSENCE_CENTRE_BOUNCE_WIN_PCT

    The percentage of a players total centre bounce absences that result in a clearance to the given players squad.

  • ATTENDANCE_CENTRE_BOUNCE_LOSS_PCT

    The percentage of a players total centre bounce attendances that result in a clearance to the opposition squad.

  • ATTENDANCE_CENTRE_BOUNCE_NEUTRAL_PCT

    The percentage of a players total centre bounce attendances that do not result in a clearance for that centre bounce for either team.

  • ATTENDANCE_CENTRE_BOUNCE_WIN_PCT

    The percentage of a players total centre bounce attendances that result in a clearance to the given players squad.

  • CLEARANCE_PCT

    The percentage of all stoppages that resulted in a clearance win.

  • DISPOSAL_PER_TURNOVER

    Ratio of Disposals compared to Disposals that were also turnovers.

  • DISPOSAL_TURNOVER

    Disposals that resulted in a turnover, where the zone is attributed to the zone of the disposal.

  • GOAL_EXPECTED

    Total goals expected from a given shot (based on location, pressure, sidedness). At a transaction level this will show expected accuracy and when summed will show the expected goal.

  • HANDBALL_TURNOVER

    Handballs that resulted in a turnover, where the zone is attributed to the zone of the handball.

  • INSIDE_50_FORCED_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after a forced inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • INSIDE_50_INITIAL_DIRECT_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after a direct initial inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • INSIDE_50_INITIAL_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after an initial inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • INSIDE_50_MID_STOPPAGE_DIRECT_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after a direct midfield stoppage inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • INSIDE_50_MID_STOPPAGE_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after a midfield stoppage inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • INSIDE_50_REPEAT_DIRECT_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after a direct repeat inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • INSIDE_50_REPEAT_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after a repeat inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • INSIDE_50_TRANSITION_DIRECT_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after a direct transition inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • INSIDE_50_TRANSITION_ENTRY_RETURN

    Total points returned after a transition inside 50 entry and before another inside 50 or centre bounce.

  • KICK_TURNOVER

    Kicks that resulted in a turnover, where the zone is attributed to the zone of the kick.

  • METRES_GAINED_ASSISTED

    Total metres gained by a teammate that receives an uncontested possession from your disposal.

  • METRES_GAINED_DISPOSAL

    Metres Gained via disposals. Measured from the point the original point of possession to the next possession or stoppage.

  • METRES_GAINED_DISPOSAL_AVG

    The average number of meters gained per-disposal

  • METRES_GAINED_HANDBALL

    Metres Gained via handballs. Measured from the point the original point of possession to the next possession or stoppage.

  • METRES_GAINED_HANDBALL_AVG

    The average number of meters gained via handballs

  • METRES_GAINED_KICK

    Metres Gained via kicks, measured from the point of the original possession to the next possession or stoppage.

  • METRES_GAINED_KICK_AVG

    The average number of metres gained via kicks

  • METRES_GAINED_NET

    Metres Gained plus Assisted Metres Gained.

  • METRES_GAINED_OTHER

    Metres Gained not via disposals.

  • METRES_GAINED_RETAIN

    Metres Gained where the disposal/possession was retained.

  • ONE_PERCENTER

    Cumulation of knock ons, shepherds, credits, spoils and smothers.

  • POINTS_ABOVE_EXPECTED

    Total points scored above the expected score.

  • POSSESSION_CONTESTED_PCT

    The percentage of all possessions that are contested possessions.

  • POSSESSION_UNCONTESTED_PCT

    The percentage of all possessions that are uncontested possessions.

  • PRESSURE_ACT_FORCED_TURNOVER_BEHI_PCT

    The percentage of all forced turnovers that result in a behind.

  • PRESSURE_ACT_FORCED_TURNOVER_GOAL_PCT

    The percentage of all forced turnovers that result in a goal.

  • PRESSURE_ACT_FORCED_TURNOVER_POINTS

    Total points generated by pressure acts forcing a turnover.

  • PRESSURE_ACT_FORCED_TURNOVER_SCORE_PCT

    The percentage of all forced turnovers that result in a score.

  • RANKING_POINTS

    The Official Champion Data AFL Rankings system was established in 1999 and has been developed into a robust and comprehensive system for objectively measuring player performance through the use of statistical measures. The rankings are geared to reward the winning factors of a game of AFL football. They are used as the scoring measure in the Herald-Sun SuperCoach fantasy game.

  • TIME_IN_POSSESSION_DISPUTE_PCT

    The percentage of total elapsed time where the ball was in play but neither team had possession.

  • TIME_ON_GROUND_LOOSE

    Time in seconds that a player was loose during a game.

  • TIME_ON_GROUND_LOOSE_PCT

    Percentage of time that a player was loose during a game.