Microchipped footballs to be trialled in VFL and VFLW matches this weekend

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has confirmed that microchipped balls will be used at VFL level this weekend as the league strives to have a level of decision-making technology seen in cricket and tennis.

A solution to the AFL score review woes could be closer, with the league trialling the use of microchip technology in the Sherrin at VFL level this weekend.

Speaking at the SportNXT conference in Melbourne, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon revealed the ball that could end score review confusion will be trialled for the first time at a VFL and VFLW double-header on Friday afternoon.

“We’ve gone through a range of tests to make sure it doesn’t affect the performance of the footy,” Dillon said at the conference.

“We’ve got through that – we’ve been trialling it at training – and now we’re going to be trialling (it) in some VFL and VFLW games this weekend. We’re really excited about what it brings for the score review.”

Andrew Dillon and the AFL are attempting to make the score review system more reliable. Picture: Getty Images

The first meetings on the technology were held 16 months ago and accelerated when new head of football Laura Kane was appointed. Kane has flagged technology and innovation as a key priority. Eddie McGuire has also been an advocate behind the scenes, with the AFL working with sports tech company Sportable on the product. Former Wallabies player Stirling Mortlock is an adviser to Sportable and has been heavily involved in its technological development across a range of sports, including rugby union.

The ball will be used on Friday at RSEA Park in Moorabbin, in both the VFL match between Sandringham and Collingwood, and the VFLW match between the Southern Saints and Collingwood.

“We’ve seen how technology in cricket and tennis have really helped aid decision-making. So we want to continue and get to that (level),” Dillon said, adding that he hoped the technology will also assist the AFL in monitoring the way the game is played.

“We also see that it’s going to provide really helpful data – on the way the ball moves – that will help us make sure we keep the game as attractive as possible,” he said.

“If we get more data, we can analyse the game better.”

However, its primary purpose initially will be to help rectify the league’s controversial ARC scoring review system.

The AFL continues to test microchip technology inside footballs. Picture: Supplied

“There’s so much upside to this technology, but we’re just going to make sure that it absolutely does the job and we’ll try and make sure that it’s as close to 100 per cent as we can get,” Dillon said.

Kane said that successful blind-testing by clubs during pre-season training has allowed the ‘smart-ball’ to progress to VFL level.

“Feedback from clubs has been positive with the view being there is no difference to the look, feel and performance of the ball,” she said.

“Following this feedback, we are now ready to move to the next stage in the trials where we will see how the ball performs in a match environment.”

Extensive work has been done on the ball to ensure it looks, feels, weighs and performs like a typical match ball, with lab testing to determine the sensor accuracy and basic performance qualities.

The testing has even involved work with a robot to test kick distance and trajectory.

“We are excited about the possibilities of what this can do, both from a performance data perspective, but also for providing insights for fans (both) in-match and at home, as well as the options it could potentially unlock for our broadcasters,” Kane said.

Originally published as Microchipped footballs to be trialled in VFL and VFLW matches this weekend