The AFL today confirms contact training limits will be introduced for the 2027 AFL pre-season with contact training limits to be later introduced for AFL in-season training and for pre-season and in-season for AFLW.

Since 2024, the AFL has undertaken the multi-year Contact Training Data Project to better understand player exposure to contact training and its relationships to head impacts and concussion risk.

The AFL has worked collaboratively with clubs and taken a data-led approach to understand pre-season and in-training concussion risk and inform decision making. The AFL found variable levels of contact training across AFL programs albeit with some consistent themes including, importantly, that concussions occurred most commonly in match simulation and small-sided high intensity drills. There was also found to be no correlation between volume of contact training and ladder position.

In recent months, the Contact Training Consultation Group of industry representatives including general managers of football, senior and assistant coaches, club doctors, high-performance managers, physiotherapists, data analysts, and the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) and AFL Coaches Association (AFLCA), met on multiple occasions to provide feedback on the practical operation of proposed contact training limits across football programs to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and tailored specifically to Australian Football.

Contact training limits for the AFL pre-season aim to further reduce avoidable head impacts and concussion risk while maintaining appropriate physical preparation for the season.

The introduction of contact training limits is a direct response to 2023 recommendations from the Victorian Coroner’s investigation into the death of former AFL player, Shane Tuck.

In addition to the introduction of AFL pre-season contact training limits, the AFL will have a dedicated resource within its healthcare team to monitor, evaluate and continue to evolve the AFL’s management of contact training limits.

Contact training limits for the 2027 AFL season will be confirmed once a full dataset from the 2026 AFL season has been reviewed and following further input by the Consultation Group.

Contact training limits for the 2027 AFLW pre-season and 2027 AFLW season will be finalised once full data from both the 2026 AFLW pre-season and in-season periods is available and has been analysed. To this point, only pre-season data has been provided to the AFL by all AFLW teams.

A separate and comprehensive industry consultation process is scheduled to commence in September, with similar limits to be developed, and appropriate adjustments made for the AFLW environment ahead of 2027.

Contact training guidelines will be considered in community football. The AFL will consult with stakeholders across community football to consider practical implementation and education ahead of the next release of the Community Football Concussion Guidelines.

AFL pre-season contact training limits

The Contact Training Data Project and AFL pre-season contact training limits have identified different levels of contact training with different levels of intensity, risk of concussion and head trauma.

The contact training limits to be imposed introduce an overall limit in each week, as well as a specific lower limit of minutes relating to high-intensity contact training.

A memo has been sent to clubs today that outlines the contact training limits which will apply for the upcoming AFL pre-season.

In general terms, the new contact training regime has the following features:

1. Mandatory limits to contact training volume

*In weeks 5+ post-Christmas, up to 120 minutes per week is the standard training limit for high-intensity contact training. In weeks where teams participate in practice matches, overall contact minutes (spread between training and practice matches) for each team will be monitored to ensure an appropriate balance between participating in those matches and maintaining preparation for the season.

Further to the total limits, the AFL notes that Clubs should continue to use high density drills sparingly across all contact levels. In the planning of high-density contact drills, consideration should be given to additional restrictions to protect players.

2. Mandate clubs do not engage in high intensity contact training on consecutive days

3. Recommended graded return during the first week of a player’s return to training

- Contact training in the players first week of training should be controlled training techniques which allow players to adapt to contact on return from a break.
- This should apply for a return to training after a prolonged scheduled break (e.g. off-season) or following a break in contact exposure (i.e. >4 weeks) due to injury or other circumstances.

4. Mandated ongoing industry monitoring of contact training volume and concussion trends

- Clubs will be required to audit and monitor all contact training volumes and the effects of any imposed restrictions and provide training vision to the AFL on request.
- Clubs must submit training drill information and vision for all training concussions as an extension of the AFL concussion audit.

Executive General Manager AFLW, Health & Football Operations, Laura Kane said:

“The health and welfare of our players is the AFL’s highest priority.

“We recognise head trauma is a risk for Australian football, as it is for all contact sports globally, which is why the AFL’s comprehensive concussion and head trauma framework is in place.

“The framework is based on world class medical advice and is constantly evolving as we deepen our learning and understanding.

“The prevention and management of head trauma, and the introduction of AFL pre-season contact training limits is a further step towards achieving our goal of being a global leader in brain health and concussion and head trauma.

“The AFL has undertaken an extensive data collection and consultation process in order to introduce contact training limits which balance player welfare with elite performance.

“While this process was being worked through, the AFL prioritised safer training design and worked directly with clubs to reduce the risk of concussion and head trauma through the adjustment of training drills and techniques on an ongoing basis. The introduction of contact training limits for the upcoming AFL pre-season is a further important step in improving player safety by the imposition of strict maximum levels of contact training.

“The AFL will continue to monitor and refine these limits based on data and practical feedback from clubs. It is critical they are tailored to the needs of our players from both a safety and competitive preparation perspective.”

In August, the AFL and AFLPA committed to strengthening the game’s concussion and head trauma framework through a review of safety nets in place for players, clubs and the broader industry to manage risk.