HPN

Only three games of AFL footy faces us before the end of the calendar year, which leave us at HPN in a state of pre-withdrawal. As it happens, both preliminary finals offer two studies in contrasts. Tonight we’ll see two very different midfield systems go toe to toe, and tomorrow

With the critical semi final weekend starting tonight, we thought we’d take a quick look at the three key points defining each match-up. Hawthorn v Melbourne 1. Melbourne win contested possessions but that isn’t how they win Melbourne easily have the highest contested possession differential in the league (+18 per

HPN has teamed up with James Coventry to analyse the secrets behind Richmond’s successful tactical schemes at ABC Grandstand. We hope to make these collaborations a regular occurrence, so take a look and stay tuned.

Earlier in the year HPN ran a preliminary All Australian team, based on the Player Approximate Value system that we have developed to determine the value of players. With the announcement of the “real” All Australian team imminent, we thought we’d add to the noise and drop our thoughts in

Across the season HPN has slowly but surely been trying to profile each team, and their strengths and weaknesses. Due to external events (such as the release of Footballistics) we didn’t get a chance to get to all 18 teams. But, with the eight finalists locked in, we thought it

In 1998 English big beat one-hit-wonders The Propellerheads posed an interesting question that would far outlive any other memory of the band itself: Is this just another case of history repeating? Unintentionally, the lads* stumbled onto the theories of historic recurrence and eternal return; philosophical schools of thought that outline

Collingwood is real. No amount of denialism will change that. You can get a beer at Stomping Grounds (or The Tote), watch the footy team at the ‘G or the ressies at Victoria Park, or even glance at houses and apartments that you have no hope of affording to buy. Collingwood,

From the violent use of shepherding second ruckmen in the early part of the 20th century to the handball-driven innovation of Polly Farmer and more forgettable times in-between, the ruck has almost always (literally) been at the at the centre of play in Australian Football. However, no position has waxed

If you’ve stumbled across this piece hoping for a plaintive call to keep football the same, or to return it to the “glory days” (whatever they are), you’ve clicked on the wrong article. Our thesis is instead: change is generally good where it is reasoned and researched, while unnecessary or