Aerie wrote:Interesting stats.
What happened in 1996 to have the goals per game drop that far and then continue for the next 4-5 years?
Increase with attacking coaches such as Phillips, Jarman, Fuller etc. through mid 2000’s.
Back down again with Andrew Phillips game style, then Bassett, Godden etc kept the theme of low scoring carrying through to what we see today.
Would be interesting to see the comparative AFL stats. I’m guessing the SANFL would’ve outscored AFL games during mid 2000’s but since Geelong era of high pace/risk the trends have been opposite.
The SANFL went from the old 25 minutes plus time on only for goals and behinds to the current 20 minute rule; the AFL did for the 1994 season. The trend after 1993 was down anyway, so that had a bit to do with the fall from 1995-96, too. Both the AFL and SANFL increased scoring in 2000 substantially - could be due to the earlier start to that season(?) Coinciding with me compiling scores at that time, I was looking at scoring trends and thought that was the case back then.
Interestingly, when both the AFL and SANFL adopted the added time on for ball ups in 2006, the AFL went down in points (fractionally up for scoring shots); the SANFL went up. The SANFL I think were concerned with the late finishes in 2006, and went back to not adding time on for ball ups, subsequently, the SANFL has never got near the AFL scoring again. Might I add, the field umpires don't bounce the ball around the grounds now like they did back then, so I think that rule should be looked at being brought back in again.