Sports Does AFL require more physical endurance than soccer?

[IKE TURNER]

soccer players need lots of energy to roll around on the ground when it looks like there might be slight contact

 

[La Dolce Vita]

easily...i'm a fan of both sports. It's not even comparable

 

[DragzLS1]

Played soccer since I was 10. If you look at cardiovascular on its own then ide say soccer may be higher, just. But the physical side of afl would tip the scales in afl's favour by a fair margin. You need to be a serous athlete these days with the constant crash and bash on the body with the burst running that is involved to play afl.

 

[Lethality]

AFLX is proving to be a better workout, so the size of the field and the fewer players probably suggests football is more of an endurance sport than AFL.

 

[PeakyBlinder71]

Simple answer is no. This was proven in 1964 when Jack Dyer, the then record games holder for the Richmond Tigers in the AFL. And let’s imagine he convenes the cream of the VFL’s players of the 1960s. Ted Whitten, the iconic captain coach of the Footscray Bulldogs. Australian Rules football’s biggest name, Ronald Dale Barassi. Reigning VFL Brownlow Medallist, Gordon Collis took on a bunch of semi-professional soccer players at their own game and got thrashed.

heres the thread, podcast and photo's:

https://sport.optus.com.au/news/football-belongs/os21234/football-belongs-clash-of-cultures

 

[blueboy25]

Simple answer is no. This was proven in 1964 when Jack Dyer, the then record games holder for the Richmond Tigers in the AFL. And let’s imagine he convenes the cream of the VFL’s players of the 1960s. Ted Whitten, the iconic captain coach of the Footscray Bulldogs. Australian Rules football’s biggest name, Ronald Dale Barassi. Reigning VFL Brownlow Medallist, Gordon Collis took on a bunch of semi-professional soccer players at their own game and got thrashed.

heres the thread, podcast and photo's:

https://sport.optus.com.au/news/football-belongs/os21234/football-belongs-clash-of-cultures

So a game held 60 years ago proves it?

I wonder how soccer players would go copping the hit AFL players and still run 15kms a game

 

[Kappa]

Simple answer is no. This was proven in 1964 when Jack Dyer, the then record games holder for the Richmond Tigers in the AFL. And let’s imagine he convenes the cream of the VFL’s players of the 1960s. Ted Whitten, the iconic captain coach of the Footscray Bulldogs. Australian Rules football’s biggest name, Ronald Dale Barassi. Reigning VFL Brownlow Medallist, Gordon Collis took on a bunch of semi-professional soccer players at their own game and got thrashed.

heres the thread, podcast and photo's:

https://sport.optus.com.au/news/football-belongs/os21234/football-belongs-clash-of-cultures

So... because some AF players lost a soccer game to a bunch of soccer players.... that means AFL doesn't require more endurance... are you.. all there?

 

[Bostonian]

Simple answer is no. This was proven in 1964 when Jack Dyer, the then record games holder for the Richmond Tigers in the AFL. And let’s imagine he convenes the cream of the VFL’s players of the 1960s. Ted Whitten, the iconic captain coach of the Footscray Bulldogs. Australian Rules football’s biggest name, Ronald Dale Barassi. Reigning VFL Brownlow Medallist, Gordon Collis took on a bunch of semi-professional soccer players at their own game and got thrashed.

heres the thread, podcast and photo's:

https://sport.optus.com.au/news/football-belongs/os21234/football-belongs-clash-of-cultures

And what happened when the soccer players played a full game of VFL against the likes of Ted Whitten and co?

I'm guessing it didn't happen because they knew they would getting totally and utterly wrecked.

 

[ClarkeM]

Simple answer is no. This was proven in 1964 when Jack Dyer, the then record games holder for the Richmond Tigers in the AFL. And let’s imagine he convenes the cream of the VFL’s players of the 1960s. Ted Whitten, the iconic captain coach of the Footscray Bulldogs. Australian Rules football’s biggest name, Ronald Dale Barassi. Reigning VFL Brownlow Medallist, Gordon Collis took on a bunch of semi-professional soccer players at their own game and got thrashed.

heres the thread, podcast and photo's:

https://sport.optus.com.au/news/football-belongs/os21234/football-belongs-clash-of-cultures

AFL or VFL? AFL is a league and it's only been that since 1990.

The thread title needs some fixing. This is like saying Does A-League require more physical endurance than badminton?

 

[Sqotty from office works]

I remember channel 7 maybe running a sports Olympics years ago(80s early) and afl won most fitness tests.

 

[rank and file]

I remember channel 7 maybe running a sports Olympics years ago(80s early) and afl won most fitness tests.

There was one in 2000s Billy Slater made it piss 2 years in a row,was up against Deledio/Ling AFL and a couple of A league hacks amongst others.

