The AFL has privately urged a group of clubs to scale back full-contact training, with league-wide limits reportedly under consideration as early as 2027.
News Corp reports the league has been monitoring training loads across the competition since 2024, using the data to better understand and reduce the risk of head knocks and concussion both at training and during matches.
Any potential cap on contact work is yet to be properly defined and confirmed publicly, with the AFL continuing to assess data before making a formal call.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny around concussion in the game. In March, eight former players joined a landmark class action against the league and 10 clubs, claiming they were negligently exposed to concussion-related injuries.
The footballers follow ex-Geelong player Max Rooke who has been leading the case against the AFL and his former club since 2023.
The court documents allege the former players suffered permanent and life-altering injuries as a result of concussions sustained during their time in the league.
The plaintiffs claim the clubs and the AFL failed to take reasonable care to prevent exposing the players to risk of permanent concussion-related injuries.
They are seeking damages for the losses they claim to have suffered as a result of the AFL and clubs’ negligence.
Michel Margalit, managing principal of Margalit Injury Lawyers, said the players who have signed on to be lead plaintiffs were providing a “brave show of support” to Rooke.
More than 100 former players have come forward to join the broader class action and there were further investigations into the remaining AFL clubs that were yet to be named in the lawsuit, Ms Margalit said.
“The medical evidence is tragically clear,” she said in a statement.
“The players’ concussion occurred while playing Aussie Rules and those concussions have gone on to cause them serious, lifelong physical and psychological harm.
“Years later, their footy career is a distant memory and they find themselves injured and without the means to care for those injuries.
“It’s heart-breaking and they need to be adequately cared for.”
