Tooradin Football Club coach Tom Hallinan with Aussie Rules MatchTrak directors Jeremy Knight and Bradley Gillan. Inset: The device which several local football clubs are using.
By Callan Date
LOCAL football finals are only a week away and some teams may have a distinct advantage when trying to get their hands on the premiership cup.
While only small, the benefits from Aussie Rules MatchTrak may be the difference for a couple of Casey Cardinia Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (MPNFL) teams using the device.
MatchTrak allows football coaches to throw away the paper style statistic keeping and go digital.
The portable device provides coaching staff with immediate and accurate information on both teams competing and individual players.
Cranbourne, Beaconsfield, Devon Meadows and Tooradin Football clubs all use the program and more are interested, according to company director Jeremy Knight.
Mr Knight said he had developed the program with a friend after seeing the need for professional style statistics at a local level.
“What you can see on Friday night football on the Channel Seven coverage is what we can provide,” Mr Knight said.
He said they aimed to provide ways to help improve the information flow back to the players on the ground.
“The beauty of it compared to paper stats is that all the information is right in your hand.
“You can take it out and show your players at quarter time and three-quarter time.”
Mr Knight said he has successfully used MatchTrak in his role as an assistant coach at Tooradin Football Club.
He said several VFL and TAC teams had also shown interest in the product.
“We call ourselves the local footy specialist because we try to keep a reasonable price for the local clubs.”
He said the Aussie Rules MatchTrak software costs $500 with another $350 required for the hand held unit.
