AFL Toyota Premiership 2011

The AFL's annual injury survey has showed that injury rates in 2011 saw a marked change in the types of injuries sustained in AFL competition.

The trends in both injury incidence and prevalence remained in line with 2010 results but the 2011 year saw a statistically significant fall in hamstring injuries and all leg muscle strains, matched by an increase in the incidence of PCL knee injuries and concussion. In 2011, revised Concussion Management guidelines strengthened a more conservative clinical approach and this was supported by the AFL.

The AFL injury survey, which was completed for the 20th consecutive year in 2011, was released today after being presented to the AFL Medical Officers' Association earlier this week.

Report authors Dr Hugh Seward and Associate Professor John Orchard reported that the overall incidence of injury decreased while a rise in the prevalence of injuries was largely attributed to higher than usual rates of knee ACL injures and fractures, which are all accompanied by long periods of absence for each injury.

Hamstring strains, which have always been the most common injury in the game at the elite level, were at their lowest point in a decade in 2011, the report stated.

“Both the total incidence of hamstring injuries, which is new and recurrent injuries combined, and the figures for recurrence rates, were at their lowest rates in 2011 for the 20-year history of the survey.

“Groin injuries, which are the other major soft tissue injury, were also at a historically low level in 2011.”

Dr Seward and Associate Professor Orchard said it was their view that it was too early to declare that the change last year to the interchange bench of the substitute rule (three interchange players and one substitute player) had contributed to this change in results for strain injuries, but the evidence suggested there could be some association.

“The 2011 GPS report show that average player speed and time spent at the highest speeds both decreased in 2011 for the first time in several years, which was pleasing in the context of reducing the risk of injury. Ongoing assessment of injury rates in 2012 will allow for further analysis to be performed.”

AFL General Manager Football Operations Adrian Anderson said he wished to thank Dr Seward and Associate Professor Orchard for their work, and in particular thank all clubs for their involvement in producing the survey data.

Mr Anderson said the AFL would continue to examine all aspects of player safety, in a bid to reduce injury rates and to keep players on the ground.

"The Injury Survey has played a pivotal role in guiding the AFL Research Board to commission and fund projects that further investigate injuries.

"The AFL has also demonstrated a willingness to consider and implement rule changes where necessary to improve player safety," he said.

The 2011 injury survey again confirmed the most severe injury in terms of games missed remains the Knee ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tear, with higher rates in 2011 compared to recent years. Shoulder injuries further increased in 2011, following a long upward trend.

“There has been a parallel long-term upward trend in the numbers of tackles per team per game and the increased incidence of shoulder injuries correlates very highly with the numbers of tackles.

“There has been a global shift to a more conservative approach to concussion management, which may have led to a more cautious decision about allowing a player to return to play the week after injury,” the report said.

Click here for the 2011 AFL Injury Report (.pdf)

• Click here for the 2010 AFL Injury Report (.pdf)
• Click here for the 2009 AFL Injury Report (.pdf)
• Click here for the 2008 AFL Injury Report (.pdf)