Physical Preparation Factors That Influence Technical and Physical Match Performance in Professional Australian Football

Ryan, S., Coutts, A.J., Hocking, J., Dillon, P.A., Whitty, A., Kempton, T.

Objectives:
To examine the collective influence of a range of physical preparation elements on selected performance measures during Australian football match-play.

Design:
Prospective, longitudinal.

Methods:
Data were collected from 34 professional Australian football players from the same club during the 2016 AFL competition season. Match activity profiles, acute (7-day) and chronic (3-week) training load were collected via GPS devices. Training response was measured by well-being questionnaires completed prior to the main training session each week. Maximal aerobic running speed (MAS) was estimated by a two-kilometer time-trial conducted during preseason. Coach ratings were collected from the senior coach and four assistants after each match on a 5-point Likert scale. Player ratings were obtained from a commercial statistics provider. Fifteen matches were analyzed. Linear mixed models were constructed to examine the collective influence of training-related factors on four performance measures.

Results:
Muscle soreness had a small positive effect (ES: 0.12) on Champion Data rating points. 3-week average high-speed running (HSR) distance had a small negative effect (ES: 0.14) on coach ratings. MAS had large-to-moderate positive effects (ES: 0.55, 0.47) on relative total and HSR distances. Acute total and chronic average total running distance had small positive (ES: 0.13) and negative (ES: 0.14) effects on relative total and high-speed running (HSR) distance performed during matches, respectively.

Conclusions:
MAS should be developed to enhance a player’s running performance during competition. Monitoring of physical preparation data may assist in reducing injury and illness and increasing player availability, but not enhance football performance.

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