The AFL rule changes and the shortened pre-season are to blame for a spate of recent injuries in practice matches, according to former West Coast premiership player Will Schofield.
Brisbane Lions utility Cam Rayner was the latest competition star to go down, with the 21-year-old likely to miss the season with a suspected ACL tear in his knee.
Seven players were injured in a carnage-filled Western Derby between Fremantle and West Coast on Sunday, including Michael Walters (hamstring), Rory Lobb (knee) and Luke Shuey (ankle) among the high-profile casualties.
Collingwood also saw gun midfielder Steele Sidebottom come from the field after only five minutes with a calf issue during Friday's clash against Richmond.
Schofield believes the AFL's decision to implement a shortened pre-season, with each team only playing two matches, and the rules added to speed up the game have been a reason for the horror run of injuries in the competition so far.
"Unfortunately, ALOT of injuries after a shortened preseason,” Schofield said via his Twitter account.
"Season to start on time, full quarters, 'higher scoring' - - free flowing football.
"But at what cost? I hope I’m wrong but the ongoing quest to manufacture a more aesthetically pleasing game is proving costly so far."
He continued: "I would be pointing more towards - shorter pre season (lack of prep), less rotations (more fatigue) and free flowing (faster transition btw offence and defence)."
Unfortunately, ALOT of injuries after a shortened preseason.Season to start on time, full quarters, “higher scoring”- - free flowing football. But at what cost? I hope I’m wrong but the ongoing quest to manufacture a more aesthetically pleasing game is proving costly so far#afl
— Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) March 8, 2021
I would be pointing more towards - shorter pre season (lack of prep), less rotations (more fatigue) and free flowing (faster transition btw offence and defence) - and think you were looking for logical not logistical 😉 https://t.co/4zt3bcT1bp
— Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) March 8, 2021
Lions coach Chris Fagan confirmed the likelihood of Rayner tearing his ACL, but backed the former no.1 draft pick to return stronger than ever.
"Obviously he’s got to go for a scan. But the physios are telling me it looks like an ACL at this stage, so that’s probably his season done and dusted," Fagan told Fox Footy.
"It’s a real tragedy for Cam. He’s worked so hard this pre-season, he got to start playing in the midfield and really picked up his fitness.
"One thing I know about him is he’ll be a great bloke around the footy club and he won’t be a sad sack about it. It’s just one of those things in footy that happens and he’ll bounce back from it."
