Inside 50s

When the ball is kicked, handballed, punched or carried inside the attacking 50 metre zone by the attacking team.

This is a key AFL stat in showing how well the midfield and the attack of each team is functioning.

A high number of inside 50s but low goal numbers would generally indicate that a team's midfield is better than their attack, whereas low inside 50 stats and a high goal return would suggest the reverse.

Example: “Shaun Higgins is averaging a league-high six inside 50s per game.”

From a punting perspective, inside 50s are a great AFL statistic to follow for those who like to take on the total points over and under lines.

When a team has been averaging high inside 50 numbers, yet are failing to reap the rewards on the scoreboard, it is a good indication of an impending high score if coming up against a team with a flimsy defence.

Benchmark: A team should aim to have at least 55 Inside 50s per game in order to give their forwards sufficient goal scoring opportunities.