Injury Blue Healers Medical Room 2022

[ferrisb]

That's why they invented the off season. It was actually for fans, not players.

Much to mrsb's chagrin, I spend most of the OFF season ON here....

 

[LanceRomance]

Pitto cops a knee knock in game.
Weiters a shoulder in game.
McKay cops a ... (was it shoulder or knee? Can't remember now) in game.
Newman cuts his knee in game.
Kennedy cops a concussion, broken jaw and broken foot (apparently at the same time) in game.
Stocker copped a few different impact injuries in game from his hard playing style.

Apart from that, Charlie, Marchy, Gov, Martin, Cuningham, Williams, Hewett, Kemp, Doc and McDonald have all had previous or ongoing issues, whether soft tissue or joint related.
Charlie, Doc and Kemp seem to be back to full health. Marchy and Gov looked good to round out the season. Hewett's surgery will hopefully get him right.
That leaves Martin, Cunners, Williams and McDonald as unknowns. Out of that, Cunners (knee) and McDonald (back) aren't fitness based.
So that just leaves Martin and Williams as the two main ones (assuming Gov doesn't break down again) who keep getting soft tissue injuries and can be attributed to Russell in some way, but they had issues prior to coming across.

I'm not sure how a new guy/team can address and fix that.

Oh, and Ed's getting old. We know he's the consummate professional when it comes to fitness/preparation, so can't blame Russell for Ed breaking down most of the year.

Kennedy clearly misses head day in his training program.

Not sure why Russell doesn't give him more head exercises to prevent head related injuries.

 

[Jimmae]

Pitto cops a knee knock in game.
Weiters a shoulder in game.
McKay cops a ... (was it shoulder or knee? Can't remember now) in game.
Newman cuts his knee in game.
Kennedy cops a concussion, broken jaw and broken foot (apparently at the same time) in game.
Stocker copped a few different impact injuries in game from his hard playing style.

Apart from that, Charlie, Marchy, Gov, Martin, Cuningham, Williams, Hewett, Kemp, Doc and McDonald have all had previous or ongoing issues, whether soft tissue or joint related.
Charlie, Doc and Kemp seem to be back to full health. Marchy and Gov looked good to round out the season. Hewett's surgery will hopefully get him right.
That leaves Martin, Cunners, Williams and McDonald as unknowns. Out of that, Cunners (knee) and McDonald (back) aren't fitness based.
So that just leaves Martin and Williams as the two main ones (assuming Gov doesn't break down again) who keep getting soft tissue injuries and can be attributed to Russell in some way, but they had issues prior to coming across.

I'm not sure how a new guy/team can address and fix that.

Oh, and Ed's getting old. We know he's the consummate professional when it comes to fitness/preparation, so can't blame Russell for Ed breaking down most of the year.

Kennedy clearly misses head day in his training program.

Not sure why Russell doesn't give him more head exercises to prevent head related injuries.

How is their fitness base going into the game and during into the game, and is it contributing to how well they are entering and exiting these contests, what they are pushing through in a sprint, etc?

If you're keeping the players fresh and teaching them how to deal with contact in a series of scenarios, they'll tend to have less injuries due to fatigued decision making and execution, as well as awkward collisions and falls.

 

[Arr0w]

No level of fitness/recovery nor education will eliminate pcl injuries to ruckmen, nor players being concussed or getting head/face injuries

 

[LanceRomance]

No level of fitness/recovery nor education will eliminate pcl injuries to ruckmen, nor players being concussed or getting head/face injuries

Unless we implement head day

 

[mikeythemoocow]

Marchbank almost qualifies as a Cat B rookie having hardly played a game in 3 years.

Does he qualify for the rising star?

 

[Blue_Fusion]

Can't prevent knock injuries but fmd the recovery program has been lacking... how many times did they stay side lined longer than expected? And then upon return still don't quite look right (lack of play also a factor there I suppose)

 

[El Topo]

Think Weiters would be the first to admit he attacked the DeGoey contest the wrong way - turning point of our season

 

[Coops93]

Can't prevent knock injuries but fmd the recovery program has been lacking... how many times did they stay side lined longer than expected? And then upon return still don't quite look right (lack of play also a factor there I suppose)

And how many came back sooner? Cripps only a 1 week hammy, which is rare, Weiters a week or 2 early from his shoulder, H back 2 or 3 weeks earlier than the initial prediction.

