The sport of Australian rules football is known for its high level of physical body contact compared to other sports such as soccer and basketball, and the fact that unlike gridiron, no padding whatsoever is worn. High marking is a key skill and spectator attribute of Aussie Rules Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the key skill in Aussie Rules Football Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy is a code of football... Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ... Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by throwing a ball through a high hoop (the basket) under organized rules. ... Gridiron football or gridiron is a term used outside the United States and Canada that refers to both American football and Canadian football. ...

The high levels of injuries that take place during games of football are so much that not only during a players' career are they susceptible to injuries, but the effects afterwards are detrimental to their health. One example of a current player (as of 2005) that has suffered a large share of injuries is Essendon champion James Hird, who has suffered virtually every injury imaginable. James Albert Hird (born February 4, 1973) is an Australian rules footballer, formerly the captain of the Essendon Football Club. ...

Some of the most common injuries plaguing footballers nowadays are knee reconstructions, shoulder injuries and osteitis pubis. Knees following ACL reconstruction surgery. ... This article is about the body part. ... Osteitis pubis is a medical condition which is prevalent among footballers, runners and other athletes, particularly players of Australian rules football. ...

In a study conducted recently of 413 retired VFL/AFL footballers, common problems amongst the group in old age included arthritis, hip replacements (including Kevin Sheedy, who has had two operations on his hip within a short space of time), and low ability to perform sport-based activities. The Australian Football League (AFL), formerly known as the Victorian Football League, and sometimes known as the VFL/AFL, is the elite Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football. ... Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For the association footballer who played for Everton and Ireland, see Kevin Sheedy (footballer). ...

Steven Febey recently spoke out in Good Weekend (the magazine of the Fairfax newspaper network) detailing that his emphasis on fitness during his career had been cancelled out after his retirement, when the onset of injuries during his football career began to take their toll. Steven Febey (born August 19, 1969) in Devonport is a former AFL player for the Melbourne Demons football club. ... Fairfax is the name of some places in the United States of America: Fairfax, California Fairfax, Iowa Fairfax, Minnesota Fairfax, Missouri Fairfax, Ohio Fairfax, Oklahoma Fairfax, South Carolina Fairfax, South Dakota Fairfax, Vermont Fairfax, Virginia Fairfax, West Virginia Fairfax County, Virginia Fairfax District, Los Angeles, California Fairfax Station, Virginia Fairfax...

The AFL Players' Association is working on initiatives to set up a player welfare fund for after footballers' retirements. The AFL Players Association is a body that consists of players and former players in the Australian Football League. ...

