AFLW to Launch Innovative Ball-Tracking Technology for 2024 Season

The AFL has announced the launch of ‘Score Assist,’ a ball-tracking technology set to debut in the NAB AFL Women’s (AFLW) competition for the 2024 season. This marks a significant move toward enhancing game analysis and decision-making capabilities within women’s football, aligning with the AFL’s broader push for innovation in the sport.

The new technology’s been developed in collaboration with the AFL, Sherrin, and leading sports tech companies Sportable and Intaneous. A chip embedded in specially manufactured Sherrin footballs, designed to replicate the size, weight, and balance of traditional balls, will track the ball’s movement across the field in real-time, allowing for enhanced decision-making and scoring accuracy. This smart-ball technology has undergone extensive testing over the past 18 months, including real-world trials in VFL and VFLW matches this season, ensuring its readiness for the upcoming AFLW season.

As the AFLW continues to rise in popularity, integrating advanced technology not only increases the competition’s appeal to fans and broadcasters but also offers brands new ways to engage with the league.

As the AFLW continues to rise in popularity, integrating advanced sports tech like ‘Score Assist’ not only elevates the high-performance aspects of the game but also enhances fan engagement, providing a more immersive and accurate experience that keeps audiences more connected to the action on the field.

The implementation of smart technology in sports is revolutionising the game. Hear more about some of the initiatives, including Sportable’s Smart Ball Tech, on the latest Ministry of Sports Podcast episode.

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