3 posts tagged with "2025"

It's been a busy year for us on the AFL API and if you haven't been following on mid-season, here's a round up of what's been added from post-season 2024 to right now.

New API Features​

Tier 2 Competitions​

We have added the Tier 2 competitions listed in the table below to the AFL API. Tier 2 marks the use of multiple League Levels for the first time, so note that some competitions require you to use a Level Id other than 1.

All match endpoints are available to Tier 2 matches, though due to each competition's smaller data set, they return less information compared to AFL or AFLW matches. Starting with 2026, we will be providing the Tier 2 Advanced data set to selected competitions.

More information about the Tier 2 Advanced Data Set can be found here.

Match Statistics Flow Endpoint​

We added a new stats flow endpoint in August which returns all the timecoded occurrences of metric values in a match. Helpful if you want to track when we recorded Long Down the Line kicks happening, which is not easy to determine from match transactions alone.

• More info

Match Stoppages Endpoint​

Back in November 2024 we added the stoppages endpoint, which returns all the timecoded occurrences of each stoppage in a match, along with a wealth of detail, including details on the stoppage exit.

• More info

Centre Bounce Zone​

At the very end of 2024 we introduced the Centre Bounce zone to the API, providing the ability to filter match stats to those that happened at centre bounces, and adding this zone to all applicable endpoints.

• More info

Indigenous All Stars Match​

We provided the 2025 Toyota AFL Indigenous All Stars Match live from the AFL API last February. Should these matches occur again in future the API is ready to support them.

Endpoint Enhancements​

We improved a bunch of existing endpoints throughout the last year too - here's the highlights.

New Metrics​

We've added dozens of new metrics to the API this year - too many to list in detail here, so here's the links to details in each release they were added.

With the 2025 season properly in flight now, it's time for a progress update on the Roadmap to July 2025.

Tier 2 Competitions​

We continue to add Tier 2 competitions to the AFL Platform. We are still broadly on track to have them implemented into the production environment by mid-year. The following competitions have been completed along with their 2024 seasons:

• VFL - League Id 5, Level Id 1
• VFLW - League Id 6, Level Id 1
• U18 Championships - League Id 8, Level Id 5
• Coates Talent League Boys - League Id 10, Level Id 5
• Coates Talent League Girls - League Id 11, Level Id 5

We prioritised these competitions because of the challenges each one presented to the AFL API. This proved effective as it highlighted a few concerns which we have addressed "behind the scenes", having zero impact on the AFL Premiership and AFLW leagues already in place. This included:

• Handling the variability in Tier 2 venues' current sponsorship names (some have them, some don't, some change frequently)
• Handling when a Champion Data capture operator enrols a player into a Tier 2 match minutes before the match starts
• Improving metric generation, or indeed bypassing it on more advanced metrics that aren't supported by Tier 2 matches
• A single cancelled match in the Coates Talent Boys League last year that resulted in both teams being awarded a draw result

What's next for Tier 2?​

Multiple Level Leagues​

We are currently adding SANFL to the API. This will be the first league that has multiple levels, as we capture U18, U16 and Reserves SANFL matches.

Here's the table of levels each league can contain. Up to this point all API calls have been based around using the same level id (primarily Id 1), now querying will involve understanding which level you are targeting.

So this will be applied to both SANFL and WAFL as follows:

• SANFL - League Id 12
  • SANFL League - Level Id 1
  • SANFL Reserves - Level Id 2
  • SANFL U16 - Level Id 3
  • SANFL U18 - Level Id 5
• WAFL - League Id 16
  • WAFL League - Level Id 1
  • WAFL Reserves - Level Id 2
  • WAFL Colts - Level Id 6

Tier 2 Live Match Ingestion​

While we have committed to delivering matches to the API after they've been played this year ("post-match"), we are currently testing live match ingestion in the same manner as Tier 1 matches as we'd prefer to ingest all matches as they happen, regardless of tier. This in of itself is no challenge, but much of the work revolves around ensuring the AFL Platform handles the additional load in live matches and that none impact one another. To this end, we've taken the decision to logically isolate Tier 1 matches from Tier 2. This will have no impact on your use of the API and will ensure that should some issue occur with a Tier 2 match, its impact to the Platform will be limited to Tier 2 only.

Advanced Data Queries (ADQ)​

We have selected Snowflake as the core technology for powering Advanced Data Queries and we have begun principal development. We have recently formed a team with a focus on data engineering and we are looking to grow the team as we scale for delivery.

First Release July 2025​

The first release of ADQ will provide a queryable dataset that replicates the capabilities of CIA's Dimensional Custom report. This will initially cover Tier 1 leagues (AFL Premiership, AFLW), then later in the year expand to include Tier 2 leagues once they are available from the AFL API.

Metric Glossary API Endpoint​

The /metadata/metrics/glossary endpoint provides detailed information about each metric, including how it is aggregated and a technical description. It is undergoing a last-minute polish to standardise terminology and will be available in the next few weeks.

Match Metric Events API Endpoint​

Work has begun on implementing a new API endpoint that returns when each instance of a metric occurred, along with which player(s) it applies to, its location and accompanying information such as pressure. Initial work revolves around looking at how to structure the API response - conventionally by period and period seconds or grouped by metric/transaction.

Head Start Report Metrics​

This quarter, we’re prioritising the implementation of the following types metrics that are currently only available through the Head Start report suite.

Contested Possession Source Metrics​

These metrics return the number of contested possessions based on the state of possession beforehand:

• Own Team Control – when your team had possession before the contest.
• Opposition Control – when the opposing team had possession.
• Neutral (Pre-Clearance) – when neither team had clear control.

Contested Possession Breakdown​

This set of metrics categorises contested possessions by the type of play:

• Ruck
• General Play – Air
• General Play – Ground
• Other Stoppage

Shot at Goal Types​

These metrics break down shots at goal by type and cover:

• Expected Points & Accuracy
• Both Set Position and during General Play

Ahead of the 2025 season we are updating the AFL API's authentication module as part of a review to improve our support processes.

As part of this update, if you are using an M2M account to communicate with the AFL API, the account's credentials (the Client ID and Client Secret) will be refreshed. This requires action on your part to ensure your applications continue to have access to the AFL API.

What needs updating?​

Once you have received your new Client Id & Secret (via a secure link sent by email), replace the existing values with the new ones.

In addition, the M2M token address has changed - update it to the following:

https://championdata-afl.au.auth0.com/oauth/token

When can I apply these changes?​

As soon as you receive them from Champion Data - they take immediate effect.

How long do I have to make the change?​

The original M2M credentials will be deactivated week commencing 10th March 2025, after the season has started.

Questions?​

Please email your questions to support@championdata.com.au.