AFLW ball tracking technology gets tick of approval after deciding Carlton, Gold Coast game but viewer experience a priority

The AFL’s new ball-tracking technology decided an AFLW game for the first time in round two, and the league is prepared for it to be expanded. ELIZA REILLY has the details.

The AFL believes that the possibilities are endless for its new ball-tracking technology after the score review system decided an AFLW game for the first time in round two.

Carlton’s Maddy Guerin kicked the winning goal against Gold Coast on Sunday with 90 seconds to play. The goal umpire initially said that the ball was touched on the line by Suns defender Daisy D’Arcy and her teammates agreed.

But after being reviewed by the score assist team, the ball tracking technology determined that Guerin’s kick had cleared the line.

“We’re really happy with how it’s gone so far after two rounds,” AFL GM of football operations Josh Mahoney said. “The goal on the weekend in the Gold Coast, Carlton game, the ball told us that there was contact made however it showed it was made over the line so the right decision was a goal.

GUERIN WINS THE GAME FOR THE BLUES! 🤯#AFLWSunsBluespic.twitter.com/Ob7KSiOLmj

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) September 8, 2024

“We wouldn’t have introduced the technology if we didn’t feel comfortable with its accuracy.

“We think that’s going to continue to improve and get better as the ball understands more and the algorithms get better but we were really comfortable with where the technology was at before introducing it to AFLW.”

The ball-tracking has been used four times now across the opening fortnight of the season. In both instances in round one, the ball supported the goal umpires’ decision. On both occasions in round two, being Guerin’s goal and Danielle Ponter’s snap against Fremantle, the technology overturned the umpire’s decision.

The next step for the AFL is the introduction of broadcast and in-stadium graphics to pair with the ball-tracking to demonstrate to viewers how decisions are reached, which could be in place within weeks.

Currently, every time the ball is touched anywhere on the oval, that information is input into a timeline on purpose-built computer software. When a decision is referred to the score assist team, the timeline is able to pinpoint the exact moment the ball crosses the line and whether contact is made before, after or not at all.

The software also integrates live broadcast vision of the game and slow-motion replays to support decisions. Mahoney said there is currently no time frame on when graphics will be introduced.

“The first thing we want to get right is the accuracy and the technology and our process,” he said. “We are behind the scenes working on animations and how we can push that to broadcast but the important part was to introduce it and know that it can do what we’re asking for it to do.

“We want to take our time with introducing that.”

Mahoney said that key stakeholders had so far embraced the new technology and the AFL’s desire to reach the correct decision in the absence of the ARC. The AFL infamously ruled last year that a behind kicked by Geelong star Georgie Prespakis was actually a goal but luckily the incorrect call had no bearing on the final result.

The AFL hasn’t ruled out introducing the technology in the AFL but Mahoney said that for now, the league was satisfied with its current score review process.

Lulu Beatty and Harriet Cordner celebrate after Carlton’s matchwinning goal on Sunday, which was decided with ball-tracking technology. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“In terms of the AFL, we already have a solution being the score review system and the ARC,” he said. “Whether they can work hand-in-hand, that’s something we’ll look at in the future but we feel comfortable with how the score review and ARC currently work.”

The AFL is also excited by the possibilities of the smart ball revolution and what the technology could be used for in the future.

“We’re using it currently for officiating but we think that there can be applications in areas like talent development and getting an understanding of how players are kicking the ball,” Mahoney said. “It can tell us some unique things about game metrics that we haven’t seen before.

“We decided to use officiating as a starting point but there’s also some additional things we’ll be able to do which will be great for fan insight and engagement. The data we’re getting from the ball is new data that we haven’t had access to before.”