Melbourne poach data analyst from Port Adelaide for season 2020

Melbourne’s off-season overhaul has continued as the Demons plot a rise up the ladder next season by poaching a key football analytics man from Port Adelaide.

Melbourne has increased its investment in football analytics for next season, appointing a new data scientist from Port Adelaide.

The Demons have poached Robert Younger after a two-year stint at the Power to bolster the club’s statistical analysis arm.

In the role, Younger, who created the website ‘Figuring Footy’, will try and keep the Demons at the forefront of the AFL’s latest game trends.

He will serve senior coach Simon Goodwin and his lieutenants as well as the club’s list analysis and recruiting department.

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Simon Goodwin and Melbourne have increased investment in football analytics. Picture: Getty

Melbourne is also on the hunt for as many as three new part-time data assistants to help support its four men’s and women’s teams.

Data analysis is a growing area of football clubs as teams look for an edge in game style innovation and match day tactics.

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In particular, Hawthorn has been a leader in this area for more than a decade, while St Kilda has also boosted its commitment to data science poaching highly-respected former Hawthorn pair David Rath and Darren O’Shaughnessy.

Younger’s appointment continues the considerable off-field changes at Melbourne in the wake of a disappointing 2019 season crashing from preliminary finalists to second-last this year.

Football boss Josh Mahoney has revamped the coaching and fitness departments, adding former St Kilda senior coach Alan Richardson as coaching director as well as strength and conditioning boss Darren Burgess.

Originally published as Melbourne poach data analyst from Port Adelaide for season 2020