Do the new rules mean greater risks to players?

[Gekko71]

Hi everyone.

I originally posted this on the Freo boards, but I'm re-posting here because I'm seeking a wide range of opinions.

Kane Lambert from Richmond suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in last night's game against Port Adelaide. It happened in almost identical circumstances to Aaron Sandiland's injury, and had a near identical result. It got me thinking about the potential risks posed to players from the high-speed game style recent rule changes appear to be engendering.

In both cases, the injury was caused by a full-tilt knee in the back during a one-on-one marking contest, and that's got to be a worry for the AFL. That kind of impact happens every weekend, at every level of the game, all round the country; any high-speed crush injury that makes fractured ribs more likely is bound to present a substantial risk to a player's lungs and heart. But if you drop/relax your knee during a high marking attempt. you'll endanger yourself and probably end-up arse-over-tit.

Rather than have the AFL change the rules to prevent injury during speccies / contested marking (the greatest feature of our game IMO), I'm wondering if its time for AFL footballers to consider some sort of protective device to prevent major injury?

Something akin to a padded singlet worn under the uniform might do the trick. It would need to be soft and flexible to allow full movement, sufficiently padded to prevent injury / disperse impact forces, and made from mesh to allow the players to sweat properly and prevent them overheating (a bit like a softer, more flexible version of those new type of 3D printed plaster casts (see images below)

I'm not trying to stir the pot here, or have the game's rules changed even more (loud groan) but it occurs to me the increased pace of the game might make these thoracic crush injuries more common.

What does everyone think? Is this just a freak coincidence and I'm worrying over nothing... or are Sandi's / Kane's injuries a sign of recent rule-changes creating greater risks for players?

 

[Komrade_Tiger]

Once would be a freak accident (and rule changes on the back of a freak accident shouldn't happen - see Gary Rohan's broken leg and subsequent rule-change) but twice in ~3? weeks, then there's something that has changed for this to be happening (not saying its malicious, just that the AFL might need to "advise" to change their jumping action here)

As it is, I cant seem to recall any injuries happening like this in the ~10/11 years i've followed AFL

 

[Damon_3388]

Now that the OP mentions it, it's kind of surprising that a sporting apparel company hasn't developed some kind of flexible, breathable "flack jacket" type of thing for Australian footy. I know that ruckmen (eg. Jeff White) over time have worn padded compression shorts to protect from knee and hips to the thigh, bit it would make sense that other players (particularly inside mids) would wear something to protect the ribs and back from impact and wear and tear. Developing something that's both protective and functional might be a way for a company like Under Armour to make more inroads into the Australian market. Maybe the type of body protection that's been used in basketball for a while (by players like Dwyane Wade) might be a good starting point to work from.

 

[Power Raid]

I've seen a few knees in the back this year which had intent for injury as much as the ball.

simply review incidents and offer fines, weeks and call it sniping

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

Nah, part of the game, Ablett Snr used to dish out knees weekly, none were career ending i believe but probably a few hospital visits....

 

[Randomizor]

I don't think the game utilises new tech enough so it's a yes from me

 

[THRILLHO]

The AFL doesn't allow hands in the back and the umpires vacillate completely on their interpretation of using your body to hold your position so it's no surprise that a number of players jump early or use their knees or legs to keep the oncoming player away from the ball drop.

Jarrad Waite does this quite often and it's something we used to always do playing marker's up in school: straight leg out, boot to the body or head.

Just another example of an AFL rule change having unexpected consequences because they consistently rush in rule changes rather than trialling them for extended periods of time.