Dissertations / Theses: 'Australian rules football players'

1

Badock, Philip R. "Performance attributes of talented schoolboy Australian Rules Football players." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1992. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1139.

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The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between selected psychological characteristics and performance of a group of talented young Australian Rules football players. The study group consisted of 50 of the best identified schoolboy 15 year old Australian Rules football players in Western Australia. From this group 25 boys were selected to represent Western Australia at the Australian School Sports Council National Football Championships. The selected psychological characteristics were competitive anxiety (trait and state), competitive sport orientation (competitiveness, win and goal orientation) and sport confidence (trait and state). Performance was measured, first, by the selection or non selection of the player in the final team and second, by a high or low performance rating at the completion of the championships. Psychological characteristics of those players who were selected in the team were compared with those who did not make the team in an attempt to identify those characteristics that related to successful team selection. A further comparison of psychological characteristics and performance levels at the completion of the championships was made to determine any common characteristics that identify the higher performing players and possibly to identify predictors of successful performance which could assist with the selection process of other similar groups. The results did not indicate any significant relationships between the selected psychological characteristics of competitive sport orientation, competitive sport anxiety and sport confidence. Nor did the results indicate any relationship between the selected characteristics and the performance of the study group. The results did show however, significant differences between the perceptions of performance as rated by the players themselves and the ratings by the coach, manager, teammates and other independent observer. In every performance rating measure, factor loadings clearly showed that player self-assessments of performance was highly inconsistent with the assessments of the other assessors. This potential area of research may be of significant value in that the player's perception of his performance is not consistent and at variance with the views of the coach and of his teammates.

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2

Cormack, Stuart J. "Neuromuscular fatigue and endocrine responses in elite Australian rules football players." Connect to thesis, 2008. http://portal.ecu.edu.au/adt-public/adt-ECU2008.0010.html.

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3

Cormack, Stuart J. "Neuromuscular fatigue and endocrine responses in elite Australian Rules football players." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2008. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/19.

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The first purpose of this research was to establish the reliability of numerous measures obtained from a single and short duration repeated countermovement jump (CMJ) utilising a portable forceplate (Experimental Studies 1 and 2). Secondly, the response of reliable CMJ variables and T, C and T:C to a single elite level ARF match was assessed to identify the pattern of response and highlight those measures with the greatest potential for usefulness as monitoring tools across longer periods (Experimental Study 3). Finally, those variables identified as most valuable in Experimental Study 3 in addition to T, C and T:C; were measured throughout a season of elite ARF competition in order to examine the manner of their response and assess the magnitude of change in these variables in relation to performance and training and competition loads (Experimental Study 4).

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4

Veugelers, Kristopher. "Submaximal running testing to monitor training responses in elite Australian rules football players." Thesis, Australian Catholic University, 2017. https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/download/19524323a09a702bdc9cda095b0c0cd1b0f7a0e3d26326b778a8b3f18f26c804/2491022/VEUGELERS_2018_Submaximal_unning_testing_to_monitor_training.pdf.

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Monitoring training load and training responses in professional football continues to inform athlete management, injury prevention and player welfare. Maximising fitness and minimizing fatigue are finely balanced and differ within phases of the periodised year. It is possible that submaximal exercise tests are more useful than maximal exercise testing to regularly monitor individual training responses in a team environment. The overarching aim of this thesis was to demonstrate the effectiveness of using heart rate measured during a novel submaximal intermittent running test to monitor training responses throughout a season in elite Australian rules football players. The thesis comprised systematic and narrative reviews of the literature, focussing on advances in athlete monitoring within professional football codes. Findings informed the next three studies of original research.

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Kinsella, David T. "Acute physiological and performance effects of a high intensity lower body resistance training session on Australian Rules Football players." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2008. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/212.

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Previous research investigating the effects of resistance training (RT) on fatigue has used protocols unrelated to the practices of team sport athletes. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the response pattern of specific performance and physiological measures following an acute bout of high-intensity lower body RT in Australian Rules Football (ARF) players over a five day recovery pcriod. Thirty-live resistance trained ARF players were divided into intervention (n = 18) and control groups (n = 17) with groups being matched for age (mean ± standard deviation. intervention = 17.7 ± 0.7: control = 17.7 ± 0.6 .y ears). Weight (intervention == 76.6 ± 8.2: control = 77 .7 ± 7.6 kg). heiight (intervention == 180.7 ± 7.1: control = 181.2 1: 5.7 cm), I RM back squat (intervention = 120.7 ± I 1.3: control = 114.2 ±: 13.3 kg), and IRM power clean (intervention == 67.8 ± 6.7: control == 64.9 ± 9.2 kg) measures. Intervention subjects performed a high intensity lower body RT session following determination of baseline (pre-test) performance and physiological variables. Performance test variables consisted of strength (peak force during an isometric mid thigh pull [IMPT]) power (peak power and vertical jump height of counter movement jump [CMJ ] and squat jump [SJ]), speed (10 metre sprint time), agility (Australian Football League [AFL], specific agility test time), and subjective levels ofrecovery as determined from the total quality recovery (TQR) perceived scale.

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Noblet, Andrew, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "Assessing the strain experienced by managers and professional Australian footballers using an augmented job strain model." Deakin University. Bowater School of Management and Marketing, 2002. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20050825.141959.

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Generic models of job stress, such as the Job Strain Model (JSM), have recently been criticised for focusing on a small number of general work characteristics while ignoring those that are occupation-specific (Sparks & Cooper, 1999). However this criticism is based on limited research that has not examined the relative influence of all three dimensions of the JSM - job demand, job control and social support - and job-specific stressors. The JSM is the most commonly used model underpinning large-scale occupational stress research (Fox, Dwyer, & Ganster, 1993) and is regarded as the most influential model in the research on the psycho-social work environment, stress and disease in recent times (Kristensen, 1995). This thesis addresses the lack of information on the relative influence of the JSM and job-specific stressors by assessing the capacity of an augmented JSM to predict the strain experienced by managers and professional Australian footballers. The augmented JSM consisted of job-specific stressors in addition to the generic components of the model. Managers and professional Australian footballers represent two very different occupational groups. While the day-today roles of a manager include planning, organising, monitoring and controlling (Carroll & Gillen, 1987), the working life of a professional Australian footballer revolves around preparing for and playing football (Shanahan, 1998). It was expected that the large differences in the work undertaken by managers and professional Australian footballers would maximise the opportunities for identifying job-specific stressors and measuring the extent that these vary from one group to the next. The large disparity between managers and professional footballers was also used to assess the cross-occupational versatility of the JSM when it had been augmented by job-specific stressors. This thesis consisted of three major studies. Study One involved a survey of Australian managers, while studies Two and Three focused on professional Australian footballers. The latter group was under-represented in the literature, and as a result of the lack of information on the stressors commonly experienced by this group, an in-depth qualitative study was undertaken in Study Two. The results from Study Two then informed the survey of professional footballers that was conducted in Study Three. Contrary to previous research examining the relative influence of generic and job-specific stressors, the results only provided moderate support for augmenting the JSM with job-specific stressors. Instead of supporting the versatility of the augmented JSM, the overall findings reinforced the broad relevance of the original JSM. Of the four health outcomes measured in Studies One and Three, there was only one - the psychological health of professional Australian footballers - where the proportion of total variance explained by job-specific stressors exceeded 13%. Despite the generally strong performance of the JSM across the two occupational groups, the importance of demand, control and support diminished when examining the less conventional occupation of professional football. The generic model was too narrow to capture the highly specific work characteristics that are important for this occupational group and, as a result, the job-specific stressors explained significantly more of the strain over and above that already provided by the generic model. These findings indicate that when investigating the stressors experienced by conventional occupational groups such as managers, the large amount resources required to identify job-specific stressors are unlikely to be cost-effective. In contrast, the influence of the more situation specific stressors is significantly greater in unconventional occupations and thus the benefits of identifying these non-generic stressors are more likely to outweigh the costs. Studies One and Three identified strong connections between job-specific stressors and important characteristics of the occupation being studied. These connections were consistent with previous research and suggest that before attempting to identify job-specific stressors, researchers need to first become familiar with the nature and context of the occupation. The final issue addressed in this thesis was the role of work and non-work support. The findings indicate that the support provided by supervisors and colleagues was a significant predictor of wellbeing for both managers and professional footballers. In contrast, the level of explained strain accounted for by non-work support was not significant. These results indicate that when developing strategies to protect and enhance employee well-being, particular attention should be given to monitoring and, where necessary, boosting the effectiveness of work-based support. The findings from this thesis have been fed back to the management and sporting communities via conference presentations and peer-reviewed journals (refer pp 220-221). All three studies have been presented at national and international conferences and, overall, were well received by participants. Similarly, the methods, results and major findings arising from Studies One and Two have been critiqued by anonymous reviewers from two international journals. These papers have been accepted for publication in 2001 and 2002 and feedback from the reviewers indicates that the findings represent a significant and unique contribution to the literature. The results of Study Three are currently under review by a sports psychology journal.

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Irvine, Brennen. "Lower limb fatigue asymmetry after a repeated-sprint test in Australian Rules Football (ARF) players with and without previous unilateral hamstring injury." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2020. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2374.

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Australian Rules Football (ARF) is the most widely played sport in Australia, with hamstring injuries (HSIs) remaining the most common type of injury. The ability to detect differences in strength and fatigability between injured and non-injured limbs might help identify ARF players at risk of HSI, reducing injury rates. A previous investigation revealed that data obtained from an Isokinetic Endurance Test (IET; a fatiguing knee extension/flexion test), performed before and after a repeated-sprint test (RST) could be used to correctly identify previous unilateral HSIs with 100% accuracy in soccer players. However, it remains unknown whether these results can be replicated in other football cohorts, such as ARF, despite the sports sharing similarities in physical demands and movement patterns. It also remains unknown whether simpler tests such as the Nordic Hamstring Test (NHT) can be used with similar success. The purpose of the present study was to (1) determine whether changes in force production capacity resulting from fatiguing exercise (RST) differed between previously injured and non-injured limbs in ARF players; (2) investigate whether a more practical and cost effective test (NHT or RST) can accurately identify previous HSI in ARF players; and (3) attempt to replicate the findings of previous research in a different population of footballers (i.e. ARF vs. soccer). 30 semi-professional ARF players (15 with and without previous unilateral HSI history) performed an IET and NHT before and after a RST. Significant differences between injured and non-injured limbs were observed during the IET when performed after the RST, in previously injured participants, with peak knee flexor torque (PKFT) being greater in non-injured (131.6 ± 16.3 Nm) than injured (120.9 ± 14.5 Nm) limbs (p < 0.001). Hamstring:quadriceps (H:Q) ratio was also greater in non-injured (0.77 ± 0.06) than injured (0.69 ± 0.07) limbs (p = 0.001), and percent decreases in PKFT and H:Q ratio from pre- to post-RST were greater in injured (-14% and -12% respectively) than non-injured (-7% and -5% respectively) limbs (p ≤ 0.003). The percent decreases in PKFT and H:Q ratio from pre- to post-RST identified 80% of injured and non-injured limbs in previously injured participants, showing outstanding discrimination of previous HSI (AUC = 0.911). No statistical differences between injured and noninjured limbs were observed in eccentric knee flexor torque during the NHT, or in ground reaction forces measured during the RST, in previously injured participants. In addition, the NHT and RST were poor discriminators of previous HSI (AUC = 0.622 and 0.556, respectively). The results suggest that previous HSI is associated with reduced concentric knee flexor torque capacity and enhanced fatigue responses after a RST. It also suggests that functional deficits, indicating a player is not back to full function and with potentially greater risk of future HSI, may only be visible when tested after sport-specific fatiguing exercise. While data obtained from the IET might now be examined prospectively for its ability to predict future HSI, a test that can be performed on lessexpensive and readily-available equipment is still required for many ARF clubs.

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8

Hindley, Deborah. "In the outer--not on the outer: women and Australian rules football." Thesis, Hindley, Deborah (2006) In the outer--not on the outer: women and Australian rules football. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2006. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/97/.