As for not looking completely right that doesn't mean they were underdone or rushed back, it takes some guys weeks to find form, while others can be plug and play. It's not linear - from what we've seen Weiters needs continuity and can't just come in like we'd like, whereas Harry looked pretty good coming back in after a layoff.

The only one we maybe rushed back was Pittonet. While he wasn't at his early season form it was clear that Cripps in particular came back to his best with him in the team so it wasn't an out and out failure either.

 

[Blue and Silver]

Not all contact injuries are unavoidable.

But that Newman cut was definitely a freak injury for example.

Club has got to
a) avoid injury prone players in recruitment
b) concentrate on managing our already sizeable list of injury-prone players
c) examine our training surface and practices for unnecessary risks

On SM-A515F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Blue_Fusion]

And how many came back sooner? Cripps only a 1 week hammy, which is rare, Weiters a week or 2 early from his shoulder, H back 2 or 3 weeks earlier than the initial prediction.

As for not looking completely right that doesn't mean they were underdone or rushed back, it takes some guys weeks to find form, while others can be plug and play. It's not linear - from what we've seen Weiters needs continuity and can't just come in like we'd like, whereas Harry looked pretty good coming back in after a layoff.

The only one we maybe rushed back was Pittonet. While he wasn't at his early season form it was clear that Cripps in particular came back to his best with him in the team so it wasn't an out and out failure either.

Cripps was precautionary. He didn't tear his hamstring.

Harry was set to have 6 weeks and ended up being 5. Didn't he hurt himself in the Freo game? Or was that his other leg? I recall he played a couple more games after that then was suddenly set to be out for 6 weeks...

Weitering wasn't right...

 

[Juddrockz]

Think Weiters would be the first to admit he attacked the DeGoey contest the wrong way - turning point of our season

Exactly! Weiter's should never have been in the victinity let alone trying to take out DeGoey. Weiters ran a mile to take DeGoey on. Crazy stuff.

 

[DangerousD]

No level of fitness/recovery nor education will eliminate pcl injuries to ruckmen, nor players being concussed or getting head/face injuries

Fitness, recovery and education aren’t there to eliminate, they are there to reduce and minimise the effects of injuries.

 

[Arr0w]

Fitness, recovery and education aren’t there to eliminate, they are there to reduce and minimise the effects of injuries.

How would a club minimise/eliminate a ruckman getting a pcl injury or a player getting a broken jaw?

 

[DangerousD]

How would a club minimise/eliminate a ruckman getting a pcl injury or a player getting a broken jaw?

I was reading about studies being done in the US and being implemented by NFL teams focusing in on vision training and awareness training. It might sound obvious but they obviously are doing something specific because they found it reduced incidents of head knocks.

There we’re also studies that focused on certain neck strengthening exercises but those mostly found a better recovery from head knocks or less severity.

The above two I remember reading not long ago, as for PCL, not too sure, I do wonder though if a simple knee pad would minimise anything but I have no knowledge on that. But PCL/ruck injuries dropped significantly when the AFL introduced the centre circle, so a simple change to ruck rules could further reduce that.

 

[Arr0w]

I was reading about studies being done in the US and being implemented by NFL teams focusing in on vision training and awareness training. It might sound obvious but they obviously are doing something specific because they found it reduced incidents of head knocks.

There we’re also studies that focused on certain neck strengthening exercises but those mostly found a better recovery from head knocks or less severity.

The above two I remember reading not long ago, as for PCL, not too sure, I do wonder though if a simple knee pad would minimise anything but I have no knowledge on that. But PCL/ruck injuries dropped significantly when the AFL introduced the centre circle, so a simple change to ruck rules could further reduce that.

Helmets would protect the jaw area, not like for like

Same with ruck contests, nothing like it in the NFL. Since introducing the centre circle, it has reduced pcl injuries.

Only way to truly reduce/eliminate ruck pcl injuries, would be a basketball tip off at centre bounces

 

[JustaBattler]

Helmets would protect the jaw area, not like for like

Same with ruck contests, nothing like it in the NFL. Since introducing the centre circle, it has reduced pcl injuries.

Only way to truly reduce/eliminate ruck pcl injuries, would be a basketball tip off at centre bounces

The other way is to make it illegal to bend a leading the knee into an opponent ....it is supposed to be a jump yeah ? Make them jump straight up as you say a basketball tipp off...

