ACL Injury Prevention in AFL: A Tale of Missed Movement Clues and Career-Changing Injuries

ACL injuries continue to plague the AFL—affecting both rising stars and seasoned veterans. While some occur due to unavoidable contact, the majority stem from neuromuscular control issues that can be identified and addressed—if we screen movement properly.

This post dives into how ACL injury prevention in AFL hinges on identifying risk early, and what 2025’s devastating injury list can teach us.

🔍 The Human Cost of ACL Injuries in AFL

ACL injury prevention in AFL isn’t theoretical—it's personal.

Already in 2025, we’ve seen major names fall:

• Jagga Smith (Carlton) – ACL tear in pre-season (source)

• Dom Sheed (West Coast) – Training injury (source)

• Richmond’s Josh Gibcus, Taj Hotton, Judson Clarke, and Tylar Young – All recovering from ACL injuries (source)

And in the AFLW:

• Emily Gough (Essendon) – ACL rupture (source)

• Daisy D’Arcy and Alana Gee (Gold Coast) – Both on inactive lists due to ACL tears (source)

These are not just injuries—they're turning points in careers.

🦵 Why ACL Injury Prevention in AFL Must Go Beyond Contact Trauma

Yes, traumatic contact across the knee—like a tackle inducing valgus collapse—can tear an ACL.

But in most cases, especially in female and youth athletes, ACL injuries are non-contact, caused by flawed movement patterns like:

• Uncontrolled landings

• Poor trunk control

• Limited hip or ankle mobility

• Sudden directional changes under fatigue

According to Joseph et al. (2013), over 50% of ACL injuries in youth sport are non-contact. These injuries aren’t about collisions—they're about control.

✅ Screening Reveals the Hidden Risk

ACL injury prevention in AFL starts with early detection.

Tools like the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and the Y-Balance Test (YBT-LQ) help us:

• Identify asymmetries

• Flag dynamic valgus patterns

• Detect mobility and stability deficits

• Track rehab progress in post-ACL athletes

These tools are built into Phil Plisky’s ACL guidelines and are backed by studies showing strong correlation between failed screens and future injury (Zazulak et al., 2007; Hewett et al., 2005).

when screening movement, what they can or can't do, and whether it hurts or not, guides how we approach their management.

🔁 Post-Surgery? Screening Still Matters

Many athletes are cleared to return to sport before regaining proper neuromuscular function. Garrison et al. (2015) found that athletes failing YBT-LQ symmetry at 3 months post-op were much more likely to fail hop and performance tests later.

So ACL injury prevention in AFL doesn’t end with surgery—it demands full-body readiness.

🧠 Takeaway: Don’t Wait for the Snap

Every time we fail to screen an athlete properly, we may miss a chance to prevent the next season-ending injury.

So if an athlete can’t do a movement, don’t just note it—intervene.

Reset. Reinforce. Retrain.

Because the cost of missing one ACL is far greater than the cost of a 15-minute screen.

References

1. Joseph, A. M., Collins, C. L., Henke, N. M., Yard, E. E., Fields, S. K., & Comstock, R. D. (2013). A Multisport Epidemiologic Comparison of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in High School Athletics. Journal of Athletic Training, 48(6), 810–817. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-48.6.03

2. Fong, C. M., Blackburn, J. T., Norcross, M. F., McGrath, M., & Padua, D. A. (2011). Ankle-Dorsiflexion Range of Motion and Landing Biomechanics. Journal of Athletic Training, 46(1), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-46.1.5

3. Zazulak, B. T., Hewett, T. E., Reeves, N. P., Goldberg, B., & Cholewicki, J. (2007). Deficits in Neuromuscular Control of the Trunk Predict Knee Injury Risk: A Prospective Biomechanical-Epidemiologic Study. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 35(7), 1123–1130. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546507301585

4. Hewett, T. E., Myer, G. D., Ford, K. R., Heidt, R. S., Colosimo, A. J., McLean, S. G., … Succop, P. (2005). Biomechanical Measures of Neuromuscular Control and Valgus Loading of the Knee Predict ACL Injury Risk in Female Athletes: A Prospective Study. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 33(4), 492–501. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504269591

5. Garrison, J. C., Bothwell, J. M., Wolf, G., Aryal, S., & Thigpen, C. A. (2015). Y Balance Test Anterior Reach Symmetry at Three Months is Related to Single Leg Functional Performance at Return to Sports Following ACL Reconstruction. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 10(5), 602–611. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4637909/

6. Plisky, P. J. (2022). ACL Rehabilitation Guidelines, Version 3.0. Retrieved from https://www.philplisky.com/lower-body-return-to-sport-checklist

7. AFL.com.au. (2025). Massive Carlton blow as Jagga Smith suffers ACL injury. Retrieved from https://www.afl.com.au/news/1271024/massive-carlton-blues-blow-as-no3-pick-jagga-smith-suffers-heartbreaking-acl-injury

8. The Roar. (2025). Dom Sheed sidelined for season after ACL tear. Retrieved from https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/02/04/extremely-disappointing-news-eagles-midfielder-sheed-facing-the-entire-afl-season-on-sideline-after-acl-injury

9. SEN. (2025). AFL injury list: Richmond players on the mend. Retrieved from https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/02/04/your-clubs-injury-list-or-tracking-the-brutal-injury-blows-around-the-afl

10. Essendon Football Club. (2025). Ruptured ACL confirmed for Emily Gough. Retrieved from https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1768268/injury-news-ruptured-acl-confirmed-for-gough

11. AFLW / AFL.com.au. (2024). Scans confirm ACL rupture for Gold Coast’s Daisy D’Arcy. Retrieved from https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1250922/scans-confirm-acl-rupture-for-gold-coast-suns-aflw-star-daisy-darcy

12. Gold Coast Football Club. (2025). AFLW Injury List. Retrieved from https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/1635214/aflw-injury-list