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This thesis identifies, examines and probes the nature of women's involvement in Australian Rules Football. Rather than have a single theoretical underpinning, an interdisciplinary approach, albeit with a feminist perspective, was applied because of the broad scope of the study. Australian Rules Football is an institution that can transcend class, race, and gender. It is also a multi-billion dollar industry. The game traces its origins back to 1858 and claims influences from rugby and an Aboriginal game called marn-grook. While it is played mainly by men, exclusively at league level, interest and involvement is not limited by gender. Academics and administrators have frequently written off women?s involvement with football. Even though scholarly interest in both sport and feminism has grown since the 1970s, little significant work has been undertaken to examine women's interaction with Australian Rules Football. Leading Australian feminist Anne Summers rejected the notion that women could find anything of value in football apart from following players as devoted wives, mothers, girlfriends or 'groupies'. Through investigation of monographs and edited collections, I reveal that myriad scholars, feminists and historians have missed the point of sporting scholarship: many women enjoy involvement with football, they understand the game and its strategies and value being part of the football community in diverse and evolving capacities. The original contribution to knowledge in this doctorate is to demonstrate that while women have had a central role in the development and maintenance of Australian Rules Football since the game was founded in colonial times, their contribution has gone unacknowledged by historians and administrators. My thesis places on record those omissions. Particularly, I highlight the lack of acknowledgement and respect for the work of a woman who authored a comprehensive and seminal social history written on the game. This is the archetypal example of how women, in many roles - both professional and personal - have been marginalized, despite playing pivotal roles with Australian Rules Football. The original contribution contained in these pages tracks Australian gender relations through the social institution of Australian Rules Football. To create both space and strategies for the revaluation of women in football history, a new model of female fandom is offered. The testimony of the women included is weighty in numbers and pithy in content. The scale of interviews represents diversity in age, class, ethnicity, regionality and role or function with football. Superficially it may appear that women can be placed in taxonomy. Women's involvement with Australian Rules Football is complex and their involvement enmeshes in the many facets and spheres of the game. The completion of this thesis follows the long overdue appointment of the A.F.L.'s first female commissioner, Samantha Mostyn, in June 2005. Without disrespecting Mostyn, this was a tokenistic cultural shift by adding a commissioner to the existing eight males with the goal of adding further business expertise, not a new insight or strategic cultural intervention. It also comes at a time when the Australian Football League's has a new challenge to address, with the growing interest and participation in Association Football in Australia after the qualification for the 2006 World Cup. At this moment of change and contestation, Women's Australian Rules competitions are impoverished through lack of structural and financial support while women's Association Football, both in Australia and internationally, is flourishing.

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9

Hindley, Deborah. "In the outer--not on the outer : women and Australian rules football /." Hindley, Deborah (2006) In the outer--not on the outer: women and Australian rules football. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2006. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/97/.

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This thesis identifies, examines and probes the nature of women's involvement in Australian Rules Football. Rather than have a single theoretical underpinning, an interdisciplinary approach, albeit with a feminist perspective, was applied because of the broad scope of the study. Australian Rules Football is an institution that can transcend class, race, and gender. It is also a multi-billion dollar industry. The game traces its origins back to 1858 and claims influences from rugby and an Aboriginal game called marn-grook. While it is played mainly by men, exclusively at league level, interest and involvement is not limited by gender. Academics and administrators have frequently written off women?s involvement with football. Even though scholarly interest in both sport and feminism has grown since the 1970s, little significant work has been undertaken to examine women's interaction with Australian Rules Football. Leading Australian feminist Anne Summers rejected the notion that women could find anything of value in football apart from following players as devoted wives, mothers, girlfriends or 'groupies'. Through investigation of monographs and edited collections, I reveal that myriad scholars, feminists and historians have missed the point of sporting scholarship: many women enjoy involvement with football, they understand the game and its strategies and value being part of the football community in diverse and evolving capacities. The original contribution to knowledge in this doctorate is to demonstrate that while women have had a central role in the development and maintenance of Australian Rules Football since the game was founded in colonial times, their contribution has gone unacknowledged by historians and administrators. My thesis places on record those omissions. Particularly, I highlight the lack of acknowledgement and respect for the work of a woman who authored a comprehensive and seminal social history written on the game. This is the archetypal example of how women, in many roles - both professional and personal - have been marginalized, despite playing pivotal roles with Australian Rules Football. The original contribution contained in these pages tracks Australian gender relations through the social institution of Australian Rules Football. To create both space and strategies for the revaluation of women in football history, a new model of female fandom is offered. The testimony of the women included is weighty in numbers and pithy in content. The scale of interviews represents diversity in age, class, ethnicity, regionality and role or function with football. Superficially it may appear that women can be placed in taxonomy. Women's involvement with Australian Rules Football is complex and their involvement enmeshes in the many facets and spheres of the game. The completion of this thesis follows the long overdue appointment of the A.F.L.'s first female commissioner, Samantha Mostyn, in June 2005. Without disrespecting Mostyn, this was a tokenistic cultural shift by adding a commissioner to the existing eight males with the goal of adding further business expertise, not a new insight or strategic cultural intervention. It also comes at a time when the Australian Football League's has a new challenge to address, with the growing interest and participation in Association Football in Australia after the qualification for the 2006 World Cup. At this moment of change and contestation, Women's Australian Rules competitions are impoverished through lack of structural and financial support while women's Association Football, both in Australia and internationally, is flourishing.

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10

au, debbiehindley@westnet com, and Deborah Hindley. "In the Outer - Not on the Outer: Women and Australian Rules Football." Murdoch University, 2006. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20060913.85805.

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This thesis identifies, examines and probes the nature of womens involvement in Australian Rules Football. Rather than have a single theoretical underpinning, an interdisciplinary approach, albeit with a feminist perspective, was applied because of the broad scope of the study. Australian Rules Football is an institution that can transcend class, race, and gender. It is also a multi-billion dollar industry. The game traces its origins back to 1858 and claims influences from rugby and an Aboriginal game called marn-grook. While it is played mainly by men, exclusively at league level, interest and involvement is not limited by gender. Academics and administrators have frequently written off womens involvement with football. Even though scholarly interest in both sport and feminism has grown since the 1970s, little significant work has been undertaken to examine womens interaction with Australian Rules Football. Leading Australian feminist Anne Summers rejected the notion that women could find anything of value in football apart from following players as devoted wives, mothers, girlfriends or groupies. Through investigation of monographs and edited collections, I reveal that myriad scholars, feminists and historians have missed the point of sporting scholarship: many women enjoy involvement with football, they understand the game and its strategies and value being part of the football community in diverse and evolving capacities. The original contribution to knowledge in this doctorate is to demonstrate that while women have had a central role in the development and maintenance of Australian Rules Football since the game was founded in colonial times, their contribution has gone unacknowledged by historians and administrators. My thesis places on record those omissions. Particularly, I highlight the lack of acknowledgement and respect for the work of a woman who authored a comprehensive and seminal social history written on the game. This is the archetypal example of how women, in many roles both professional and personal have been marginalized, despite playing pivotal roles with Australian Rules Football. The original contribution contained in these pages tracks Australian gender relations through the social institution of Australian Rules Football. To create both space and strategies for the revaluation of women in football history, a new model of female fandom is offered. The testimony of the women included is weighty in numbers and pithy in content. The scale of interviews represents diversity in age, class, ethnicity, regionality and role or function with football. Superficially it may appear that women can be placed in taxonomy. Womens involvement with Australian Rules Football is complex and their involvement enmeshes in the many facets and spheres of the game. The completion of this thesis follows the long overdue appointment of the A.F.L.s first female commissioner, Samantha Mostyn, in June 2005. Without disrespecting Mostyn, this was a tokenistic cultural shift by adding a commissioner to the existing eight males with the goal of adding further business expertise, not a new insight or strategic cultural intervention. It also comes at a time when the Australian Football Leagues has a new challenge to address, with the growing interest and participation in Association Football in Australia after the qualification for the 2006 World Cup. At this moment of change and contestation, Womens Australian Rules competitions are impoverished through lack of structural and financial support while womens Association Football, both in Australia and internationally, is flourishing.

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11

Månsson, Tim. "Homegrown Player Rule and the Compensation Scheme for Young Players – Are the Rules Compatible with EU-Law? : And the Rules Effect on Minor Football Players." Thesis, Örebro universitet, Institutionen för juridik, psykologi och socialt arbete, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-92966.

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12

Hayward, Eric H. "No Free Kicks : The Experiences of an Aboriginal Family in Australian Rules Football." Curtin University of Technology, Centre for Aboriginal Studies, 2002. http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=13910.

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Aboriginal people make a great contribution to Australian sport in conditions of considerable adversity, and yet their contribution goes largely unacknowledged. This study investigates the experiences of one Aboriginal family with an extensive history of involvement with Australian Rules Football using methodologies which seek, and value, Aboriginal perspectives on their involvement. It privileges Indigenous knowledge. The study focuses particularly on the involvement of the Hayward family in Australian Rules Football - the game they love - and in which they have been intensely involved for many generations. The study describes how the Haywards of southwest Western Australia, like most Aboriginal families, experienced an extensive period of colonisation in which their social and cultural autonomy and power were eroded. The historical experience of Aboriginal Australians is vastly different to that of mainstream Australians, and grossly inequitable, not only in terms of economic and educational opportunity, but also in terms of access to sporting opportunities. In many ways, the story of the Hayward family is representative of the experiences of many Black sportsmen and women over the past hundred years. It is suggested that, in order to understand Aboriginal participation and foster the development of Aboriginal sportspeople of all ages, an understanding of the context of their lives is crucial. This study then, explores my extended family's experiences as participants in mainstream sport. It describes how the Haywards, like their community contemporaries, have confronted the limited opportunities afforded to them in their ambitions to gain access, equity of participation, and appropriate reward for effort in their sporting endeavours.
Over many generations of Aboriginal participation in the game, there has been considerable inequality of opportunity to enter and participate. In their efforts to participate, members of the Hayward family faced many obstacles unacknowledged by non-Aboriginal players, administrators and spectators. The study shows that many of these obstacles had little to do with the sporting prowess of the Haywards. Every past and present player interviewed as part of this research told of circumstances where they felt that they had not been given a fair go - be it by an umpire, a team official, opposing players, players from their own team, or the crowd. For every case of acceptance of Aboriginal players by a football club, there are many stories of rejection by other clubs. Despite these obstacles, the study found that the Haywards (like many Aboriginal people) see sport (and particularly football) as significant in their lives. They love the game but, equally importantly, they believe that sporting prowess can open a path of entry to mainstream society, provide important economic advantages and offer opportunities for broader social participation while maintaining strong traditions of Aboriginal virtuosity and relationships. The study concludes by suggesting that, despite the adversities encountered by this family in their desire to participate in football, there has been much in the game that has brought pleasure, a sense of success, satisfaction and achievement to them. While this is the story of one family, I believe it provides important insights into experiences common to many Aboriginal families and sportspersons, and that this research deepens our understanding of Australian social history. Football has been, and continues to be, a valued part of the lives of many Aboriginal people.

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Hayward, Eric Hedley. "No free kicks : the experiences of an Aboriginal family in Australian rules football /." Full text available, 2002. http://adt.curtin.edu.au/theses/available/adt-WCU20031210.145500.

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Thesis (M.A.) - Curtin University of Technology, 2002.
Cover title. At head of title: Centre for Aboriginal Studies. "This thesis is presented as part of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Arts, Indigenous Research and Development of the Curtin University of Technology" " ... it was this second generation, and particularly Maley, Bill and Eric, who are regarded as the catalysts of the sporting tradition of the family (primarily in football and professional running)."--p. 18. Includes bibliographical references: p. 182-187.

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Douglas, Andrew. "The Australian Football League and the closet." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1399.

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This thesis examines the complete absence of openly gay males from the ranksof the professional players in the Australian Football League (AFL). It seeks to explain this absence in the context of the modern gay rights movement. incontemporary Australian society. It compares and contrasts the effects of thismovement on both the AFL and other mainstream Australian social institutions. Over more than four decades, the gay rights movement has effected a number of social changes. These changes include both specific legal reforms and more general trends such as the increasing social visibility of gay men across a range of mainstream institutions including politics and the military. However, this trend is not consistent across all major institutions. It is far less evident in professional team sports,especially the major football codes of this country. This research shows that the same trend is evident in the major football codes of countries such as Britain and the United States (US). However, what is unique to the AFL is that none of its current or former players has ever publicly declared his homosexuality in a biographical text or media interview. Despite the absence of openly gay AFL players, this thesis accesses other significant sources such as the coming-out narratives of professional players in other football codes and of other athletes in Australia, Britain and the US. Furthermore, relevant research into homophobia among athletes is also presented. Given the absence of primary sources as well as the inability to access relevant subjects directly, this research is qualitative rather than quantitative. It is also speculative in that it seeks to explain a specific trend in professional sport in general and in the AFL in particular by outlining common trends. A primary focus is the pattern of masculinity that prevails in men’s sport, both amateur and professional. This pattern is examined in other exclusively or predominantly male institutions such as the military. Until the advent of gay liberation, this pattern of masculinity was depicted purely in heterosexual terms. This thesis explores the evolution of this dominant masculinity within the context of modern Western society, specifically in terms of the Industrial Revolution and its effects on the sexual division of labour. This predominant masculinity is also examined in relation to the mainstream media in various contexts. These include the reporting on both the public personas and the private lives of high-profile footballers in general and of AFL players in particular. A further context is how this reporting consolidates the elite status of high profile, professional footballers and how a range of sexual indiscretions are portrayed in the mainstream media. The thesis also examines how the homoerotic aspect of AFL is portrayed within the media. Since some of this media coverage has been analysed by academic research, further insights are provided into aspects of misogyny and homophobia within the AFL. Both this media coverage and academic analysis allude to a culture within the AFL that tends to preclude a gay player from coming out. This thesis explains the relationship among the factors— both within the sporting context and within broader society— that converge within the professional AFL to promote a particular pattern of masculinity. This pattern of masculinity continues to preclude the openly gay man among its ranks of professional players.

