AFL Football Analysis Internship

Are you currently studying Exercise Science, Sports Science, Data Analysis or Performance Analysis? This is your chance to join an elite AFL club as Essendon Football Club look to appoint AFL Football Analysis Interns to ‘Don the Sash’ and join our AFL team based at The Hangar, Melbourne Airport.

About us

The Essendon Football Club – “The Bombers” – are a professional sporting organisation in the Australian Football League, home to several teams, including AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW and Wheelchair Football programs. But we’re more than the game. At Essendon, unity binds us. We firmly believe that our strength comes from standing together as One Club, embracing our rich diversity, and uniting around a shared purpose. Our passion fuels every kick, every play, and every decision.

The essence of the Essendon legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of the Australian sporting calendar, through significant events such as the ANZAC Day and Dreamtime clashes, underscoring our commemoration and connection to national identity. Our heritage sets us apart, shaping our ethos and inspiring our journey. We strive to be better every day, pushing the boundaries and relentlessly pursuing excellence. But amidst the intensity of competition, respect remains paramount. We care about our impact on others, whether it’s our teammates, opponents, or our community. When we ‘Don the Sash’, we do so with unity, passion, excellence, and respect guiding our every move, Always Striving toward our next triumph on the premiership stage.

About the role

Reporting to our AFL Football Analytics team, you will have the opportunity to learn the core skills of football analytics in an elite AFL club. The role involves:

• Adopting industry standard processes for capturing aligning and coding football/training vision
• Developing a working comprehension of notational analysis of training drills and matches using HUDL Sportscode
• Introduction to data processing and analysis using R
• Hands-on experience with first and third-party data sources
• Contribution to football analysis projects

Note: The tasks completed in this internship are in line with the “Exercise Science Standards” component of the ESSA Exercise Science Practicum requirements.

Internship Program Details

• Placement Commencement Date: 9th November 2026
• Placement Completion Date: September 2027 (depending on Season end date)
• Days Per Week: Approximately 1-2 days (this will vary across the season)
• Hours Per Day: 5 to 7 hours (approx. 120-200 hours across the season)
• Work Location: The Hangar, Melbourne Airport. This placement is strictly onsite only

*Dates are subject to change

About you

You must be currently studying an Exercise Science, Sport Science, Performance Analysis or Data Analysis (or related degree), in their second year or later, with a university placement requirement.

Essendon are looking for students who are/have:

• Passionate about sport, performance analysis and/or data analytics and want to be involved within an elite sporting club.
• Genuine commitment to personal growth and development and a strong desire to learn.
• Work well under pressure and succeed in a team.
• Self-starter who has excellent organisational skills.
• Flexible and multitask when working in a challenging and dynamic environment
• Current Working with Children’s Check or ability to obtain one
• Ability to travel to The Hangar, Melbourne Airport

What we offer you

• Contribute to football analysis projects to help practice your skills and gain invaluable work experience in a dynamic and fast paced environment.
• Mentorship – Providing you with feedback, support and career advice.
• Opportunity to build your professional network while working with and learning from industry leaders and experts in their field; and
• Gain exposure to an elite sporting environment, being part of one of Australia’s largest and most successful AFL Clubs.
• Experience using industry standard technology and facilities
• VFL / AFLW game day experiences (subject to availability)
• Opportunities to complete certificates in HUDL Sportscode and Champion Data

Please keep reading…

Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised folks tend to only apply when they check every box. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don’t necessarily meet every single point above, please still get in touch. We’d love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit.

We pride ourselves on creating an environment of shared spirit of passion, innovation, and inclusivity. As an Equal Opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion is an important part of how we do business. We are united in upholding our Club-wide values and are consistently setting the benchmark both on and off the field as we strive to win our next premiership.

To Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter along with your resume and latest academic transcript.

Applications close 8th September 2026

With our commitment to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld. This includes ensuring all of our people hold a valid Working with Children Check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.

All applications will be treated with respect and confidentiality, including timely responses.