 

[phantom13]

There was one in 2000s Billy Slater made it piss 2 years in a row,was up against Deledio/Ling AFL and a couple of A league hacks amongst others.

Rexona greatest athlete. Loved that shit.

The only issue with that show in this context is alot of the challenges were sport specific, not fitness specific.

 

[rank and file]

Rexona greatest athlete. Loved that shit.

The only issue with that show in this context is alot of the challenges were sport specific, not fitness specific.

Was a good show.I was impressed how fit the V8 guys were.

 

[rank and file]

End of the day
1.NRL
2.AFL
Soccer maybe top five.

Panthers got these guys on board late 2019.
Runner up 2020 won the next 4 flags.
The 24hr boot camp,take note Crows.

 

[faible]

End of the day
1.NRL
2.AFL
Soccer maybe top five.

Panthers got these guys on board late 2019.
Runner up 2020 won the next 4 flags.
The 24hr boot camp,take note Crows.

Depends what you measure.

NRL players would be stronger, AFL players better endurance.

I'd say AFL is the sport that requires the most diverse array of athletic attributes.

 

[phantom13]

End of the day
1.NRL
2.AFL
Soccer maybe top five.

Panthers got these guys on board late 2019.
Runner up 2020 won the next 4 flags.
The 24hr boot camp,take note Crows.

I’ve got a mate that works in sports science and has worked across the AFL/NRL and I’ve had this convo with him before.

I think if you’re talking overall fitness (encompassing cardio endurance, muscle endurance, speed, power, agility, flexibility, co-ordination).

AFL is a fair way ahead overall in terms of the Aussie codes. Now AFL probably doesn’t win any singular facet of it (possibly cardio endurance, depending on the player) but they’re going to be VERY close to the best across all of them. Whereas soccer players are gonna be way down on power, muscle endurance etc. and League way down on endurance stuff.

"Physical Endurance" is pretty broad. If its just running power id think the AFLs elite are going to be very close if not ahead of Soccers best. Borth are going to leave NRL is the dust.

 

[burge13]

I’ve got a mate that works in sports science and has worked across the AFL/NRL and I’ve had this convo with him before.

I think if you’re talking overall fitness (encompassing cardio endurance, muscle endurance, speed, power, agility, flexibility, co-ordination).

AFL is a fair way ahead overall in terms of the Aussie codes. Now AFL probably doesn’t win any singular facet of it (possibly cardio endurance, depending on the player) but they’re going to be VERY close to the best across all of them. Whereas soccer players are gonna be way down on power, muscle endurance etc. and League way down on endurance stuff.

"Physical Endurance" is pretty broad. If its just running power id think the AFLs elite are going to be very close if not ahead of Soccers best. Borth are going to leave NRL is the dust.

Depends on position. A central midfielder in soccer would be more aerobically fit than a FF in footy

I play soccer & I'd back most footy players to beat most soccer players at most 'physical challenges' as a general rule though

 

[phantom13]

Depends on position. A central midfielder in soccer would be more aerobically fit than a FF in footy

I play soccer & I'd back most footy players to beat most soccer players at most 'physical challenges' as a general rule though

Im not even sure the first line is accurate from this as a source.

Monthly Report 68

Rapport mensuel de l'Observatoire du football CIES n°68 - Octobre 2021

football-observatory.com

How Far Do AFL Players run in a Australian Rules Football Game!

Discover the impressive distances covered by AFL players in Australian Rules Football. Explore the astonishing distances, high-speed sprints, and conditioning fitness tests.

preparelikeapro.com

Some Full Forwards have absolutely absurd running capacity (Jesse Hogan, Brody Mihocek). We dont really have the old school FF very much anymore and to be fair i dont follow or watch soccer so i have zero experience there but these metrics sort of indicate that the elite runners from both sports head to head is gonna be very very close but the bottom end runners AFL is going to street them.

Its all bit dependent too. AFL players do a lot more burst running and tend to have less low intensity running in a match. Matches are also longer overall and shorter in between breaks so the specific distinction is hard to make. Are you valuing how long someone can run a half marathon or are you valuing a yo yo test?

 

[burge13]

Im not even sure the first line is accurate from this as a source.

Monthly Report 68

Rapport mensuel de l'Observatoire du football CIES n°68 - Octobre 2021

football-observatory.com

How Far Do AFL Players run in a Australian Rules Football Game!

Discover the impressive distances covered by AFL players in Australian Rules Football. Explore the astonishing distances, high-speed sprints, and conditioning fitness tests.

preparelikeapro.com

Some Full Forwards have absolutely absurd running capacity (Jesse Hogan, Brody Mihocek). We dont really have the old school FF very much anymore and to be fair i dont follow or watch soccer so i have zero experience there but these metrics sort of indicate that the elite runners from both sports head to head is gonna be very very close but the bottom end runners AFL is going to street them.