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Gabbe, Belinda, and belinda gabbe@deakin edu au. "The descriptive epidemiology of Australian football injuries presenting to sports medicine clinics." Deakin University. School of Health Sciences, 1999. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20080603.160908.

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Sports injury prevention has been the focus of a number of recent public health initiatives due to the acknowledgement that sports injuries are a significant public health problem in Australia Whilst Australian football is one of the most popular participation sports in the country, only very limited data is available about football injuries The majority of sports injury data available for this sport is from hospital emergency departments and elite-level injury surveillance Overall there is a paucity of data from treatment settings other than hospitals In particular, there is a lack of information about the injuries sustained by community-level, junior and recreational Australian football participants. One good potential source of football injury data is sports medicine clinics. Analysis of injury presentations to sports medicine clinics was undertaken to provide a detailed description of the epidemiology of Australian football injuries that present to this treatment setting and to determine the implications for injury prevention in this sport. In addition, the data from sports medicine clinics was compared with existing sources of Australian football injury data to determine how representative sports medicine clinic data is of other football injury data sources and to provide recommendations for future injury surveillance n Australian football. The results contained in this thesis show that Australian football is the sport most associated with injury presentation at sports medicine clinics. The majority of injured Australian football players presenting to sports medicine clinics are community-level or junior participants which suggests that sports medicine clinics are a good source of information on the injuries sustained by sub-elite football participants. Competition is the most common context in which Australian football players presenting to sports medicine clinics are injured. The major causes of injuries to Australian football players are being struck by another player, collisions and overuse. Injuries to Australian football players predominantly involve the lower limb. Adult players, players who stopped participating immediately after noticing their injury and players with overuse injuries are the most likely to sustain a more severe injury (i.e. more than four weeks before a full return to football participation and a moderate/significant amount of treatment expected). The least experienced players (five or less years of participation) are more likely to require a significant amount of treatment than the more experienced players. The prevention of lower limb injuries, injuries caused by body contact and injuries caused by overuse should be a priority for injury prevention research in Australian football due to the predominance of these injury types in the pattern of Australian football injuries Additionally, adult players, as a group, should be a focus of injury prevention activities in Australian football due to the association between age and injury severity. Overall, the pattern of Australian football injuries presenting to sports medicine clinics appears to be different than reported by club-based and hospital emergency department injury surveillance activities. However, detailed comparison of sports medicine clinic Australian football data with other sources of Australian football injury data is difficult due to the variable methods of collecting and reporting injury information used by hospital emergency department and club-based injury surveillance activities. The development of a standardised method for collecting and reporting injury data in Australian football is strongly recommended to overcome the existing limitations of data collection in this sport. In summary, sports medicine clinics provide a rich source of Australian football injury data, especially from the community and junior levels of participation. The inclusion of sports medicine clinic data provides a broader epidemiological picture of Australian football injuries. This broader understanding of the pattern of Australian football injuries provides a better basis for the development of injury prevention measures in this sport.

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16

Campbell, Emma E. "Relocation Stories experiences of Indigenous Footballers in the AFL /." Full-text, 2008. http://eprints.vu.edu.au/1993/1/emma_campbell.pdf.

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Abstract:

Moving away from home to embark on a career at an elite level involves the individual within a broader social ecology where a range of factors influence the dynamic transition. In 2000, Indigenous and non-Indigenous past and present AFL footballers and AFL administrative staff suggested that relocation was one of the issues faced by Indigenous AFL footballers. The focus of the current study was to learn about relocation and settlement experiences from the perspectives of 10 Indigenous Australian AFL footballers, examining the social, cultural, organisational, and psychological challenges. Five participants were drafted to the AFL within 12 months, and five participants were drafted to the AFL prior to 2002. Participants were listed players from seven Victorian AFL clubs. Interviews were also conducted with eight representatives (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) from organisations associated with the AFL. Players were asked questions about their own relocation and settlement experiences. Secondary informants were asked questions about their involvement with Indigenous players relocating and their perception of the relocation process for Indigenous players in the AFL. Interviews were semi-structured and conversational in style and analysed for unique and recurring themes using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Each of the stories reflected subtle differences experienced during relocation, highlighting the importance and value of using a phenomenological and qualitative framework to understand each player’s perspective and experiences of relocation. The findings demonstrated both facilitative and barrier factors influencing the relocation, settlement, and adaptation experiences. These included opportunity and social mobility, social support and kindredness, culture shock, and racism and homogeneity. Each player’s story about relocation and subsequent settlement and adaptation, highlighted the importance of family, connection, and kindredness as an overarching theme. The findings emphasise the need for receiving environments, in this case the AFL, to treat every player on an individual basis rather than grouping them into a collective. It is essential that a player is understood in relation to his socio-cultural context. The AFL has implemented significant changes to welcome cultural diversity, but as a mainstream organisation, it has been developed within mainstream values. Just as society in general needs to acknowledge Australian history and the overall discrepancies between Indigenous and non-Indigenous opportunities and living standards, the AFL has to continue to de-institutionalise stereotypes and increase the cultural awareness of all groups to continue being a forerunner of progressive race relations. The current study represents an important initial step in the identification and description of the relocation processes from the vantage point of Indigenous footballers.

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17

Cowan, Sean. "Cracking the code: Why Western Australia abandoned rugby for Australian rules football in 1885." Thesis, Cowan, Sean (2015) Cracking the code: Why Western Australia abandoned rugby for Australian rules football in 1885. Honours thesis, Murdoch University, 2015. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/29624/.

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This study of the early years of football in Western Australia investigates the reasons for the abandonment of the Rugby Union rules and the adoption of the new Victorian rules in 1885. Through an examination of the newspapers of the day – which are the only known primary material concerning those events – it will be established that the people of Western Australia were not wedded to a particular code before the 1880s. This changed in 1882 when the first clubs were formed and the Rugby Union rules were adopted. Advocates for the Victorian rules were immediately active, claiming the British game was on its way out elsewhere because it was too violent and not entertaining to watch. As a result, playing that code would rule W.A. out of intercolonial competition in the future, they argued. The ad hoc nature of the matches played in Perth did little to convince people that football was moving in the right direction under the Rugby Union rules, while the footballers who enjoyed playing under them were also able to embrace the Victorian rules because the two codes were not as dissimilar in 1885 as they are today. While historians have previously named Bill Bateman, Harry Herbert and Hugh Dixson as being responsible for forcing the adoption of the new rules, the situation was actually much more complex. Each club voted separately on whether to play under the Victorian or Rugby Union rules in 1885 and there were lobbyists for the new code at each club. Herbert’s importance to the decision taken by the Fremantle Football Club has been over-stated by previous historians, while Charles Bishop has never been recognised for his efforts at the Perth Rovers Football Club. Migration from the eastern colonies and social class were also factors in the change. Before 1885, the homogeneity and insularity of the groups of footballers at each club had weighed against the adoption of the Victorian rules. At the crucial juncture in 1885, however, a group of South Australians, led by Dixson and supported by working class West Australians, formed a new football club. This tipped the balance in favour of the new code.

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18

Markey, Peter. "The prevalence of ischaemic and rheumatic heart disease and risk factors in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal footballers /." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1996. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09MPM/09mpmm345.pdf.

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19

Millar, John Samuel. "Kinematics of drop punt kicking in Australian rules football - comparison of skilled and less skilled kicking." Thesis, full-text, 2004. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/2026/.

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The types of kick that are performed in the football codes fall into two broad categories: punt kick and place kick. One type of punt kick is the major means of ball movement in Australian Rules football – the drop punt kick. Past studies have investigated the biomechanics of kicking. The pattern of segmental interaction during the kicking motion – known as the proximal to distal sequence (PDS) – is the most consistent finding that is reported in the biomechanics of kicking literature. In this sequence the proximal segment (thigh) initiates the forward swing of the kicking limb towards the ball and the forward rotation of the distal segment (shank) follows. PDS motions are also typified by a higher angular velocity of the distal segment (shank). Studies that have compared the difference between skilled and less skilled kickers in Australian Rules football have found that the difference in performance is the result of 1) the position of the shank at the end of the backswing is higher above horizontal (further in the clockwise direction) for the skilled than it is for the less skilled, 2) the maximum angular velocity of the thigh during the forward swing is greater for the skilled than it is for the less skilled and 3) the skilled kickers demonstrate greater mean maximum angular velocity of the shank at foot – ball contact. Apart from these findings there is inadequate information about the mechanical features of a skillful drop punt kick. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the kinematics of skilled and less skilled kicking. A general profile of the drop punt kick and the reliability of the kinematic variables were also reported. The reliability study was conducted first. Six subjects were tested on two occasions to establish the reliability of the equipment and methods. Variables were deemed to be reliable if they demonstrated an ICC equal or greater than r = 0.80. Of the 95 variables that were analysed 42% had an ICC greater than r = 0.79 and 25% were classified as having questionable to moderate reliability because r = 0.50 – 0.79. Only reliable variables were used to compare the skilled and less skilled groups. Six elite skilled kickers and six elite less skilled kickers were used in the main study. All subjects used were AFL players at the time of the data collection. Two-dimensional video footage was taken of each kick using a high speed camera (200Hz). The camera was positioned so that its line of sight was perpendicular to the sagittal plane of motion. The video footage of each trial was processed through the Peak Motus motion analysis system. The start of the kicking motion was identified by the maximum cw angle of the thigh. The time of foot – ball contact was the end of the motion. There were two phases that were identified during this time; transition and forward swing. The duration of each was 50% of movement time. The results of the current study showed that the skilled kickers held the ankle in a more plantarflexed position than did the less skilled kickers (skilled 46.7 degrees, less skilled 39.21 degrees, r = 0.70, ES = – 1.06, p = .071) at the time of foot – ball contact. This result indicates that a common trait amongst skilled kickers is the presence of a taut instep at foot – ball contact. This is one trait of skilled kickers that is often referred to by skills coaches within the AFL. The maximum angular velocity of the shank (1402 degrees/second) was higher than that of the thigh (805 degrees/second). The mean knee extension angle at foot – ball contact was 50 degrees and the maximum knee extension angle occurred after foot – ball contact (150% movement time). There was no difference between groups in the magnitude of the angles or angular velocities (p > 0.2). There was a difference in the time between the maximum angular velocity of the thigh and the maximum angular velocity of the shank (p < 0.05). From this result we suggested that skilled kickers are distinguished from less skilled kickers based on the timing of the critical events not the magnitude of critical events.

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20

Millar, John Samuel. "Kinematics of drop punt kicking in Australian rules football - comparison of skilled and less skilled kicking." full-text, 2004. http://eprints.vu.edu.au/2026/1/millar.pdf.