 

[DangerousD]

Helmets would protect the jaw area, not like for like

Same with ruck contests, nothing like it in the NFL. Since introducing the centre circle, it has reduced pcl injuries.

Only way to truly reduce/eliminate ruck pcl injuries, would be a basketball tip off at centre bounces

I agree and I dont see it happening, but could see further reductions happening by tweaking the ruck rules, like having to keep your eyes on the ball in the ruck, using the Darcy on Pitt contest as an example, the ruck injury incidents are quite low already, any thoughts on why there couldn’t be a discreet knee pad used to minimise knee on knee injuries?

in addition, I just dont think the AFL puts enough money and resources in to injury prevention and education. It will cost them in the long run.

 

[Arr0w]

I agree and I dont see it happening, but could see further reductions happening by tweaking the ruck rules, like having to keep your eyes on the ball in the ruck, using the Darcy on Pitt contest as an example, the ruck injury incidents are quite low already, any thoughts on why there couldn’t be a discreet knee pad used to minimise knee on knee injuries?

Knee pads would have minimal effect, more about strapping, but that too would make little difference

 

[DangerousD]

Knee pads would have minimal effect, more about strapping, but that too would make little difference

Seeing that old WC rookie on tv this year talking about the AFLs concussion management and the accusations against the AFL doctor reinforces my belief the AFL is an amateur organisation sleep walking in to issue after issue.

Former WC player Daniel Venables was also on tv this year documenting his problems with concussion and followed him to the US where he was doing specialised concussion recovery training, he also made negative comments in regards to the AFL doctor and the lack of investment from the AFL in this area.

 

[LanceRomance]

Exactly! Weiter's should never have been in the victinity let alone trying to take out DeGoey. Weiters ran a mile to take DeGoey on. Crazy stuff.

Weiters should have been playing uno


But we all know weiters skips uno day.

 

[Beyond Blue]

Cripps was precautionary. He didn't tear his hamstring.

Harry was set to have 6 weeks and ended up being 5. Didn't he hurt himself in the Freo game? Or was that his other leg? I recall he played a couple more games after that then was suddenly set to be out for 6 weeks...

Weitering wasn't right...

What about Martin missing numerous weeks with a calf after missing numerous weeks with a calf last year? And Owies strained a calf at training then missing 5 weeks? Honey was out with soreness nek minnit he’s out for 3 weeks! Gov aggravated his original hamstring injury under Russell’s eye didn’t he? And where the **** is David Cuningham?!?!

It’s these sort of things that he has got to be better at. Next year will be his 5th year in the job so he can’t blame the players and previous fitness staff, Bolton, Teague or whoever else anymore. The blowtorch has to be firmly on him in 2023. If we have another year like the last 2 years with muscle injuries I’d say it’s time to try someone different.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

The other way is to make it illegal to bend a leading the knee into an opponent ....it is supposed to be a jump yeah ? Make them jump straight up as you say a basketball tipp off...

Let's ban tackles while we're at it.... get them playing touch footy.

Need to accept that sometimes these things happen. You might say well if an idiot doesn't do something stupid then they likely wouldn't.... it's not too different every time you get in your car and go for a drive...

 

[JustaBattler]

Let's ban tackles while we're at it.... get them playing touch footy.

Need to accept that sometimes these things happen. You might say well if an idiot doesn't do something stupid then they likely wouldn't.... it's not too different every time you get in your car and go for a drive...

Proper tackling has been banned in AFL since inception mate - so news news there!

 

[rp84]

I was reading about studies being done in the US and being implemented by NFL teams focusing in on vision training and awareness training. It might sound obvious but they obviously are doing something specific because they found it reduced incidents of head knocks.

There we’re also studies that focused on certain neck strengthening exercises but those mostly found a better recovery from head knocks or less severity.

The above two I remember reading not long ago, as for PCL, not too sure, I do wonder though if a simple knee pad would minimise anything but I have no knowledge on that. But PCL/ruck injuries dropped significantly when the AFL introduced the centre circle, so a simple change to ruck rules could further reduce that.

I personally think they should make the circle even smaller and just throw it up. The bounce is an inconsistent relic of the past.

No knee to knee then. Would see some interesting tactical changes of big tall rucks vs highly athletic standing jumpers.