THE AFLW is an intriguing mix of the old and the new, according to Champion Data research.

While the league itself was a progressive step, numbers revealed in the upcoming 2018 AFLW Prospectus show how it’s a game for the purists who love contested footy.

But on a player-by-player, minute-by-minute basis, the AFLW isn’t quite as different from the men’s league as you might think.

Here’s what the league looked like in 2017 — and what to watch for when it returns in 2018.

Round 18

GET THE 2018 AFLW PROSPECTUS ONLINE HERE VIA THE CHAMPION DATA WEBSITE

THE DIFFERENCES FOR TEAMS

WITH games lasting for just over half the length of an AFL match and an extra two players on the bench, the AFLW was always going to look different.

On paper, the extra rest given by those two factors should produce a more open game. In reality, AFLW was more congested — and those congested situations were harder to break out of.

Champion Data measured the two leagues against each other on a per 100 minute basis to put them on an even statistical playing field.

It found that AFL teams average 312 disposals over that period, with AFLW teams recording 260. AFLW teams also record fewer inside 50s (37 to 43) and, as was noted in many places, scored fewer points (48 to 73).

Erin Phillips was the AFLW’s best player last season. Photo: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

Scoring was harder to come by because accuracy was lower (39.6 per cent to 49.1 per cent) and converting inside 50s was harder (39.1 per cent of AFLW inside 50s became scores, compared to 46.7 per cent of AFL inside 50s).

There were more stoppages per 100 minutes in the AFLW (68 to 50), with similar results in tackles (81 to 56) and free kicks (22 to 15).

Overall, this reflected a lower skill level — as would have been expected given the ages of the leagues and experience of the players.

“The AFLW didn’t quite have the same skill level as the men, but if the purists of the game love to see more contests and less ‘keepings-off’, then AFLW is the competition for you,” the AFLW Prospectus says.

“More than half of the possessions won in AFLW were contested and they also had a higher percentage of contested marks.”

THE DIFFERENCES FOR PLAYERS

BECAUSE of the shortened games, we can’t use the old metrics to measure a great game — 30 disposals, for example.

According to Champion Data, 17 is the new 30. One in 15 male players reached 30 disposals in a game in 2017 — one in 15 female players reached 17 disposals in a game in the inaugural AFLW season.

Emma Kearney was the only AFLW player to reach 30 disposals in a game in 2017. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

But on a pure rate basis — once again looking at stats per 100 minutes — the numbers don’t look too different.

PER 100 MINUTES AFL AFLW Disposals 17.3 16.2 Tackles 3.1 5.0 Marks 4.2 3.0 Groundball gets 4.5 6.3 Shots 1.02 0.79

All stats via Champion Data’s 2018 AFLW Prospecutus.

There are more tackles and groundball gets, reflecting the congested nature of the AFLW game, but fewer marks — again reflecting the lower skill level.

Disposals, though, are very similar.

The first edition of the AFLW Prospectus, available soon, will include:

— The AFLW Prospectus Team of the Year

— An insight into the stat trends from the first ever AFLW season

— Performance analysis of every team and all listed players

— In depth analysis of every team’s 2018 player list

— Player stats profiles from the 2017 AFLW season and 2017 AFLW Under-18 Championships

— Profiles of all draft picks and rookies

— Foreword by AFLW Expert Commentator, Chyloe Kurdas