Full text

Abstract:

The types of kick that are performed in the football codes fall into two broad categories: punt kick and place kick. One type of punt kick is the major means of ball movement in Australian Rules football – the drop punt kick. Past studies have investigated the biomechanics of kicking. The pattern of segmental interaction during the kicking motion – known as the proximal to distal sequence (PDS) – is the most consistent finding that is reported in the biomechanics of kicking literature. In this sequence the proximal segment (thigh) initiates the forward swing of the kicking limb towards the ball and the forward rotation of the distal segment (shank) follows. PDS motions are also typified by a higher angular velocity of the distal segment (shank). Studies that have compared the difference between skilled and less skilled kickers in Australian Rules football have found that the difference in performance is the result of 1) the position of the shank at the end of the backswing is higher above horizontal (further in the clockwise direction) for the skilled than it is for the less skilled, 2) the maximum angular velocity of the thigh during the forward swing is greater for the skilled than it is for the less skilled and 3) the skilled kickers demonstrate greater mean maximum angular velocity of the shank at foot – ball contact. Apart from these findings there is inadequate information about the mechanical features of a skillful drop punt kick. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the kinematics of skilled and less skilled kicking. A general profile of the drop punt kick and the reliability of the kinematic variables were also reported. The reliability study was conducted first. Six subjects were tested on two occasions to establish the reliability of the equipment and methods. Variables were deemed to be reliable if they demonstrated an ICC equal or greater than r = 0.80. Of the 95 variables that were analysed 42% had an ICC greater than r = 0.79 and 25% were classified as having questionable to moderate reliability because r = 0.50 – 0.79. Only reliable variables were used to compare the skilled and less skilled groups. Six elite skilled kickers and six elite less skilled kickers were used in the main study. All subjects used were AFL players at the time of the data collection. Two-dimensional video footage was taken of each kick using a high speed camera (200Hz). The camera was positioned so that its line of sight was perpendicular to the sagittal plane of motion. The video footage of each trial was processed through the Peak Motus motion analysis system. The start of the kicking motion was identified by the maximum cw angle of the thigh. The time of foot – ball contact was the end of the motion. There were two phases that were identified during this time; transition and forward swing. The duration of each was 50% of movement time. The results of the current study showed that the skilled kickers held the ankle in a more plantarflexed position than did the less skilled kickers (skilled 46.7 degrees, less skilled 39.21 degrees, r = 0.70, ES = – 1.06, p = .071) at the time of foot – ball contact. This result indicates that a common trait amongst skilled kickers is the presence of a taut instep at foot – ball contact. This is one trait of skilled kickers that is often referred to by skills coaches within the AFL. The maximum angular velocity of the shank (1402 degrees/second) was higher than that of the thigh (805 degrees/second). The mean knee extension angle at foot – ball contact was 50 degrees and the maximum knee extension angle occurred after foot – ball contact (150% movement time). There was no difference between groups in the magnitude of the angles or angular velocities (p > 0.2). There was a difference in the time between the maximum angular velocity of the thigh and the maximum angular velocity of the shank (p < 0.05). From this result we suggested that skilled kickers are distinguished from less skilled kickers based on the timing of the critical events not the magnitude of critical events.

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21

Gorman, Sean. "Moorditj magic : the story of Jim and Phillip Krakouer /." Gorman, Sean (2004) Moorditj magic: the story of Jim and Phillip Krakouer. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2004. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/44/.

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This thesis analyses and investigates the issue of racism in the football code of Australian Rules to understand how racism is manifested in Australian daily life. In doing this, it considers biological determinism, Indigenous social obligation and kinship structure, social justice and equity, government policy, the media, local history, everyday life, football culture, history and communities and the emergence of Indigenous players in the modern game. These social issues are explored through the genre of biography and the story of the Noongar footballers, Jim and Phillip Krakouer, who played for Claremont and North Melbourne in the late 1970's and 1980's. This thesis, in looking at Jim and Phillip Krakouers careers, engages with other Indigenous footballer's contributions prior to the AFL introducing Racial and Religious Vilification Laws in 1995. This thesis offers a way of reading cultural texts and difference to understand some Indigenous and non-Indigenous relationships in an Australian context.

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22

Clare, Elliot. "Characteristics of scoring instances during the 2016 Australian Football League Home and Away Season." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2020. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2385.

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There is an abundance of sports-science related research on Australian Rules football (ARF). However, there is a paucity of research examining the factors contributing to instances of scoring (accurate scores [a ‘goal’; 6 points] and near misses [a ‘behind’; 1 point]) and the characteristics of those instances (e.g. proximity to goal) in both the Australian Football League (AFL; the premier national competition) and the lower levels of the game. Furthermore, goal conversion percentage, i.e. the number of goals divided by the number of scoring instances, has recently been deemed the performance indicator most associated with a successful (i.e. winning) match outcome. Yet, there is limited research detailing the goal conversion percentage from different types of shots (i.e. a ‘set shot’ [unopposed attempt resulting directly from a free-kick or a ball caught on the full] or a ‘general play shot’ [within free play]), on- field locations and time periods. The principal purpose of the present research was to improve our understanding of the characteristics of scoring instances in elite ARF by quantifying: 1) the source (whether that be a ‘kick in’ [a set play that guarantees possession of the ball to a team following the scoring of a behind against them], a ‘stoppage’ in play [a neutral contest that sees one of the games’ officials start/restart the play for the beginning of each quarter, following the scoring of a goal, out of bounds or when the ball’s motion is halted due to congestion] or a ‘turnover’ [losing possession of the ball to the opposition during general play]) and on-field starting location of the chain of events leading to a score (‘chain origin’), 2) the mode by which the ball was transferred to goal, including whether and where the ball commenced from within 50 m of the defensive goal (‘rebound 50’) and/or within 50 m of the offensive goal (‘inside 50’), 3) the duration of the uninterrupted transfer to goal (the ‘scoring chain’), 4) the on-field location of where shots occurred from, the type of shot used, type of score that was recorded (i.e. ‘goal’, ‘behind’ or ‘rushed behind’; the latter occurring when a player deliberately disposes, punches or carries the ball over their own goal line, resulting in one point being conceded) and the ‘goal conversion percentage’ (i.e. the number of goals divided by the number of scoring instances excluding rushed behinds) from each on-field location and shot type, and 5) the time of match at which scores were registered as well as the goal conversion percentage within particular time periods. The secondary purpose of the present research was to determine whether the characteristics described above differed between winning and losing teams. Video footage for all 198 matches of the 2016 AFL home and away season was obtained from the AFL and analysed using SportsCode, which enabled coding of the characteristics described above. In total, 9599 scoring instances were coded, consisting of 5110 goals, 3615 behinds and 874 rushed behinds, with teams scoring an average of 89 points per match, three more points than in the previous two seasons. Turnovers accounted for the largest proportion of scoring instances, followed by stoppages; very few occurred via kick-ins. The majority of scoring instances originated from the forward half of the ground, specifically in the attacking midfield area, whilst few originated from the defensive 50 m area. Instances occurring closer to the offensive goal required less time and fewer passes (player-to-player ball transfers [i.e. ‘disposals’]) to create a scoring opportunity. Scoring attempts were more frequently performed at distances of 30 - 50 m from goal but were more accurate when within 30 m; set shots were more accurate than attempts that occurred in general play. The frequency of scoring instances did not vary throughout matches, with no significant differences apparent between halves, quarters or sub-periods (5- and 10-min periods). Also, goal conversion percentage was not significantly influenced by time, although some qualitative variations were observed. Of the 9599 scoring instances registered during the 2016 AFL home and away season, 5621 (58.56%) and 3978 (41.44%) were scored by winning and losing teams, respectively. Winning teams averaged 108 points to the losing teams’ 70, leading to an average winning margin of 38 points. Despite winning teams recording a significantly greater number of scoring instances, the majority of characteristics for both teams’ scoring instances did not differ significantly. There was, however, a significant difference in the goal conversion percentage between winning and losing teams, particularly for scoring instances in general play, which was noticeably greater than for set shots. Similarly, winning teams consistently converted their shots at a higher percentage than losing teams across all quarters, with the difference most pronounced in the fourth quarter. In conclusion, the present research complements literature across other ball sports; describing how and when the best teams score. The characteristics of scoring instances in elite ARF were not dissimilar to those of soccer and field hockey, both of which feature goals that are located centrally. This would insinuate that tactics employed within these particular codes are interchangeable, thus, the results of the present research have practical applications for sports other than ARF. With respect to ARF, the characteristics of winning and losing teams’ scoring instances were comparable, however winning teams produced a greater number of scoring instances and converted a greater proportion of these into goals. The present research adds to the ever-growing body of work describing the tactics of ARF teams and their players, at the elite level of the sport, with particular reference to scoring.

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23

Woods, Carl T. C. "The development of an objective multi-dimensional approach to talent identification in junior Australian football." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2015. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1672.

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Talent identification (TID) is a pertinent component of the sports science discipline given the considerable influence it may have within the pursuit of excellence. Thus, research has attempted to identify the determinants of a talented performance through the use of objective testing procedures. However, many of these ‘traditional’ approaches have been operationalised by mono-dimensional objective physical performance tests that do not inherently account for the multi-dimensional requisites of game-play, particularly within a team sporting context. This is problematic when attempting to identify talent, as a successful performance in team sports is often the combination of physical, technical and tactical elements. For example, a physically inferior junior may still succeed against their physically superior counterparts given additional technical and tactical skills; commonly referred to as a compensation phenomenon. Hence, forecasting longitudinal performance based upon one element of effective play (e.g. physical) will likely lead to an unsubstantiated and biased identification. Despite the aforementioned, TID practices in junior Australian football (AF) are predominately facilitated by physically biased objective performance tests. Given the combative nature of game-play, physicality is an important attribute, but solely basing identification and selection on isolated physical attributes can be misleading given the previously mentioned compensation phenomenon. This mono-dimensionality is somewhat expected as to date there is a scarcity of objective tests measuring the multidimensional characteristics of AF game-play. Thus, through the consolidation of a number of theoretical concepts and recommendations proposed within the literature, this thesis aimed to develop a multi-dimensional objective approach to TID in junior AF, and in doing so, identify the determinants of a talented performance. To address this aim, objective physical, technical and tactical measurements were taken on both talent identified and non-talent identified junior AF players through the use of representative performance tests. Indeed, this reflected the first stage of the Expert Performance Approach (Ericsson & Williams, 1991; Williams & Ericsson, 2005) and the Model of a Skilful Player (Launder, 2001). Throughout each research study, talent identified players were defined through participation within the West Australian Football League (WAFL) State Under 18 (U18) Academy (an elite talent development program), whilst non-talent identified players were randomly chosen from the remaining cohort of WAFL U18 players not participating in the State Academy program. Thus, a cross-sectional observational research design was employed for each experimental procedure used throughout this thesis. It is of note that the first three studies utilised players from the 2013 sample, whilst the fourth research study utilised players from the 2014 sample. In the first of four research studies, a range of sport specific physical characteristics were found to differ between talent identified and non-talent identified junior AF players. However, a binary logistic regression model indicated that it was the measurements of standing height, lower body power and maximal aerobic capacity that provided the greatest prediction of talent, and thus important physical determinants of talent in AF at an U18 level. The second study investigated if measurements of technical skill could be used to accurately identify talent in junior AF. Despite the range of technical skills required in AF, the two modes of ball disposal (kicking and handballing) have been deemed critical for success based upon recent research (Parrington, Ball, MacMahon, 2013; Sullivan et al., 2014). Consequently, two representative skill tests were described; the Australian Football Kicking (AFK) test and the Australian Football Handballing (AFHB) test. Results indicated that the majority of the talent identified players possessed superior ball disposal skills in comparison to their non-talent identified counterparts. Specifically, measures of accuracy and ball speed on both the dominant and non-dominant sides reflected the strongest prediction of talent for the AFK test, and measures of accuracy on both dominant and non-dominant sides reflected the strongest prediction of talent for the AFHB test. These results reinforced the construct of each test, and highlighted their effectiveness for use as an objective TID tool in AF. Research had yet to investigate if decision-making skill was predictive of talent in junior AF despite its suggested importance for the exhibition of an expert performance in the game. The third study in this research series attempted to fill this remaining gap and objectively quantify decision-making skill through the use of a video-based decision-making task. In order to construct such a task, video footage was obtained from the Australian Football League (AFL) using an aerial behind-the-goal camera perspective. Through the use of an expert coaching panel, 26 clips out of an initial sample of 52 were deemed applicable, as each consisted of approximately three to five possible decision-making options. Results indicated that the talent identified players performed the task more accurately in comparison to their non-talent identified counterparts, and was thus a valuable objective tool for identifying talent at an U18 level. The fourth and final study in this research series investigated if the application of a multi-dimensional battery of objective performance tests provided more accurate TID in AF when compared to isolated performance measures. The construction of this test battery was informed by the results of studies one, two and three, but to ensure the translation of this test battery, it was applied to the 2014 U18 cohort, not the 2013 cohort which was done in the previous studies. However, the definition of talent identified and non-talent identified remained consistent with the previous studies. Results indicated that the majority of the talent identified players possessed a superior combination of physical, technical and tactical characteristics in comparison to their non-talent identified counterparts. Specifically, a receiver operating curve indicated a classification accuracy of 95% when summating the total scores obtained for each physical, technical and tactical test. This classification accuracy supports the implementation of multi-dimensional objective designs over the traditional monodimensional designs when attempting to identify talent in team sporting contexts. This thesis was motivated by the need to enhance the accuracy and reliability of current TID practices in AF by developing an objective multi-dimensional approach. In doing so, it contributes an important body of research to the study of TID by providing a conceptually translatable means in which the development of such an approach can be undertaken in other team sports.

