Ted Hopkins

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

To paraphrase the introduction to old TV show The Naked City, there are many stories in finals history, these are a few. Every player and team strive for the ultimate prize of a premiership. Over the years, there have been many players whose teams get to the Finals or a Grand Final, but they are absent either through injury, poor form, suspension or simply being excluded from selection. These are some of those stories. [Ed. note: A "tragic" is someone for whom luck does not fall on their side and in this case, a perhaps once in a career opportunity is missed.]

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Two major data companies, Champion Data and Catapult Sports International, have bid to become the AFL's GPS data provider. Champion Data was founded by former Carlton player Ted Hopkins (best known for his four second half goals which helped the Blues overcome a 44 point deficit to win the 1970 Grand Final) and has been the official statistical provider for the AFL since 1999. It is Champion Data which provides live stats during match broadcasts as well as post-match statistics. They also have a hand in fantasy football and tipping. Champion is not exclusive to football as they also have contracts with world cricket, rugby and netball. Part of Champion's consortium is US-based Zebra Technologies which has contracts with the NFL as well as Irish company Stats Sports. Champion is 49% owned by the AFL. Two of the company's directors are AFL Legal Consul Andrew Dillon and general manager of broadcasting Simon Lethlean.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Round 4 saw the MCG host its 2500th game when Carlton and Essendon faced off. In a way, it was fitting that two of the League's foundation clubs played this historical game. Indeed the milestone could well have been reached some years ago except for the fact that the powers that were way back in 1896 refused to allow the new game of Aussie Rules to be played on the ground for fear it would ruin the surface for summer cricket. The first game of footy was played at the hallowed ground in 1879.

The 2010 Grand Final is only the third drawn Grand Final in League history. Ironically, Collingwood was involved in that one as well. In a good omen for St Kilda, Collingwood lost the replay to their opponent North Melbourne who won just their second Premiership since entering the competition in 1925.

Anyone who watches games on a regular basis has certainly seen incidents of the ball bouncing in an unexpected way, whether it be by a player bouncing it on the run, from an umpire at the center bounce or a ball-up around the ground. The commentators will sometimes refer to ".. an unkind bounce ...". The AFL recently allowed umpires to recall the ball if they felt their bounce was offline.