Collective team behaviour of Australian Rules football during phases of match play

Abstract

Using the spatiotemporal characteristics of players, the primary aim of this study was to determine whether differences in collective team behaviour exist in Australian Rules football during different phases of match play. The secondary aim was to determine the extent to which collective team behaviour differed between competing teams and match half. Data was collected via 10 Hz global positioning system devices from a professional club during a 2 × 20 min, 15-v-15-match simulation drill. Five spatiotemporal variables from each team (x centroid, y centroid, length, width, and surface area) were collected and analysed during offensive, defensive, and contested phases. A multivariate analysis of variance comparing phase of match play (offensive, defensive, contested), Team (A & B), and Half (1 & 2) revealed that x-axis centroid and y-axis centroid showed considerable variation during all phases of match play. Length, width, and surface area were typically greater during the offensive phase comparative to defensive and contested phases. Clear differences were observed between teams with large differences recorded for length, width, and surface area during all phases of match play. Spatiotemporal variables that describe collective team behaviour may be used to understand team tactics and styles of play.

The relationship of team and individual athlete performances on match quarter outcome in elite women’s Australian Rules football

“…7 The comparatively higher performance contributions by key individual athletes to team success in the AFLW may be explained by the fact it is a new competition format and across many facets is still developing. As such, the level of game plan seen in the AFL competition 7,28,29 may yet be reasonable in the AFLW due to the variety of AFLW athlete game experience and skill maturity levels being contracted. The skill development of AFLW athletes, who have either recently progressed from junior competitions or transitioned from another sport and hence not marquee or high performing athletes may be also affected by the lower resourced professional support structures and training opportunities currently experienced in the AFLW.…”

Criterion Validity of Catapult ClearSky T6 Local Positioning System for Measuring Inter-Unit Distance

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Team numerical advantage in Australian rules football: A missing piece of the scoring puzzle?

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