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24

Campbell, Emma E. "Relocation Stories: experiences of Indigenous Footballers in the AFL." Thesis, Full-text, 2008. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/1993/.

Full text

Abstract:

Moving away from home to embark on a career at an elite level involves the individual within a broader social ecology where a range of factors influence the dynamic transition. In 2000, Indigenous and non-Indigenous past and present AFL footballers and AFL administrative staff suggested that relocation was one of the issues faced by Indigenous AFL footballers. The focus of the current study was to learn about relocation and settlement experiences from the perspectives of 10 Indigenous Australian AFL footballers, examining the social, cultural, organisational, and psychological challenges. Five participants were drafted to the AFL within 12 months, and five participants were drafted to the AFL prior to 2002. Participants were listed players from seven Victorian AFL clubs. Interviews were also conducted with eight representatives (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) from organisations associated with the AFL. Players were asked questions about their own relocation and settlement experiences. Secondary informants were asked questions about their involvement with Indigenous players relocating and their perception of the relocation process for Indigenous players in the AFL. Interviews were semi-structured and conversational in style and analysed for unique and recurring themes using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Each of the stories reflected subtle differences experienced during relocation, highlighting the importance and value of using a phenomenological and qualitative framework to understand each player’s perspective and experiences of relocation. The findings demonstrated both facilitative and barrier factors influencing the relocation, settlement, and adaptation experiences. These included opportunity and social mobility, social support and kindredness, culture shock, and racism and homogeneity. Each player’s story about relocation and subsequent settlement and adaptation, highlighted the importance of family, connection, and kindredness as an overarching theme. The findings emphasise the need for receiving environments, in this case the AFL, to treat every player on an individual basis rather than grouping them into a collective. It is essential that a player is understood in relation to his socio-cultural context. The AFL has implemented significant changes to welcome cultural diversity, but as a mainstream organisation, it has been developed within mainstream values. Just as society in general needs to acknowledge Australian history and the overall discrepancies between Indigenous and non-Indigenous opportunities and living standards, the AFL has to continue to de-institutionalise stereotypes and increase the cultural awareness of all groups to continue being a forerunner of progressive race relations. The current study represents an important initial step in the identification and description of the relocation processes from the vantage point of Indigenous footballers.

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25

Fairley, Sheranne, and n/a. "Sport Fan Tourism: Understanding Those Who Travel To Follow Sport Teams." Griffith University. Griffith Business School, 2006. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20070716.153940.

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Sport events and attractions which encourage both participants and spectators are seen as significant contributors to the tourism economy (Delpy, 1998; Glyptis, 1991; Standeven & DeKnop, 1999). Further, Gratton and Taylor (2000) note that sport related travel accounts for 7% of total expenditure on sport. To date, the main focus of event sport tourism research has been on the economic impact of large-scale sport events (Burgan & Mules, 1992; Crompton, 1995; Mules & Faulkner, 1996; Walo, Bull, & Breen, 1996). However, Higham (1999) posits that smaller scale events such as regular season games may be of greater benefit to the host community as these events are hosted within existing infrastructure and therefore limit the need for public expenditure. However, fans who travel to regular season competition are a market segment that has been largely ignored by both sport and tourism marketers. Sport marketers have focused on home game attendance, media viewership and product purchases, while tourism marketers have focused on leveraging the destination. Anecdotal evidence suggests that fans who travel organise a substantial proportion of their discretionary time and income around this activity. Recent research by Gibson, Willming and Holdnak (2002, 2003) has begun to understand the behaviours of sport fans who travel to home games. This study seeks to understand the behaviours and experiences of those who travel to attend away games. In particular the study asks: What motivates fans to travel to follow professional sport teams, what experiences fans have and seek during the travel, and what place does travelling to follow a sport team have in the overall consumption behaviour of sport fans. This study examined the motives and experiences of six fan groups travelling interstate to follow their Australian Football League (AFL) team in the 2001 season. As the behaviours and experiences of those who travel to follow sport teams have not previously been explored, exploratory analysis using an iterative process of constant comparison between data colleted from the research setting and the existent literature. Using this method the researcher was able to describe the social world under investigation without preconceived hypotheses. The researcher travelled interstate with each fan group, and collected data via participant observation and interviews with key informants. Data were coded using standard protocols for analysis of qualitative data (Spradley, 1980). The researcher read through the transcripts and field notes and coded all phrases and opinions from the manuscript. Data were analysed through the process of data reduction, selective sampling of the literature, and selected sampling of the data (Stern, 1980). From the initial codes, data reduction identified core variables and emergent themes. Through this grounded theory methodology, a conceptual model was developed which illustrates the motives and experiences of those who travel to follow professional sport teams. Three distinct types of groups were identified, each garnering a distinctive sport tourism experience. The groups identified were: supporter groups, long-term travel groups, and temporary travel groups. While travel to follow the team is the stated rationale for all three groups, the game experience for each is substantially different, four major themes emerged which distinguished the groups and the experiences that they had. These were: (1) group structure, (2) trip characteristics, (3) socialisation, and (4) game experience and reaction to game outcome. Each type of group was found to have a distinct group structure, communication pattern, but differed in terms of the objects to which they identified. Findings suggest that sport fans do not necessarily identify with the team or related object, but can identify with a smaller social group, which has a shared interest in the team. These elements of group structure and point of identification were found to have a reciprocal relationship with various travel elements that were utilised by each group including the mode of transport, temporal elements, choice of destination, and activities at the destination. In particular, the travel elements were chosen so that each group type could best express and experience that which is core to each group. Further analysis suggested that the experience of each of the groups was influenced by the continual development of the group both before and during the travel experience. For the supporter groups and long-term travel groups, rituals, symbols, and folklore played a key role in the experience. These elements of performance were used to continually shape and interpret the travel experience. One would expect that the game would have elevated importance, as it is the activity that legitimates each group. However, the on-field game did not have prime importance. Instead the different points of identification of each group were used as a basis through which the game was experienced. Key implications for sport and tourism marketing suggest that the sport tourism experience is more than an experience of place or an experience of watching the sport. Identification with a small social group is sufficient to generate travel to follow a team. By providing a setting which immerses participants in a particular identity for a prolonged period of time, the act of travelling itself can create a social climate that encourages participants to undertake the trip week after week, and form deep connection to the team. Implications for practice and future research directions are also discussed.

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Keller, Bradley Scott. "A profile of game style, physical, technical and tactical skills, and the pathways that underpin expertise in Australian youth soccer players." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2018. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2145.

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The attainment of expertise has been the focus of research in many domains including music, chess and sport. This research has progressed with many theories detailing the best way to develop expertise and nurture talent in sport. Soccer is a multifaceted sport which requires a number of physical, technical and tactical skills to be successful, making it difficult to achieve expertise. Although Australia’s performance on the international stage is improving, there is a lack of evidence to inform the most effective development pathways to support the next wave of talented youth soccer players. Therefore, the aim of the thesis was to understand what is required to be an expert in Australian youth soccer, and which environmental factors can influence the development of expertise in youth soccer players. To enhance our understanding of the development of expertise in Australian soccer, the current thesis was guided by the Expert Performance Approach (Ericsson & Smith, 1991) and included three individual studies which captured expert performance, identified underlying mechanisms and examined how expertise was developed. Sixty-two male soccer players (17.0 ± 0.61 y) who represented three cohorts in Australian youth soccer; national elite (Australian Institute of Sport), state elite (state institute) and sub-elite (state league) participated in this study. Study One captured expert performance through an in-depth analysis of the match characteristics of the three levels of expertise. A total of 24 matches across the three levels of expertise in Australian youth soccer were analysed, with each match videoed and manually coded using SportsCode according to frequently used match characteristics from the literature. A hierarchical cluster analysis was used to see if teams with similar technical characteristics could be grouped together in order to make inferences about distinctive tactics and game styles. There were three game styles identified across the cohorts, with the state and national elite cohorts forming two distinct clusters, whilst the sub-elite teams clustered together based on technical output. More specifically, the two elite cohorts executed two different possession styles of play, while the sub-elite cohort played a direct style of game. Although it was clear that technical output and game styles differed across cohorts, it was not clear which underlying mechanisms allowed teams to play this way. The aim of Study Two was to identify which skills could distinguish the three levels of Australian youth soccer players and contribute to an explanation of the different game styles identified in Study One. This was done using a multifaceted testing battery including physical, technical and tactical tests. The physical tests included intermittent endurance, sprinting, change of direction and vertical jumps, the technical tests included short and long passing, dribbling and shooting, while the tactical test was a perceptual-cognitive decision-making task which required players to choose the correct option in a video-based task. There were a number of physical, technical and tactical outcome measures that could distinguish between cohorts based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic curves. The most prominent tests included the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1, 30m sprint and 20m flying start, height, Loughborough Soccer Passing Test, long passing test, ball control, shooting test and perceptual-cognitive decision-making task. Furthermore, the multidimensional analysis could clearly differentiate players from each cohort based on a Cumulative Total Score for each player. It is evident that the underlying mechanisms for expert performance in Australian youth soccer included elements of physical, technical and tactical prowess which may contribute to the differences in game styles observed in Study One. Study Three examined how expertise is developed in Australian youth soccer players. The participants completed the Development History of Athletes Questionnaire (DHAQ) (Hopwood, Baker, MacMahon, & Farrow, 2010). A decision tree induction analysis was used to determine which developmental factors contributed most to the predictor variable, the Cumulative Total Score. The amount of sport specific practice distinguished the two highest skilled groups from the lower skilled players. There were then two distinct pathways taken by the elite Australian youth soccer players. The first pathway included players who were later born in their family and had older siblings that participated in other sport, which contributed to their development in soccer. The second pathway included those players who were born early in their family (first or second), with this group specialising later in soccer (after the age of 13), compared to the second tier of athletes. Overall it was clear that there were distinguishing game styles for various levels of Australian youth soccer players. The elite players had underlying physical, technical and tactical attributes that allowed them to execute a possession-based game style. This thesis has provided evidence that the national elite players had followed a different pathway and been exposed to different environmental influences compared to the sub-elite players, factors that had contributed to their current level of expertise and success. This work provides Football Federation Australia and associated personnel with a strong framework upon which to base their talent identification and development programs given this thesis was able to provide evidence of distinct game styles, physical, technical and tactical skills distinguishing playing levels and differing pathways exhibited by the athlete cohorts.

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Hissey, Stephen. "Comparison Of The Physical, Physiological And Perceptual Demands Of Small-Sided Games And Match Play In Professional Football Players." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1423.

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The physical and technical requirements of a range of small-sided football (soccer) games (SSGs) have previously been examined in order to compare their requirements to competitive match play. SSGs are used to combine the technical, tactical and physical components of normal match play in training in order to make the training sessions specific to football. However, most previous research has focused on youth players and it is known that the playing patterns, and thus session outcomes, are different for elite players. Consequently, research examining elite players is required in order to improve our understanding of the use of SSGs in professional football. The present body of research was implemented to investigate the physical, physiological and perceptual demands of SSGs (3v3 [i.e. three players on each of two teams], 6v6 and 8v8) over an entire season’s training and compare these demands to match play in twenty-three players of different playing position from an Australian A-League club. During match play the team adopted a modern 1-4-2-3-1 formation. The physical comparison included the following measurements: total distance (m), distance covered in high velocity running (speed > 4.16 m·s-1), total sprint distance (where speed > 6.93 m·s-1), number of repeated sprints efforts (≥3 sprints with <30-s inter-sprint recoveries), number of sub-maximal accelerations (acceleration > 1.79 m·s-2) and number of maximal accelerations (acceleration > 2.79 m·s-2). These were measured with the use of Global Positioning Systems. The physiological load was characterised as the mean heart rate expressed as a percentage of maximum heart rate (% HRmax), measured using heart rate monitors. Perceptual comparisons were made using each player’s Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) using the modified Foster model (0-10 scale). Significant differences were found among SSGs and match play in regards to physical variables, with SSGs eliciting a greater physical demand on players when compared to match play, for all variables except sprint distances. Furthermore, there were numerous large and moderate effect sizes discovered among playing positions, with wide midfielders and fullbacks typically producing the greatest number of high velocity runs, covering greater sprint distances and performing more repeated sprint efforts (RSE) during SSGs and match play. Central midfielders were found to cover the greater total distance and perform more sub-maximal accelerations, which would suggest they cover the greatest amount of distance at a moderate intensity. Finally, it was found that SSGs play a vital role in position specific training in football (with the addition of goalkeepers) and suggests that the demands on players are relative to match play. Although, additional drills are required to perform a greater number of high intensity efforts.

