RICHMOND caused one of the first big upsets of the 2023 AFL Women’s season on the weekend, downing reigning Grand Finalists Brisbane away from home.

As displayed in the tables below, there was very little to split the teams when looking at key scoring related statistics, except for one – efficiency inside 50.

There was an almost 7 percent gap between the sides when it came to their efficiency inside 50, despite inside 50s and scoring shots being just about level between the two sides.

Taking a look at these stats indicates a bit of a trend continuing over from season six for those Lions from Brisbane.

When you compare stats from last season in areas such as scoring, scoring shots and inside 50 efficiency, a pattern emerges.

With a few exceptions to the rule, if Brisbane are more efficient inside 50 than its opponents, regardless of scoring shot figures, the Lions win.

For the most part, the Lions also won the scoring shot count in all the games they won last season, but not all the time. Against North Melbourne, they had fewer scoring shots than the Kangaroos but were more efficient inside 50 and still won the game.

Brisbane’s inside 50 efficiency figure from the weekend is also low for a side of its calibre, and once again continues a trend from last season. Last season the Lions recorded an inside 50 efficiency of less than 40%, and two of those three times they ultimately went on to lose. The only time this did not happen was the Preliminary Final against Adelaide.

The one exception to most of the patterns is the Grand Final from last year, where despite Brisbane being more efficient inside 50 than the Dees, Melbourne had more scoring shots and ultimately took the win. However, like the loss to Richmond, the Lions’ inside 50 efficiency was under 40% for the third time in the season.

With all this in mind, Brisbane is going to have to be wary of trying to elevate its inside 50 efficiency figure.

Brisbane has a very different looking forward 50 structure this season as compared to last season, and not having Jesse Wardlaw in the side is perhaps playing a part in the drop in inside 50 efficiency.

Last season Wardlaw was a strong leading marking target for the Lions, and provided a strong link between the midfielders feeding the forwards inside 50 and Brisbane’s deeper forwards like Dakota Davidson. On the weekend against Richmond, things were breaking down in efficiency for Brisbane was between 40m and 50m out from goal, so Wardlaw’s absence was telling.