"Devastating chaos": Cornes calls for reform in the grueling AFL schedule.
The injury list for the AFL is rapidly expanding, and the latest addition is none other than Melbourne's captain, Max Gawn, who has sustained a fractured finger during pre-season training. This setback occurred on Monday, and although he will be out of action for a minimum of two weeks, he will still be able to keep up with his fitness regimen during this period.
In addition to Gawn, several other players are managing their own injuries, including Dan McStay, Aidan Corr, Darcy Moore, Bailey Laurie, Jeremy Howe, Clayton Oliver, Cillian Bourke, and Toby Greene. Unfortunately, Jackson Archer and Jesse Motlop have both been sidelined for the entire season due to ACL injuries.
Furthermore, in a developing story reported early Thursday, Hawthorn's star player Will Day has suffered what seems to be a significant shoulder injury.
While it's not uncommon for players to face challenges during the pre-season, Kane Cornes has taken a stand, advocating for a reassessment of the extended time players are given off between seasons. He argues that this lack of preparation time is jeopardizing their careers. "This happens every year, but it appears to be more severe this time around," Cornes remarked on SEN Breakfast. "It’s absolute chaos. Time is running out for many of these athletes."
Cornes noted several contributing factors to this issue: "Currently, players are being conditioned during match play, which is a departure from traditional training methods. In the past, conditioning was achieved through pure running before transitioning into match play.
"With players enjoying extended breaks, they become de-conditioned. When you combine that with insufficient time to reacquaint themselves with running skills necessary to regain their speed, they are thrust back into intense training without proper preparation, and the consequences are brutal.
"While the players' association believes they are acting in the best interests of athletes by allowing them ample recovery time, this approach is actually detrimental to the quality of the game and the long-term health of the players. They simply aren't prepared for the demands that clubs are placing on them after such lengthy absences.
"Many people might attribute an ACL injury to mere bad luck, disconnecting it from conditioning or the mind-body relationship, yet there is a connection that cannot be ignored.
"We must revolutionize how clubs train their athletes. It’s imperative that we implement changes across the entire league. The current practices are negatively impacting both the game and the players’ futures."