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Murray, Ashnil C. "Twelve not so angry men: Masculinities and the perceptions of the 'off-field' violence involved in Australian body contact sports." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2015. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/89422/4/Ashnil_Murray_Thesis.pdf.

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Recently, media 'scandals' have pervaded a number of Australian body contact sports, in particular rugby league, rugby union and Australian rules football. Utilising the theoretical framework of masculinities, this research interviews footballers to gauge their perceptions of this media attention and how it compares to their own perspectives regarding off-field violence. Drawing inspiration from James Messerschmidt's (2000) 'Nine Lives' study and R.W. Connell's (1995) theoretical masculinities framework, in-depth, semi-structured interviews—known as life histories—were conducted with 12 footballers. Twelve life histories were completed with four men from each of the three major Australian football codes, namely Australian rules football, rugby union and rugby league. The research explores linkages between masculinity, body contact sport and engagement (or lack thereof) in violence 'off field'.

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Balloch, Aaron. "Development, assessment and application of a novel algorithm to automatically detect change of direction movement and quantify its associated mechanical load in elite Australian Football." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2020. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2305.

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The ability to change direction rapidly and efficiently is critical to team-sport performance, including Australian football (AF), where a player’s capacity to rapidly decelerate, move laterally and re-accelerate is critical when evading opponents, tackling, or reacting to the unpredictable bounce of the ball or movement of another player. The biomechanical loading requirements of change of direction (COD) movement are angle and velocity dependant. Cumulative COD movement can impart high levels of neuromuscular and metabolic fatigue which can adversely affect the efficiency of subsequent movement efforts. Despite widespread use of microtechnology devices (the vast majority containing a global navigation satellite system receiver and inertial sensors) in elite level team-sport, a valid solution to automatically detect COD events and quantify the associated biomechanical load of these movements on-field remains absent. This project served to develop an algorithm that can automatically detect COD events, quantify the angle of the COD event and quantify the associated biomechanical load of each COD event. Study 1 and 2 were primarily focused on assessing the validity and reliability of the detection and angle quantification portions of the algorithm in both structured (Study 1) and unstructured (Study 2) movement environments, whilst Study 3 introduced a COD biomechanical load quantification technique to profile the COD demands of match play and a variety of match simulation training drills, provide comparisons between playing positions, and assess any similarities or differences with existing proprietary locomotive metrics. Whilst both COD event detection and angle quantification were highly accurate in a structured environment (Study 1), the accuracy of the angle quantification was severely reduced during unstructured, match-simulation training (Study 2). Utilising the event detection and biomechanical load quantification portions of the algorithm together, without angle quantification, the COD demands of match play were significantly lower than three different training drill types when expressed relative to time, whilst several positional differences were also present in COD demands across an entire season (Study 3). Study one assessed the validity and reliability of a novel algorithm to automatically detect and calculate COD angle for pre-determined COD events ranging from 45° to 180° in both left and right directions. Five recreationally active males ran five consecutive predetermined COD trials each, at four different angles (45°, 90°, 135° and 180°) in each direction wearing a commercially available microtechnology unit (Optimeye S5, Catapult Innovations). Raw inertial sensor data were extracted, processed using our novel algorithm to calculate COD angle, and compared against a high-speed video (remotely piloted, position-locked drone aircraft) criterion measure. Concurrent validity was present for the following angles; (Left: 135°= 136.3 ± 2.1° and Right: 45°= 46.3 ± 1.6°; 135°= 133.4 ± 2.0°; 180°= 179.2 ± 5.9°) with a mild bias (< 5° or 6%) present for remaining angles; (Left: 45°= 43.8 ± 2.0°; 90°= 88.1 ± 2.0°; 180°= 181.8 ± 2.5° and Right: 90°= 91.9 ± 2.2°). All measurement of angles demonstrated good reliability (CV < 5%), whilst greater mean bias (3.6 ± 5.1°), weaker limits of agreement and reduced precision were evident for 180° trials when compared with all other angles (p < 0.001). These results confirm the high-level of accuracy and reliability of our novel algorithm to detect COD events and quantify COD angle during pre-determined COD trials and further advocates the use of inertial sensors to quantify sports-specific movement patterns. Study two assessed the validity and reliability of both the original COD algorithm (Study 1) as well as an enhanced version to automatically detect COD events during Australian football match simulation training. The accuracy of detected COD angles was assessed from both absolute angle and discrete categorisation through multi-rater video observation as the criterion measure. Twenty-five elite, professional male Australian footballers’ completed a match simulation training drill on a modified playing area (140 m x 70 m) where video footage was recorded from multiple angles (rear and perpendicular to play) and a 3-minute portion of the drill was synchronised and chosen for the manual coding process to be performed by three different expert raters. Each rater was required to manually note the time-point that each player performed a COD event, whilst also required to document the direction (i.e. left or right), a precise COD angle (between 30° and 180°) and to subsequently categorise the COD angle into pre-determined angle zones (Zone 1: 30-60°, Zone 2: 61-90°, Zone 3: 91-120°, Zone 4: 121-150°, Zone 5: 151-180°). Sensitivity of the enhanced algorithm (95.1%) in correctly detecting COD events was greater than the original version of the algorithm (50.9%), however, the enhanced algorithm significantly underestimated mean COD angle (absolute) (p < 0.01, d = 1.07 – 1.13) and mean COD angle zone (discrete) (p < 0.01, d = 0.84 – 0.91) when compared against each of the expert raters, whom demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability for both COD angle (ICC: 0.997, p < 0.001) and COD angle zone allocation (ICC: 0.993, p < 0.001). The COD event detection capacity of the enhanced algorithm remained high in unstructured, chaotic, match simulation training, whilst the COD angle detection accuracy was poor, likely due to the spontaneous nature of the training drill and individual biomechanical variation to pre-determined versus reactive COD movement. The accuracy of the COD event detection portion of the algorithm provides an opportunity to further integrate sensor signal outputs in a different manner to obtain and track mechanical loading requirements of on-field COD movement during team-sport activity. Study three provided a method to quantify the mechanical load associated with each COD event which was subsequently used to profile the COD demands of 3 different training drills for comparison against match play data. Positional differences in COD demands were also assessed across the season, whilst our newly developed COD metrics were compared against existing proprietary metrics to determine their novelty. Forty-five elite Australian footballers’ provided player movement data via a commercially available microtechnology unit (Optimeye S5, Catapult Innovations) for both training and match play across the course of an entire AFL premiership season. Three different types of match simulation style training drills were compared to assess the effect that field size and player density has on COD frequency and load (and other proprietary movement metrics). Each of these drill types were also compared against match play to ascertain whether these drills meet the COD (and other movement) requirements of match play, where match play positional COD demands were also assessed across the course of a season. The relative COD demands (COD frequency and load relative to time) of each training drill type (Small-Sided Games (SSG), Mini Footy, Team Training) were greater than match play (p < 0.01), whilst the COD demands of each drill were proportional to field size and player density of each specific drill where SSG demonstrated the greatest demand for COD frequency and load, followed by Mini Footy, then Team Training. During match play, the relative COD requirements (CODAlg) were greater for inside midfielders when compared against mobile defenders (p = 0.001, d = 0.90, moderate) and tall forwards (p = 0.031, d = 1.04, moderate). Additionally, outside midfielders (p = 0.048, d = 0.54, small) and mobile forwards (p = 0.027, d = 1.07, moderate) accumulated significantly more COD events than mobile defenders. Inside midfielders recorded a significantly higher rate of COD load (CODLoadAlg) than mobile defenders (p < 0.001, d = 1.33, large), rucks (p = 0.026, d = 1.25, large) and mobile forwards (p = 0.047, d = 0.03, trivial). Both outside midfielders (p = 0.008, d = 0.91, moderate) and mobile forwards (p = 0.003, d = 1.39, large) recorded a significantly higher rate of CODLoadAlg than mobile defenders. CODAlg and CODLoadAlg were largely correlated (p < 0.01) with relative IMA-COD during each training drill as well as match play. Almost all relative physical output measures (except IMA-Decel) decreased during each subsequent period (quarter and half) of match play. The COD demands of three different types of match simulation training drills all exceeded the demands of match play, however, whilst at a lower rate, players are required to sustain these COD demands for a far greater duration (i.e. across an entire match where physical output markedly changes), when compared with training drills. Differences in COD demands present across positions may provide unique information that enables individualised, position-specific training prescription to more closely align with the evident differences during match play. These novel COD movement metrics may provide an alternative insight into the movement demands of team-sports and ultimately enhance load monitoring practice to optimise performance and reduce injury risk. These three experimental studies as a collective provide a valid solution to detecting COD events and quantifying the associated mechanical load of COD movement during on-field team-sport activity; as well as provides a unique insight into the COD prevalence and mechanical load requirements of AF training and match play. The findings of this thesis may extend beyond elite AF and have the potential to influence future practice in various other team-sport environments.

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Spencer, Bartholomew. "Spatiotemporal Analysis of Australian Rules Football." Thesis, 2019. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/39598/.

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Player tracking data has previously been used to quantify movement profiles in the Australian Football League (AFL), however little research exists into its use to measure the spatial interactions of players. This thesis presents new methodologies for measuring the spatial interactions and occupancy of players in team sports. Global positioning systems (GPS) and local positioning systems (LPS) spatiotemporal datasets were sourced from training sessions, Under-18s matches and elite-level AFL matches. Datasets were consolidated with play-by-play transactions to infer ball position. An initial pilot study investigated the relative importance of traditional performance indicators to inform the focus of later studies. Subsequent chapters investigated the relative phase of inter- and intra-team player couples and multiple approaches to the measurement of the spatial control of individuals. Gaussian mixture models (GMM) were used to estimate the density of player groups in order to analyse changes in congestion throughout a match. Player motion models fit on player displacements were combined with a measure of field equity to value the passing decisions of players. A new approach to player motion models was developed by fitting the weighted distributions of player commitment to contest events. The resultant models more realistically explain player behaviour in proximity to the ball. The models were used to measure the spatial control of teams, from which the spatial characteristics of passes in the AFL were extracted. Passes were clustered into three distinct styles. In the final chapter of this thesis, the models developed in the preceding sections are used to develop a new decision-making model. The expected outcomes of a player’s passing options are modelled through consideration of field equity, spatial control, kicking variance and possession outcomes. Using this model, passing decisions from the 2017 and 2018 AFL seasons were analysed. In contrast to previous studies, the value of a player’s decision is measured relative to their options, rather than to an increase in possession expectation. This thesis aims to derive insights into player movement behaviour in Australian football. Furthermore, the novel spatial metrics developed in this thesis have applications in player recruitment, coaching, and performance analysis.

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McKay, Ngaire, Jenny Hynes, and Patrick McLaughlin. "The relationship between hip internal rotation and groin pain in elite Australian Rules Football players." Thesis, 2004. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/713/.

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A prospective study was performed in order to examine the relationship of internal hip rotation to groin pain in Australian Rules Football players. 101 subjects were tested using a plurimeter placed on the lateral aspect of the tibia whilst lying prone on a plinth. Subjects were tested twice at an interval of six weeks and episodes of groin pain that occurred between the first and second testing dates were recorded. This study may have implications for the treatment and prevention of groin injuries in the athletic population and in particular Australian Rules Football players. This minor thesis was written by post-graduate students as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

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McKay, Ngaire, Jenny Hynes, and Patrick McLaughlin. "The relationship between hip internal rotation and groin pain in elite Australian Rules Football players." 2004. http://eprints.vu.edu.au/713/1/McKay_et_al_2004.pdf.

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A prospective study was performed in order to examine the relationship of internal hip rotation to groin pain in Australian Rules Football players. 101 subjects were tested using a plurimeter placed on the lateral aspect of the tibia whilst lying prone on a plinth. Subjects were tested twice at an interval of six weeks and episodes of groin pain that occurred between the first and second testing dates were recorded. This study may have implications for the treatment and prevention of groin injuries in the athletic population and in particular Australian Rules Football players. This minor thesis was written by post-graduate students as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

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McAree, Andrew James. "Social mobility, Australian rules football and the Aboriginal athlete: a contemporary perspective." Thesis, 1995. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/15401/.

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Aboriginal Australians clearly occupy a marginal position within the class structure of Australian society. They experience discrimination in all public forums and have differential access to health care and education. As such, it appears that Aborigines are disadvantaged in relation to opportunities for achieving upward social mobility. International research into the relationship between race, ethnicity and sport has suggested that professional sports participation may positively assist members of minority groups to achieve upward social mobility.

