The AFL today released the AFLW Injury Reports for both seasons that took place in 2022; Season 6 and Season 7 of NAB AFL Women’s Competition. The total injury incidence (number of new injuries resulting in missed matches per club per season) was 17.1 and 10.9 new injuries per club in Season 6 and Season 7 respectively. The Season 7 incidence rate is similar to that of the 2021 Season which had an injury incidence of 11.1 new injuries per club. The three most common injuries resulting in missed matches across both 2022 seasons were medical illnesses, concussion, and ankle injuries.
COVID-19 had a significant impact on the 2022 (S6) AFLW Season as it coincided with a time of peak virus transmission. The AFL protocols specified that teams needed a minimum of 16 available players for a match to proceed, and resultantly there were 39 alterations to the Season 6 fixture, including 5 rounds that contained byes, which may have had an impact on both injury prevalence and incidence data. COVID-19 related illness resulting in missed matches presented the highest incidence of all injury categories in Season 6, accounting for 7.21 new injuries per club, and decreased to 0.50 players per club in Season 7. This reduction largely due to the easing of Government restrictions in relation to COVID-19 prior to the commencement of Season 7.
The incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries resulting in missed matches remained steady at 4.17 per 1000 player hours in the 2022 (S6) AFLW season. In the 2022 (S7) AFLW season, the incidence of ACL injuries resulting in missed matches decreased to 2.84 ACL injuries per 1000 player hours.
Concussion incidence presented as the second highest incidence of all the injury categories in 2022 (S6) AFLW Season, with and incidence of 8.75 new injuries per 1000 player hours. In 2022, (S7) AFLW Season, fewer incidences of concussion occurred at 6.31 new injuries per 1000 player hours.
AFL Executive General Manager Football Operations, Legal and Integrity, Andrew Dillon said that across the two seasons played in 2022, player health and safety at all levels of Australian Football remains paramount.
"The continuous education of coaches, players and support staff is critical to ensure we best-protect and prevent injuries amongst AFLW footballers. We will continue to support research and implement best practice injury prevention programs across all levels of women’s football.
"The results of both Season Six and Season Seven injury reports are significant with the findings having a direct impact on the AFL’s investment into injury research across all levels of the game, from the NAB AFLW Competition right through to the grassroots level.
"The data in this report provides information that assists clubs, doctors and researchers to continue to investigate ways of reducing injury rates, as well as improving injury management and prevention."
