Australian Football
Australian football statistics and match metrics
How to read the common AFL match statistics for possessions, ball use, stoppages, field position and scoring.
Possessions and disposals
A disposal is a legal kick or handball. Contested possessions are won while the ball is in dispute; uncontested possessions are gained without direct physical pressure. Disposal efficiency is the percentage of disposals judged effective or beneficial to the team.
Marks, tackles and clearances
A mark is credited when a player controls a kick that travels at least 15 metres without another touch or hitting the ground. A tackle prevents the ball carrier from making an effective disposal. A clearance records the first effective disposal that clears a stoppage area.
Hitouts and field-position numbers
A hitout records controlled contact by a ruck at a stoppage. Inside 50 counts entries from midfield into the forward 50, while rebound 50 tracks movement from the defensive 50 into midfield. These numbers describe territory and stoppage influence, not scores by themselves.
Scoring and common abbreviations
Goals and behinds are listed separately: a goal is worth six points and a behind one. AFL Match Centre commonly abbreviates Disposals as D, Kicks K, Handballs H, Marks M, Tackles T, Hitouts HO and Clearances CLR. Statistics describe actions and outcomes, but no single number explains the whole match.