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Fortunato, Vanda. "Role transitions of elite Australian rules footballers." Thesis, 1996. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/15301/.

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Research on the retirement experiences of elite athletes supports the claim that the transition out of sport can have serious psychological sequelae. Further research is needed to explore the effects of retirement more deeply. This thesis employed a grounded theory approach to examine the role transitions of 48 elite Australian Rules Football Players. All footballers had played senior football for one of the 15 AFL clubs. Using in-depth interviews 18 players who had voluntarily retired, 15 players who had retired due to injury, and 15 players who had been deselected were interviewed. The study, through these in-depth interviews, examined nine propositions which were identified as significant in the review of literature.

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McIntosh, Sam. "Modelling player performance data for organisational decision support in professional Australian Rules football." Thesis, 2020. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/40987/.

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Within contemporary professional team sport organisations, operational decisions are increasingly becoming informed by objective data. Within the elite competition of Australian Rules football, the Australian Football League (AFL), an abundance of player and team performance data is collected and reported. However, the extent to which this data has been used in the team sport notational literature to inform organisational decision-making is limited. This thesis utilises a particular algorithmic player rating system, the ‘AFL Player Ratings’, and the subcategories used to construct this metric. Each study of this thesis models various applications of player performance data and presents it in a format for the purpose of providing organisational decision support to AFL clubs. The first study of this thesis establishes the validity of the AFL Player Ratings system. The second study identifies how performance profiles created from the proportion of rating points in each AFL Player Rating subcategory can be used to classify players into a priori determined player role categories. Additionally, it determines a level of similarity between the playing styles of each individual player competing within the AFL. The third study developed two separate models to objectively benchmark player performance, and to identify stages of peak performance and specific breakpoints longitudinally. The final study of the thesis investigated the relationship between subjective ratings of performance and basic player performance indicators, in order to gain an understanding of the extent to which human decisions are related to measurable aspects of a player’s performance. It also looked to compare subjective and objective ratings of player performance. Each of these studies address a different use of the data operationally, and provide a framework for clubs competing in the AFL. It outlines how objective player performance data can be modelled to inform various aspects of team and player individuality, value and potential, with a specific focus on supporting team selection, player drafting and recruitment.

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Steer, Richard. "The effect of fatigue from Australian Rules Football on postural control in the lower limb." Thesis, 2004. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/894/.

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Previous laboratory style research has shown that fatigue worsens postural control and proprioception at the ankle. The purpose of this research was to test the effect of fatigue due to a game of Australian Rules football has on postural control, and therefore the relevance of previous research to a sporting environment. The method of analysis was a uni-lateral standing balance test. The frequency of toe touches and therefore loss of balance over a 30 second period were calculated before and after a game. The dominant leg increased significantly from 2.65 to 4.03 toe touches, whilst the non-dominant leg recorded a non-significant increase from 3.06 to 3.19 toe touches. A significant difference in the change from pre-to post game was also noted between dominant and non-dominant legs. Effect size data supported these findings. This research demonstrates that a player becomes significantly fatigued on the dominant leg during a game of football. This may indicate an increased risk of injury on the dominant side as a player becomes fatigued during the game. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

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Ross, Julian. "The Jekyll and Hyde Element: The Career of Geelong Football Club Champion and Media Celebrity John ‘Sam’ Newman." Thesis, 2017. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/39507/.

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Life histories of many famous Australian Rules football figures have been published. Yet despite John ‘Sam’ Newman having a significant influence as both a player and a media persona, neither aspects of his career have been the focus of systematic academic study. This thesis aims to redress the deficiency by deploying biographical methods to examine both Newman’s football and media careers. The first half of the thesis explores how a privileged secondary education shaped Newman’s attitude to life and football, before turning to his football career with the Geelong Football Club. The second half of the thesis traces Newman’s increasingly controversial media career in print, radio, and television – most notably on Channel Nine’s The Footy Show. A key aim of the thesis is to explore how and why the warm and generous John Newman developed the outlandish, sexist, patronising, opinionated, and narcissistic, persona of ‘Sam’ Newman that has both attracted and appalled television audiences for decades. Accordingly, the thesis concludes that Newman is a complex person, exhibiting two different personalities that sometimes coalesce, thus filling an intriguing gap in the corpus of studies of the playing and media careers of influential Australian Rules footballers.

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Gotlib, Ralph. "Australian rules football and distributive justice." Thesis, 2011. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/19375/.

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Australian Rules football captures the public imagination like no other sport in the country, commanding an almost religious following and monopolising the media. A number of economic and social goods are produced, especially by or through the Australian Football League. Australian football has never been more popular; yet, there are concerns about changes to how the game is played, how it is governed, and who benefits. Corporatisation is often blamed for undermining traditions, suggesting an increased need for public accountability. What is ‘good for the game’ in the modern era is a complex question that cannot be resolved by simply a sentimental appeal to tradition or a by a wholesale condemnation of corporatisation. This thesis introduces a set of tools for the analysis and evaluation of goods allocation in Australian football. These tools comprise MacIntyre’s ‘practice-institution’ concept, theories of distributive justice, and social-cultural analysis.

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Parrington, Lucy. "A Multidisciplinary Analysis of Handballing in Australian Rules Football." Thesis, 2014. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/25919/.

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Skilled sports performance demands technical and perceptual-cognitive expertise. A true understanding of any one skill requires an examination of both factors. This thesis aimed to determine the biomechanical and perceptual-motor underpinnings of the Australian football handball through the use of performance analysis, biomechanics and motor learning. A novel performance analysis system assessed 12 in-game technical, decision-making and environmental factors of handball executions. Each factor was coded in detail using between two and six category levels. The application of this system revealed that efficiency was higher when players were square, passing forward and in a knees-bent or running stance, and lower when players were under higher pressure, had fewer passing options available, were positioned in the offensive zone, and after indirectly receiving the ball. Performance analysis directed the choice of skill execution and biomechanical parameters for the subsequent three studies. The next stage of this thesis used three-dimensional biomechanics to analyse handballing technique for speed and accuracy with preferred and non-preferred hands. Factors identified as influential for performance included shoulder and elbow joint motion and hand path. The preferred-arm movement pattern involved greater use of the trunk and arm. Canonical correlation evaluated the combined factors of speed and accuracy identifying a parameter of importance (elbow range), which was not evident when speed and accuracy were analysed independently. Building on the biomechanical knowledge, the thesis then proceeded to understanding the perceptual-motor components of the skill, using two studies. This was achieved with a novel 360° stimulus-response task, which manipulated task complexity using both auditory and visual stimuli. Overall, the two studies showed kinematic and response time differences between stimulus modalities and between levels of cognitive complexity. A highlight of this thesis is the use of three sports-science disciplines, which included performance analysis, biomechanics and motor learning. The work provides contributions to each discipline, and illustrates the value of a multidisciplinary approach. Specifically, the design of this programme of study and its phased use of disciplines provides a framework for future work that similarly attempts to deliver a comprehensive evaluation of skill. The outcome of this approach is the high quality of applicable information for testing and training of the skill.

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Alexander, Jeremy P. "A framework for quantifying tactical team behaviour in Australian Rules Football." Thesis, 2020. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/40991/.

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The inception of tracking technologies has allowed for increased access to the positioning data of team sport athletes. This information assists in understanding collective team behaviour by measuring the continuous movement patterns of players. Assessing the efficacy of collective team behaviour research requires comprehension of the contextual factors that may influence movement behaviour, such as the match phase and field location of the ball. Limited studies that have analysed collective team behaviour have accounted for such contextual variables. Research on collective team behaviour in invasion sports has typically focused on football and basketball, while investigations in Australian football (AF) remain largely absent. Furthermore, collective team behaviour investigations to date have generally inferred performance through the positioning of players without directly determining the continuous influence on match play. Therefore, this thesis presents new methodologies for measuring collective team behaviour in AF. This information was used to understand the extent to which collective team behaviour influenced match play in a continuous manner. The findings provide a framework to quantify tactical team behaviour in Australian Rules football (AFL). Global positioning systems (GPS) spatiotemporal datasets were obtained from match simulation sessions and elite-level AFL matches. This information was aligned with match event data to provide contextual information, such as match phase and ball location. Initial chapters investigated the collective behaviour of AF teams using a macroscopic approach during match simulation and a competitive match. This was undertaken using a range of spatiotemporal metrics that summarise how certain players are positioned across a field of play. These chapters identified teams that were able to obtain increased possession of the ball covered greater spatial regions. Players also repositioned deeper towards their own goal when the ball was in their defensive half and relocated higher up the field when the ball was in their forward half. Subsequent chapters used a microscopic approach to model the position of every player to understand the spatial control of each team across a playing surface. The central findings from these chapters were that the total number of players increased based on where the ball was positioned and both teams obtained greater spatial control compared to the opposition when the ball was in their defensive half. Teams were also able to arrest spatial control when forcing a turnover in possession. The general findings from this thesis are spatiotemporal metrics can be used to infer tactical behaviour. A method that continuously represents how players occupy sub-areas of play may provide coaches and sport science practitioners with a more precise account of how tactical team behaviour influences ensuing match play. Finally, quantifying the resistive exchange in spatial control between teams and detecting the value placed on controlling specific regions may contribute to providing a more representative understanding of tactical team behaviour.

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Callery, Paul James Michael. "Imagery rehearsal self-efficacy and the performance of Australian rules football skills." Thesis, 1996. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/15426/.

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This thesis examined imagery, self-efficacy, and performance. A single-case, multiple-baseline study presented an imagery rehearsal program on kick passing to ten Austrahan Football League (AFL) players over half a competitive season.

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Matthews, Rachel. "Siren: A Novel and Exegesis Exploring Sexual Violence in Australian Rules Football." Thesis, 2016. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/36461/.

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This thesis examines fictional representations of sexual assault (and specifically rape) in novels that are set within or explore as a central theme the culture of Australian Rules football (termed ‘Australian football’). This thesis comprises two components: an exegesis and a novel, Siren. The exegesis is an examination of the way sexual assault in Australian football culture has been approached by the Australian media, and Australian adult novels written between 1964 and 2013 in which Australian football culture is a central theme. The exegesis is also an exploration of the challenges of writing about sexual assault and rape, and of representing women’s voices in a male-dominated sporting culture. It contributes to a wider discussion about the challenges of writing fiction that explores sexual assault and rape in an androcentric context such as Australian football. The novel component, Siren, addresses these issues through various narrative techniques, including narratological perspective shifts between four main characters, exploring the problems associated with the mistreatment of women in Australian football culture, particularly in terms of sexual abuse and misogynistic attitudes. At the centre of the novel is the rape of a young woman, Jordi, and the effect of the rape on Jordi’s life, her family and Max, a footballer whose team mate is the rapist. An important consideration in the development of literature concerned with women’s sexual abuse, particularly rape, is a narrative that does not misrepresent the experience of women, but rather reveals the unimaginable horror of the event in a believable and realistic way. The novel makes an original and significant contribution to this body of literature since it has a young woman as one of the main protagonists and emphasis is placed on her experience of rape. Importantly, contrary to the majority of writing in this area, the novel is set off the field to highlight the effect of football culture on the wider community. This transfers the emphasis from the players on the field to broader social environments connected to the game.

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Corbett, David. "Temporal analysis of physical and skilled performance in professional Australian Rules football." Thesis, 2021. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/42520/.

