The Australian Football League (AFL) today released its fourteenth comprehensive study of injuries at the highest level of the game - the AFL Report on Injuries 2005.The report, by Dr John Orchard and Dr Hugh Seward, President of the AFL Medical Officers Association, reported that the 2005 season was the second lowest year on record for injuries, behind only the 2003 season, and again lower than the long-term average since the survey commenced. Most pleasingly, injury rates had been lowered from the 2004 season.All 16 AFL clubs again co-operated fully with the production of the injury survey and the 2005 season revealed a downturn in ruck-related knee posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries, following the alteration at the start of last season to the rules relating to centre bounces.Hamstring strains remain the most common and prevalent injury in AFL football, with the 2005 season showing a slight reduction over the long-term in injury and recurrence rates.AFL Football Operations Manager Adrian Anderson said the AFL would continue to commit to the annual injury survey and ongoing research projects as club medical officers believed the twin approach had contributed to advances in injury prevention and/or management."The AFL is delighted that this year's injury survey is able to show us the tangible results of a rule change designed to keep our star players on the field, whereby the Laws relating to ruck contests were changed at the start of 2005 and we subsequently saw a reduction in knee PCL injuries for our big men," Mr Anderson said."The annual injury report provides a focus for the AFL's Research Board to assign its funding, to ensure we keep our stars in the game and on the field."The AFL is a leader in world sport in the way we examine our injuries for elite players and publicise this information, as well as ensuring that our game remains safe for all junior participants."We are delighted that we have our three lowest injury rates in history over the last three years, with our second lowest-injury year this year (14.7 per cent of players injured per week) coming after our lowest-ever injury year in 2003 (13.5 per cent of players injured per week) and a very pleasing result in 2004 (14.9 per cent of players injured per week), re-affirming that we are doing everything possible to keep our game safe."Dr Seward and Dr Orchard reported the hamstring strain remained the most common injury in AFL football, and clubs could generally expect six of these injuries per season."The 2004 season was an all-time best result for the AFL clubs in terms of injury recurrence but it was pleasing that the 2005 season figure for injuries recurring was low on an historical base," Dr Seward said."In terms of games missed due to injury, the hamstring injury remains the number one injury in our sport, surpassing both groin injuries and knee ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries."These 'big three' injuries - hamstring, groin and knee ACL - occur as a non-contact injury in the majority of cases," he said.The report stated clubs could expect to lose an average of 125 senior games in a season, due to injury, down from 131 games in season 2004.Dr Seward said the alteration of the centre-circle ruck rule had immediate impact with no player suffering a PCL injury at a centre-bounce contest during the 2005 season."From 1997 - 2004, there was in increase in the number of PCL injuries occuring at centre bounce ruck duels," Dr Orchard said."In 2005, no injuries of this type were caused by a centre-bounce contest, indicating success with this rule change."It is now expected that the trend of higher PCL injuries among ruckmen will be reversed, reducing the injury rates for ruckmen and extending their careers."