Injuries, strength & conditioning, etc.

[K]

League putting AFLW players at risk: High-performance coach

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/league-putting-aflw-players-at-risk-high-performance-coach-20200218-p541zg.html

"Knee injuries have long been an issue in women’s sport, with studies finding women are anywhere between twice and 10 times as likely to tear an ACL compared to men.

The AFL has undertaken several initiatives in recent years to address this problem, working with La Trobe University to undertake research into the area, while also developing a “Prep to Play” program to help with injury prevention exercises. The league has also indicated it is keen to explore a possible link between the menstrual cycle and ACL injuries.
...

“The women’s sporting world tends to not value the number of staff that are required to be able to run a good program, that means a number of strength and conditioning coaches and physios working full-time and together in a more comprehensive environment,” Wilmot told The Age.

“From grassroots right until you get to AFLW, they just do not do enough plyometric jumping training and landing training to prepare themselves for a game of AFL. And that’s a lot of time because they’re not exposed to a strength and conditioning coach of a calibre that can teach that.

“A lot of that stuff is best done by experienced coaches but the AFLW just won’t allocate the money for that, so they choose to tick a box by putting a third-year or a graduate in there to do it.”
...

Wilmot is now working as an independent high-performance coach in Sydney."

[K]

Neutral doctor will attend every AFLW match

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/neutral-doctor-will-attend-every-aflw-match-20200205-p53y4d.html

Feb. 5, 2020

"Much like AFLW players, AFLW doctors and physios are generally part-time employees, and relatively inexperienced compared to their men's team counterparts. Whereas AFL men's teams generally have two or even three doctors, the bulk of AFLW teams only have one doctor.
...

Aware of the resourcing issue, the AFL confirmed to The Age that the league will employ a doctor to sit on the officials bench at every AFLW match this season. This will be in addition to the single club doctor generally employed by every team.

"The AFL is supporting clubs with enhanced medical resourcing for the 2020 AFLW season to assist in the management of injuries, with a centralised AFL medical officer positioned on the AFLW officials bench at every match," an AFL spokesperson said."

[K]

Long thread by A. Fox:

https://twitter.com/aaron_s_fox/status/1230788681268510720

It looks like every aspect of AFLW, including injuries, will be surrounded by gender politics and beliefs.

[K]

Emma Kearney (North Melbourne captain):

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-changes-that-could-go-a-long-way-to-fixing-aflw-s-acl-problem-20200305-p54737.html


[She talks about "If ... we had a pay increase enabling us to decrease the hours in our 'day jobs'...". Frankly, they are already being paid a fortune. The VFL/AFL was over a century old before men could be full time.]

[Dark Beanie]

"Collingwood’s AFLW list has suffered several injury blows with the club confirming the seasons of three Magpies have come to an end.

Ash Brazill is set for a long stint on the sidelines, having suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee in Friday night’s game against Melbourne.

Scans revealed the defender also sustained damage to her medial collateral ligament and a tear of her lateral meniscus.

Also coming out of the match, Ruby Schleicher suffered a fracture to her left wrist and she will remain in a cast for the next six weeks.

The 21-year-old had already suffered a delayed start to the season having battled a knee injury during the pre-season.

Defender Georgia Gourlay is set to undergo her third ACL reconstruction, having ruptured the ACL in her right knee during a training session last week. The 20-year-old last ran out for the Pies in 2019, participating in five games.
Machaelia Roberts has sustained stress reaction to her fibula. She will be reassessed after two weeks.

Emma Grant will continue to be monitored with concussion.

Injury List

Brazill (ACL) season.

Gourlay (ACL) season.

Schleicher (Wrist) season.

Roberts (Fibula) TBC.

Grant (concussion) indefinite. "

https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/571689/aflw-round-5-injury-update