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Australian Football requires physical and skilled output from its participants for more than ninety minutes of play. In both research and practice, physical output is typically described using aggregate parameters extracted from wearable technologies. Parameters include volume measures (eg., total distance), work rates (volume expressed relative to time, eg. metreage per minute) and output bands, which bin either accelerations or velocity into a smaller number of thresholds. Similarly, skilled output may be described using coaches’ ratings, player rankings and counts of skilled actions, termed involvements. Involvements refer to skilled actions when players are both in possession and not in possession of the ball. These parameters are typically aggregated across pre-set windows, including stints, quarters, and training drills. However, there are periods of altered physical and skilled output within training drills and stints, which are not captured by aggregate parameters. It is also difficult to determine when output meaningfully changes within sessions using these aggregate parameters. Consequently, it is difficult to use aggregate parameters to inform time-based decisions, including substitutions and stint-to-rest, and training drill length prescription. The aim of this thesis therefore was to develop an alternative method to aggregate parameter profiling, which can identify changes— either increases or decreases-- in physical and skilled output within training drills and matches. Study One quantified the relationship between physical output, skilled output and stint duration in elite Australian football matches. Physical output was quantified using aggregate parameters, extracted from Global Navigation Satellite Local Positioning System devices. Skilled output was quantified using individual player involvements. Random effect models showed negative relationships between duration, high intensity running, and involvements per minute. Metreage per minute had a positive relationship with involvements per minute for most players. Three conditional inference trees were computed. These models described the impact of factors, including round (ie., game number within a season) and rotation number, and how individuals react to outputs, along with a general set of thresholds for the data. All models demonstrated a weak relationship between physical, skilled output and time. This suggests that wearable technology data and notational analysis feeds could be analysed differently to improve their use in team sports. Study Two proposed a combined time-series/frequency domain approach to profiling physical and skilled output in team-sport. A binary segmentation change point algorithm was applied to the velocity time-series, collected via wearable technologies of Australian football players during matches. This method overcame the need for pre-set aggregation windows by identifying different segments of physical output through the mean and variability of velocity. Spectral and involvement features were extracted for each segment to describe physical and skilled output respectively. Spectral features were able to describe aspects of output that are not captured using aggregate parameters. For example, spectral kurtosis may describe whether physical output is continuous or intermittent. Between five and seven change points were able to give more insight into physical and skilled output than aggregate parameters, whilst identifying sufficiently different segments of play. Study Three applied the time-frequency approach of Study Two to match profiling in team- sport. This study demonstrated how a time-frequency approach may identify differences in physical output between matches, that are not apparent from aggregate parameters. Additionally, the time-frequency approach was able to identify changes in physical and skilled output within matches. Alongside the change-point algorithm, k-means clustering allowed for segments of movement to be classified through both their time elapsed within a match, and their physical and skilled output. These methods could therefore be used, to increase the specificity of load monitoring and physical activity prescription in team-sports. Study Four illustrated how a time-series/frequency-domain can be applied to physical output to assess the sequence, specificity and difficulty of team-sport training drills. By condensing velocity data from training drills into a similarity metric relative to match segments, a drill sequence resembling physical output at differing points of a match was generated. This study identified challenge points for each drill, where the mean and variance of velocity within training drills changes. The location and features of challenge points varied substantially by drill. Aggregate work rate parameters may therefore misrepresent the influence of training drill length on physical output. Movement paths were further analysed to explore how players accrue total volume measures such as total distance. These movement paths may reveal differences in physical output between training drills to match outputs, despite similar aggregate parameters. This thesis demonstrated how a time-frequency analysis of physical and skilled output may increase the sophistication of match and training drill profiling in team-sport. The methods presented in this thesis can identify periods of high physical output late in a match and the movement paths completed by athletes, with differences in physical output between matches. This information may assist practitioners to identify difficult matches (ie., matches with high physical outputs), without relying on typical aggregate parameters. These methods may also increase the specificity of training drill prescription to match outputs. The methods presented may also inform training considerations that are not addressed with aggregate parameters, including training drill sequence and duration.

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Healy, Matthew. "Hard sell: Australian football in Sydney." Thesis, 2002. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/18171/.

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Australian Rules football is the nation's most popular spectator sport. Few sporting activities can match the fanaticism, emotion and passion that the game generates. In Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, Australian Rules football plays a large part in the livelihood of millions of people. However, the game has had a somewhat weaker presence in the northern states, despite the fact that the expansion of Australian Rules football has long been on the agenda for administrators of the code. This thesis examines the entry of Australian Rules football entry into the rugby dominated domain of Sydney. It traces unsuccessful attempts made by the Victorian Football Association and the Victorian Football League to promote the code in Sydney during the 1880s and early part of the nineteenth century, the hiatus of the middle part of the 1900s when Australian Rules football seemed to wallow in obscurity, and the League's 'Sydney Experiment' in the 1970s. The thesis then goes on to examine the circumstances surrounding the relocation of the South Melbourne Football Club to Sydney in 1982, and the club's subsequent decades in the harbour city. It is only in recent years that Australian Rules football appears to have finally made its mark in Sydney. The Sydney Football Club is attracting sizeable crowds to its home games at the Sydney Cricket Ground, many of the Swans players have a public presence in Sydney, and the game is receiving regular positive exposure in the media. The Australian Football League is also playing a role to ensure this most recent attempt to win over Sydney proves successful, promising millions of dollars to junior development. The next five to ten years remain critical in the history of the code. However, as this thesis demonstrates, professional management, visionary planning, astute marketing and an appropriate amount of additional infrastructure, has secured Australian Rules football a firm niche in the rugby stronghold of Sydney.

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Boyd, Luke. "A new way of using accelerometers in Australian rules football: assessing external loads." Thesis, 2011. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/21297/.

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This thesis aimed to assess an accelerometer system (Player load) for measuring the external load of Australian football. Study one established the reliability of a triaxial accelerometer (MinimaxX 2.5) in a laboratory and sports-specific field setting... Study two assessed concurrent validity by measuring relationships between Player load and locomotor load, internal responses, perceptual responses, and physical performance tests, during small-sided Australian football games."

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Coventry, Evan. "Biomechanical Considerations of the Effect of Fatigue on Kicking in Australian Rules Football." Thesis, 2015. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/30175/.

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The punt kick is a fundamental skill used in team sports, including Australian Football. Australian football is a physically demanding sport played for long durations on large grounds with regular bursts of high intensity running. While these game conditions might be expected to elicit large amounts of fatigue, there has been little work examining how kick technique might change under the effects of fatigue. Importantly, changes in fatigued kicking technique have been found in soccer so it might be expected that changes will exist in the punt kick as well. The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the effects of short and long-term fatigue on punt kicking kinematics and kinetics using elite and junior Australian Football players. Three-dimensional motion capture systems tracked maximal distance kicks from toe-off to ball contact before and during match-specific fatigue protocols. In the short-term fatigue study (Study 1), elite Australian Football players were able to maintain foot speed (performance) during fatigued kicks by increasing segmental ranges of motion and velocities, particularly at the thigh. Participants were able to make changes to their punt kicking technique in order to maintain performance after short high-intensity bursts of activity. In the longer-term fatigue studies (Study 2 and Study 3), junior Australian Football players initially displayed a decrease in foot speed, due to a decrease in knee extension moment. However, this decrease in performance appeared to be minimised through increasing velocity and angles higher up the chain at the thigh and hip. During initial stages of long-term lower intensity activity, performance decreased and participants made technique changes in an attempt to limit this decrease. Performance then improved later in the long-term protocol due to the kicking thigh widening its frontal plane angle and flexing more at the hip. Overall, fatigue caused changes to punt kicking technique.

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Browne, Peter. "The Application of Machine Learning to Enhance Performance Analysis in Australian Rules football." Thesis, 2020. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/42283/.

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In this thesis, machine learning techniques are applied to enhance the development and implementation of methodologies in performance analysis. Ecological dynamics is used as a theoretical framework to underpin these methodologies. Australian Rules football is used as an exemplar to understand the influence and interaction of constraints on player and team dynamics. There is extensive theoretical research on the interaction of constraints in sport, however common analysis techniques have typically only explored one or two constraints and therefore do not fully reflect the complexity of the competition environment. To better understand the competition environment, the nexus of constraints must be considered in the analysis of sport. This thesis aims to address this gap. Firstly, this thesis explores how the use of ecological dynamics may aid the implementation of an interdisciplinary approach to sports performance research. These considerations are applied to Australian Football field and goal kicking, by exploring how multiple constraints interact and impact skilled performance, and how these differ between competition tiers. Furthermore, differences between analysis techniques are identified and aspects such as feasibility and interpretability are highlighted to facilitate an improved translation of research to the applied setting. Additionally, this analysis is furthered by exploring event sequences, determining not only the influence of multiple constraints around a disposal but also the preceding events. This thesis aims to advance the application of methodologies that explore multiple constraints and sequences of events, in order to enhance knowledge of the competition and training environments.

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Arthur, Darren. "Foundation Narratives in Rowing, Cricket and Australian Rules Football: Sport in Footscray 1859-1886." Thesis, 2019. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/40552/.

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How does a sporting club come to life? What and who are the drivers behind it and what are the forces that shape its development? This thesis examines the town of Footscray through the lens of three local sporting clubs during the period 1859–1886. The study attempts to answer the above questions and considers the reasons each entity came into prominence and what hindered their progress or allowed them to grow. The major focus of this thesis is the Footscray Football Club whose precise origins have not been formally identified, despite conjecture that the club was founded in 1883. Two other local sporting clubs are closely scrutinised, namely the first incarnations of the Footscray rowing and cricket clubs, whose histories have not been properly documented. The intertwined histories of these organisations will not only assist in providing wider contexts for understanding the birth of the local football club, but will, more broadly, illuminate the important role that sport plays in the building of local communities.

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Cust, Emily. "An Investigation into Kicking in Women’s Australian Football." Thesis, 2020. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/41271/.

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In Australian Rules football (AF), kick skill performance involvements, notably the drop punt, are statistically strong contributors towards team match success. The start of a National women’s AF competition (AFLW) in 2017 created opportunity for new knowledge to be established around the characteristics of AFLW athletes’ skilled performances. Using developments in inertial measurement unit (IMU) technology and analytical methods, this thesis takes a multi-disciplinary approach to analysing AFLW skilled performances and subsequently proposes a concept of a semi-automated AF kick type classification system for skill monitoring in an applied environment. Specifically, the thesis: 1) evaluates the research literature on machine learning for sport-specific movement recognition, 2) determines the importance of AFLW athlete skilled performance indicator contributions during match play, 3) defines AFLW drop punt kick kinematics, and 4) evaluates AF kick type classification models using IMUs as a proof-of-concept to support further developments in the area. Understanding analytical methods previously implemented with IMU or computer vision data and the evaluated capacity of these models in sport-specific movement recognition literature, is important in the adaptation for, and application towards new problems in sport. The first part of this thesis focuses on the experimental set-up, data pre-processing, and model development methods in the relevant literature on recognition of sport-specific movements in-field using IMU or computer vision technology. Of the 52 studies identified, 29 used IMUs, 22 used vision data and one study integrated both technologies. Supervised machine learning models were the dominant approach for developing sport specific movements recognition systems. Although nine studies implemented deep learning algorithms which comparatively indicated superior results to machine learning models, and demonstrated the advantages and potential of these model types. This study also highlights the importance of considering the model and overall system development in relation to the targeted sports movement(s) when progressing future research in the field. The applications of IMUs for sport skill recognition and subsequently performance analysis in-situation demonstrated in the literature may be beneficial in AF. As AF matches are technically skilled in nature, this thesis sought to investigate relationships of AFLW athlete skill performances in explaining team quarter and match success which knowledge was previously limited. Performance indicator distributions in explaining match quarter outcomes show the strongest skilled contributions from key high performing athletes, and the overall team strongest features related to kick performance indicators. Considering the importance of the kick in AF, the thesis then continued to define the kinematics of AFLW athlete’s drop punt kicks across leg preferences which was unknown. Several key differences from men’s AF kicks were found, also, women’s kick movement patterns quantified which is beneficial for specific coaching practices. Developments in IMU use for sport-specific movement recognition through machine learning models demonstrate advantages in sporting performance analysis applications. In the final section, these technological developments are investigated for the concept of a semi-automated AF kick monitoring system using IMUs. The work is applied in an AFLW training environment as a unique study for capturing the importance kick skill performance towards team match success and differentiation from men’s AF kick biomechanics. The findings indicate that kick types can be sufficiently distinguished from one another which creates scope for further applied work in AF training sessions. Overall, the work in this thesis is the first to establish the biomechanical characteristics of elite women’s AF kicks and enhances the knowledge of skilled performances in the AFLW. Furthermore, it is the first to implement IMUs for on-field AF kick recognition. Increasing automation in sport-specific movement recognition can be applied in AF kick skill monitoring; particularly as a unique forefront in AFLW sport science applications towards kick performance improvement. The methods used and findings of this thesis can also be transferred to other elite women’s team sporting leagues involving kicking actions such as Rugby and Gaelic football.

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Veale, James P. "Physiological assessment in talent identification within Australian football." Thesis, 2011. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/17688/.

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Predicting long-term success in talented athletes at an early age requires a multi-factorial, longitudinal approach that combines both scientific observations and intuitive judgements in the identification process. Traditionally, the measurement of physiological characteristics in the team sport environment is conducted in one-off testing sessions, with results used to discriminate performance outcomes for team selection. Nevertheless, the changing nature of Australian Football (AF) has raised questions over the specificity of currently used field test protocols. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to validate newly designed physiological field tests specific to AF, measuring its discriminatory ability within a longitudinal research design, incorporating body compositional changes, at the elite junior AF level.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Australian rules football players'

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