Sportsday Comparing the injuries from 2025 to 2026 (25.03.26)
Mar 25, 2026
A lively debate about whether faster early-season play is really behind rising hamstring problems. Discussion of season timing, tropical fixtures, and how match-hardening affects player readiness. A look at injury lists comparing this year to last and how clubs manage risks to avoid compounding issues.
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Season Timing Raises Early Injury Risk
- Early-season injuries often reflect timing and match-hardening rather than a rule-change problem.
- Chris Scott observed the season has moved earlier into hotter/tropical conditions and the game's quicker, which raises injury risk for less-hardened players.
Manage Players Conservatively Early In Season
- Use discretion in player management early in the year to avoid setting up a difficult season.
- Geelong are managing minutes and not taking risks to prevent early injuries across a long campaign, according to Chris Scott.
Individual Injuries Can Be Random Events
- Some injuries are simply bad luck rather than systemic causes.
- Chris Scott pointed to Christian Petracca's hamstring as an example that likely would have happened regardless of broader factors.