How Video Analysis Keeps Richmond Tigers Kicking at the top of the AFL
30 Sep, 2019
How Video Analysis Keeps Richmond Tigers Kicking at the Top of the AFL
Established in 1885 and with 12 Premierships to their name, Richmond Football Club are one of the most storied Australian Rules Football teams in the history of the competition. Here's how video helps this successful team stay ahead of the game.
Richmond have been a leading club in recent AFL history, winning the 2017 and 2019 Grand Finals, with 2018 also being a strong year as the Tigers finished first in the regular season.
Video analysis is now an essential tool in Australian rules football and Tigers Football Technology Coordinator Simon Reinsch credits it as a key contributor towards this current successful period for the club.
“Hudl and Sportscode are used in basically anything and everything that we do,” Reinsch said.
“Both are a vital tool for analysis and communication and have allowed our coaches to learn more about the game and teach what they want in an extremely effective way. Using Sportscode, we look at a wide range of metrics for every game, such as contested possessions to scoring percentages from different zones on the ground.
“There are so many different factors in a football game that contribute to the end result, without Sportscode it would take years to go through every metric.”
A key challenge for Australian rules analysis is breaking down unique game scenarios.
“There are specific structures in Aussie Rules where the players are required to set up in certain situations and in different zones of the field,” Reinsch said. “Identifying which role a player is playing and then if they are in the correct position is made a lot easier with video analysis.”
A key example of this is a ‘stoppage’, a period in the game where the ball is brought back to the umpire and the teams set up in a way to best contest the ball back in to possession.
“We use a multi-camera setup to analyse the best way to set up their receivers before the ball is spiked back into play after a stoppage,” said Reinsch.
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“There are so many different factors in a football game that contribute to the end result, without Sportscode it would take years to go through every metric.”
This multi-camera system is mandatory due to Richmond’s home ground being the 100,000 capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground—the tenth largest stadium in the world. This large area needs to be covered by film in order for the Tigers' three analysis staff to work effectively.
“Given it is a 360-degree game, the fact we are able to view and conduct analysis across four different angles of vision simultaneously is incredibly important and very useful,” Reinsch said.
“Being able to go back and look at all previous stoppages in the same situation, the analyst or coach can then take the vision and show the player live or post match to educate them and in turn make them better for the better of the teams success.”
Video analysis has also been effective for Richmond in improving the individual performances of players, with ruckman Toby Nankervis using live video feedback to make adjustments to his game.
Nankervis finished a standout 2017 rating fifth at the club for total clearances and tackles, while also recording the seventh most hit outs in a season by a Richmond player (593).
“Toby likes to review each of his center bounce involvements for each quarter at every break,” Reinsch said.
“His plays are coded live throughout the game, and at each break he will watch this on an iPad which integrates with Sportscode. This live review is great for Toby as he can get some instant feedback from his coach who has already seen the vision and see it himself to back up his own thoughts on the game so far.
“If he isn’t performing the way he wants, he gets justification and is able to change a few things without having to wait till it’s too late after the game.”
“Given it is a 360-degree game, the fact we are able to view and conduct analysis across four different angles of vision simultaneously is incredibly important and very useful."
Aside from live feedback, players who require training on kicking technique will work with a team coach and analyst and film using video to break down their kicking movements biomechanically.
Reinsch and his team have set up a streaming device to be able to instantly review kicking repetitions on a big screen for the player to view on the spot and then modify technique as needed.
It’s been a highly-successful era for the Tigers and their journey has been intertwined with the use of video. “We have certainly come a long way from the traditional broadcast view that was the only angle provided under a decade ago," said Reinsch.
"Our club-wide mantra is to drive high standards and play to your strengths, and we feel video gives us a great chance at doing just that."