Its all bit dependent too. AFL players do a lot more burst running and tend to have less low intensity running in a match. Matches are also longer overall and shorter in between breaks so the specific distinction is hard to make. Are you valuing how long someone can run a half marathon or are you valuing a yo yo test?

A central midfielder in soccer isn't really stopping whereas a FF still has the ball down the other end for half the match. Completely different sports/body types/ tactics but I'd take a central midfielder to outrun Hogan easily tbh

Regardless, I'd back most footy players over most soccer players otherwise. Probably at all senior levels too, amateur D grade to professionals, i think footy would win most fitness/physical challenges over soccer

 

[phantom13]

A central midfielder in soccer isn't really stopping whereas a FF still has the ball down the other end for half the match. Completely different sports/body types/ tactics but I'd take a central midfielder to outrun Hogan easily tbh

Regardless, I'd back most footy players over most soccer players otherwise. Probably at all senior levels too, amateur D grade to professionals, i think footy would win most fitness/physical challenges over soccer

Except no FF just sits in the goalsquare anymore. Absolute worst case theyre up around CHB and probably pushing in if there are bad numbers.

Its hard to find stats but if you check AFL telstra tracker it has some 2020 stats and in a few examples KP players are in there. Matt Taberner has a couple 13km games, Weitering has an 11 as does Jesse Hogan.

If you compare that to those tables in the other link soccer mids were covering 10.6kms and the average across all positions was 10kms total.


Im sure the absolutely elite mids and wingers in soccer would outrun Hogan and probably most AFL players but i suspect if you take the average across all the top flight teams in Europe and South America. Midfielder to Midfielder AFL is winning and as an average across all positions (excluding goalies) that difference would be even bigger.

 

[faible]

Except no FF just sits in the goalsquare anymore. Absolute worst case theyre up around CHB and probably pushing in if there are bad numbers.

Its hard to find stats but if you check AFL telstra tracker it has some 2020 stats and in a few examples KP players are in there. Matt Taberner has a couple 13km games, Weitering has an 11 as does Jesse Hogan.

If you compare that to those tables in the other link soccer mids were covering 10.6kms and the average across all positions was 10kms total.


Im sure the absolutely elite mids and wingers in soccer would outrun Hogan and probably most AFL players but i suspect if you take the average across all the top flight teams in Europe and South America. Midfielder to Midfielder AFL is winning and as an average across all positions (excluding goalies) that difference would be even bigger.

Nick Reiwoldt would have been a monster on the Telstra Tracker. Bloke was an aerobic animal for a big guy. True FF doesn't really exist as such. Most of the 'FF' guys would be a CHF under the traditional positions.

Some of the AFL wingmen are pretty high level aerobic runners, Kane Cornes has run a pretty slick 2:34 for the Marathon, Tom Scully was probably even better as a pure runner.

Not sure many team sports would have higher level endurance runners. That's probably the key thing that distinguishes AFL from most other ball sports. The big US ones are very power oriented, Soccer has good endurance and probably a higher bar skill-wise at the elite level.

 

[burge13]

Nick Reiwoldt would have been a monster on the Telstra Tracker. Bloke was an aerobic animal for a big guy. True FF doesn't really exist as such. Most of the 'FF' guys would be a CHF under the traditional positions.

Some of the AFL wingmen are pretty high level aerobic runners, Kane Cornes has run a pretty slick 2:34 for the Marathon, Tom Scully was probably even better as a pure runner.

Not sure many team sports would have higher level endurance runners. That's probably the key thing that distinguishes AFL from most other ball sports. The big US ones are very power oriented, Soccer has good endurance and probably a higher bar skill-wise at the elite level.

Definitely IMO

Kick a ball to someone and they'll probably catch it.

Kick a ball to someone, can they control it with their foot or chest it down? Less likely. We use our hands far more instinctively...

 

[phantom13]

Nick Reiwoldt would have been a monster on the Telstra Tracker. Bloke was an aerobic animal for a big guy. True FF doesn't really exist as such. Most of the 'FF' guys would be a CHF under the traditional positions.

Some of the AFL wingmen are pretty high level aerobic runners, Kane Cornes has run a pretty slick 2:34 for the Marathon, Tom Scully was probably even better as a pure runner.

Not sure many team sports would have higher level endurance runners. That's probably the key thing that distinguishes AFL from most other ball sports. The big US ones are very power oriented, Soccer has good endurance and probably a higher bar skill-wise at the elite level.

I think thats a bit dependent on what you consider to be more skillful.

Can any soccer players gather a half volley, at pace, while being bumped or tackled? Thats a pretty unique and difficult skill to execute thats semi expected for AFL players.

Similar to basketballers and 3 point shooting, golf, tennis etc.

Sure a one touch drop or pass is impressive but lets not sell the AFL skill set short.