List of notable injuries in AFL

• 2001, Winston Abraham tore his ACL in his left knee after falling hard in a kneeling position during a collision with James Hird. The knee was badly twisted. He was on the ground for less than 1 minute. The injury ended his career.
• 2001, Jason Snell of Geelong, who suffered a broken ankle from which he was never able to play (or even run) again.
• 2002, James Hird (Essendon) suffered horrific facial injuries at Subiaco in a clash against Fremantle when teammate Mark McVeigh landed unsuccessfully from a marking contest onto James Hird's face.
• 2003, Collingwood star utility Tarkyn Lockyer was injured in the air during a tackle of a Cats player early in the Round 3 clash against Geelong. As his knee extended he suffered a tear in just his anterior cruciate ligament, sidelining him for 12 months and starting a wretched luck with injuries for a further two years.
• In a 2004 match between Adelaide and Essendon at AAMi Stadium, James Hird suffered an eye injury when a Crow defender attempted to spoil the ball and hit him in the side of the face. It was another in the long list of Hird injuries. Hird was taken to Hospital but Essendon still managed to win easily.
• In a 2005 match between Richmond and Melbourne, Matthew Whelan of Melbourne lunged to smother a kick from Nathan G. Brown of Richmond. The foot became stuck in the turf, and Whelan's torso landed directly on Brown's shin, snapping both bones in the leg, in an incident whose replay has made fans shudder since. Brown sat on the ground and raised his hand for a stretcher with his lower leg badly bent outwards on a 30 degree angle.
• In the 2005 elimination final between Melbourne and Geelong, a stray boot in a ruck contest from Geelong's Steven King connected with Melbourne's Jeff White's face. The injuries were described as "similar to those of a car accident victim," requiring the insertion of several plates.
• In a 2006 match between Richmond and Collingwood, Chris Newman received a similar injury to his team mate Nathan G. Brown above.
• In a 2006 match between the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda, a hip-and-shoulder from the Bulldogs' Daniel Giansiracusa left St Kilda's notoriously unfortunate Justin Koschitzke with a fractured skull, sparking much of the debate about the safety of bumps in the game. Koschitzke has since returned to the side.
• In a game between Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs. Mitch Hahn of the Bulldogs badly hyperextended his left knee forwards after landing awkwardly. The horrific injury put him 10 months on the sidelines.
• In another 2006 match between Collingwood and Brisbane, Blake Caracella tried to dive on a loose ball at the same time as a Lions player, though Caracella was diving and the opponent slid in on his side. Caracella's head was pushed back by his opponent, play went on and Caracella was unable to move any lower than his neck. In the next few days, doctors said that he was lucky not to be a paraplegic after the incident. Caracella sadly retired later that year, citing medical reasons for his decision.
• In a 2006 match between St. Kilda and West Coast, Saints backman Matt Maguire had his left leg broken as a result of Tyson Stenglein sliding into his path.
• In a 2006 match between Port Adelaide and Adelaide, Crows forward Trent Hentschel badly dislocated his knee requiring a full knee reconstruction. He suffered a torn ACL.
• In a 2006 match between Adelaide and West Coast, Crows ruckman Rhett Biglands badly bent his left knee when Nathan Van Berlo dived into his leg in a desperate scramble for the ball. The collision forced Bigland's lower leg to bend outwards requiring a full knee reconstruction. He only tore the ACL.
• In the 2007 season opener, Melbourne's Matthew Whelan turned his back on St. Kilda captain Luke Ball, resulting in mild concussion. Whelan was cleared by the AFL of any wrongdoing.
• In a game between St Kilda and Sydney at the Telstra Dome. Brendan Goddard of St Kilda slammed his left knee very hard into the ground, which twisted it, pulled it downwards and rupturing the ACL.
• Scott Camporeale suffered a career ending knee injury in Round 21 2007 when his right knee bent in the wrong direction during a sudden change in direction. ACL = gone.

Winston Abraham (born October 9, 1974) is an Australian rules footballer. ... James Albert Hird (born February 4, 1973) is an Australian rules footballer, formerly the captain of the Essendon Football Club. ... James Albert Hird (born February 4, 1973) is an Australian rules footballer, formerly the captain of the Essendon Football Club. ... Mark McVeigh (born January 26, 1981) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Tarkyn Lockyer (born October 30, 1979) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... James Albert Hird (born February 4, 1973) is an Australian rules footballer, formerly the captain of the Essendon Football Club. ... Matthew Whelan (born November 13, 1979) is an indigenous Australian rules football player. ... For the Australian rules footballer with Melbourne, see Nathan D. Brown Nathan Gordon Brown (born February 10, 1978) is an Australian rules footballer, in the Australian Football League. ... Steven King (born November 22, 1978) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Jeff White is an Australian rules football player who plays for the Melbourne Demons. ... Chris Newman (born May 18, 1982) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Daniel Giansiracusa (born March 11, 1982) is an Australian rules football player for the Western Bulldogs who plays in various positions such as the midfield, half back flanks and half forward flanks. ... Justin Gregory Koschitzke (born 20 September 1982) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Blake Caracella (born March 15, 1977) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Categories: Australian Rules footballers | St Kilda Saints players ... Tyson Stenglein (born July 16, 1980) is an Australian rules footballer, currently playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League. ... Trent Hentschel (born 25 December 1982) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. ... Categories: | ... Matthew Whelan (born November 13, 1979) is an indigenous Australian rules football player. ... Luke Ball (born 25 May 1984) is an Australian rules footballer. ... Brendan Goddard (born May 20, 1985) is a midfielder for St Kilda in the Australian Football League. ... Scott Camporeale (born August 11, 1975) is an Australian rules footballer. ...

See also

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• Footballers cop more than fair share - The Age