What follows is a summary of the research projects, education programs, player rules and on-field management activities currently in operation across the AFL & AFLW competitions.
- Annual concussion surveillance and video audit (HawkEye vision technology available on benches at all AFL venues which is now a critical part of AFL match day concussion management processes)
- An investigation into the efficacy of headgear in preventing concussion
- The development of an AFL headgear specification to ensure headgear utilised in the AFL/AFLW is not creating additional risk to the user and other players
- Current and past players are seeing neurologists, neuropsychologists and being scanned using advanced Florey technology (which is both a clinical and research program)
- Trial of a mental health tool to assess the impact of concussion on acute mental health
- All AFLW teams and selected AFL teams during the JLT Community Series participated in a sensor head knock load assessment in 2017 with data currently being analysed
In terms of the community, our main project is the development of a community awareness and management phone app in partnership with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI). The app links coaches, players, trainers, doctors and parents in the recognition, management and return to play of children who are suspected of having a concussion. The current plan is for a nationwide launch in the coming months, likely involving current AFL and AFLW players as ambassadors.
We have also developed an interactive concussion module for the new community coach learning management system (LMS) which will be compulsory for all registered community coaches.
Finally, we regularly collaborate on research and hold information exchange seminars with other codes in Australia and abroad, including the NRL, AIS, ARU, IRB, NFL, NHL, FIFA, FEI, FIS, GAA, NCAA etc and also regularly engage with the AFLPA and Australian Athletes Alliance (AAA).
In terms of playing rules, the AFL changed its bumping rules around front-on contact to a player more than a decade ago. While the revised rules around bumping (strict liability if contact is made to the head if a player chooses to bump if he had other options), have also been in play for more than a decade. The Tribunal has also had instructions over the last decade in terms of its assessment on penalty on incidents that involve concussion.
