Does restricting the number of interchanges promote knee injuries?

[Streak]

When the 16 interchanges per quarter NAB Cup rule was brought in, I thought the idea was to slow the game down and prevent serious injuries.

So far this season, there have been some 5 serious knee injuries. If you take out the two that occured in Albany in the Eagles Pies game (ground condition?) which was a praccy match and not suubject to this rule, the others have occured in the NAB Cup.

I seem to recall when Darren Gaspar did his knee that there was some suggestion that it was fatigue related. Not that being tired caused it, but that it may have been a factor.

It will be interesting to see what pans out in the regular season.

 

[Tigermad2005]

No.

 

[bowden4president]

No.

Agree!

 

[Tony Braxton-Hicks]

There used to be a correlation between hard grounds and ACL injuries. Most ACLs would occur in the opening weeks of the season when the grounds had less give, although in this day and age of indoor footy and removable wickets, where the slightest bit of mud is not "AFL standard", I imagine the ground condition is less variable throughout the year and the ACLs are spread a bit more evenly.

 

[Tigers of Old]

I actually hope that restricting interchanges leads to more fatigue in players so we can see a return to contested football again.

 

[jb03]

No.

Agree

 

[hopper]

Yep, agree there's no real link between the two. The problem could occur when a player with something like a hammy twinge is kept on the ground because a team is out of interchanges - then twang!

 

[Redford]

Agree with Tooheys. This is (unusually) a good change to the rules. The game is too fast and uncontested. Hopefully it will introduce a bit more contested posession.

As for it maybe being a reason for an increase in knee injuries, as the recipient of 2 total recos, I personally don't believe so, no.

 

[Phar Ace]

No, it doesn;t "promote" knee injuries, but it may be a minor consequence for a year or two.

After speaking to my Ortho, he indicated the biggest risk was rapid de-acceleration in combination with change of direction, which is why he didn;t recommend snow skiing (but loves it himself personally and if I wanted to go and undo all his lovely work - that was my choice ).

Fatigue may actually reduce the degree of de-acceleration and therefore reduce the incidence over time. Let's see the figures five years after the introduction, but not in the first two potted years only.

 

[MC]

The short answer is No.

I just hope Fonzy Demetriou can please LEAVE THE GAME ALONE.

WE DON'T NEED NEW RULES EVERY YEAR, THE GAME IS OK.

I don't like THE AFL trying to be in the coaches box, BUGGER OFF FONZY, YOU GUYS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RUNNING A FOOTBALL DEPARTMENT. >

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

The short answer is No.

I just hope Fonzy Demetriou can please LEAVE THE GAME ALONE.

WE DON'T NEED NEW RULES EVERY YEAR, THE GAME IS OK.

I don't like THE AFL trying to be in the coaches box, BUGGER OFF FONZY, YOU GUYS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RUNNING A FOOTBALL DEPARTMENT. >

Footy today seems to be as much about what's happening off the field as on it. Perhaps Demetriou fears that the game in its current state isn't attractive enough to stand up in the face of the soccer challenge?