ACL Injuries Haunt A-League Women Players Amid Lack of Investment and Research
For Cannon Clough, receiving news of an ACL tear after a seemingly innocuous jump in a match was like being hit with a ton of bricks. The Central Coast Mariners defender had only been on the field for a short while when she felt a searing pain as her leg buckled beneath her. Her body reacted differently from her foot, leaving her feeling disoriented and shocked.
"I was like 'oh, that was weird,'" Clough recounted to Guardian Australia. "I hadn't been in the game long at all, but the staff were like 'you look really white' and then I went into shock."
As it turned out, a scan revealed an ACL tear alongside another meniscus injury, setting back her season. Clough's experience was not unique – seven A-League Women players have suffered similar injuries this season alone, with four of them occurring in the past two weeks.
While the specific circumstances surrounding these injuries are still unclear due to a lack of data and research, experts point to the environment in which these athletes train and compete. "The day-to-day conditions that players experience is sometimes ignored because attention on this topic often pivots to: 'this is an ACL injury, therefore it's medical'," says Dr Alex Culvin, director of women's football at Fifpro.
However, the issue goes beyond just the physical aspects of training. Players like Clough and her Mariners teammate Taren King point to a lack of holistic research on conditions, inadequate staff support, and insufficient recovery time as major contributing factors.
King notes that the condensed schedule of ALW matches during holidays combined with sweltering summer temperatures and extensive travel contribute to the risk of injury. Moreover, the league's part-time structure leaves players juggling training sessions around work commitments, often without adequate rest or support.
The consequences can be dire – 12 months of rehabilitation and recovery for an ACL injury that could have been prevented. "It's like you're on your own," King says. "You don't really have anyone to lean on, getting out of bed to do rehab is tough because there's no one there making sure you do it."
King and Clough are among a growing number of players calling for the league to adopt full-time structures starting next season. They argue that this would provide more resources for staff, better recovery support, and ultimately, fewer injuries.
"If we're full-time, hopefully it means the staff will be full-time too," Clough says. "You don't have to self-motivate or find ways to set it up yourself; it's a structure that's already set up for you, so you just show up to work and do your thing."
In essence, investing in research and infrastructure could go a long way in preventing major injuries and supporting the long-term careers of Australia's top female footballers.
For Cannon Clough, receiving news of an ACL tear after a seemingly innocuous jump in a match was like being hit with a ton of bricks. The Central Coast Mariners defender had only been on the field for a short while when she felt a searing pain as her leg buckled beneath her. Her body reacted differently from her foot, leaving her feeling disoriented and shocked.
"I was like 'oh, that was weird,'" Clough recounted to Guardian Australia. "I hadn't been in the game long at all, but the staff were like 'you look really white' and then I went into shock."
As it turned out, a scan revealed an ACL tear alongside another meniscus injury, setting back her season. Clough's experience was not unique – seven A-League Women players have suffered similar injuries this season alone, with four of them occurring in the past two weeks.
While the specific circumstances surrounding these injuries are still unclear due to a lack of data and research, experts point to the environment in which these athletes train and compete. "The day-to-day conditions that players experience is sometimes ignored because attention on this topic often pivots to: 'this is an ACL injury, therefore it's medical'," says Dr Alex Culvin, director of women's football at Fifpro.
However, the issue goes beyond just the physical aspects of training. Players like Clough and her Mariners teammate Taren King point to a lack of holistic research on conditions, inadequate staff support, and insufficient recovery time as major contributing factors.
King notes that the condensed schedule of ALW matches during holidays combined with sweltering summer temperatures and extensive travel contribute to the risk of injury. Moreover, the league's part-time structure leaves players juggling training sessions around work commitments, often without adequate rest or support.
The consequences can be dire – 12 months of rehabilitation and recovery for an ACL injury that could have been prevented. "It's like you're on your own," King says. "You don't really have anyone to lean on, getting out of bed to do rehab is tough because there's no one there making sure you do it."
King and Clough are among a growing number of players calling for the league to adopt full-time structures starting next season. They argue that this would provide more resources for staff, better recovery support, and ultimately, fewer injuries.
"If we're full-time, hopefully it means the staff will be full-time too," Clough says. "You don't have to self-motivate or find ways to set it up yourself; it's a structure that's already set up for you, so you just show up to work and do your thing."
In essence, investing in research and infrastructure could go a long way in preventing major injuries and supporting the long-term careers of Australia's top female footballers.
ACL Injuries are literally ruining lives of these A-League Women players! I mean, it's one thing to get hurt but when you're dealing with constant pain, rehab for 12 months, and still not sure if you'll be able to play again... 
It's heartbreaking. The stats show that 7 players have already gone down this season alone? That's crazy! 
It's not like they're asking for the moon here. Just basic care and attention to their health. 
. ACL injuries are super common & can be game-changers (literally). The fact that they're happening left & right is crazy, especially when you consider the condensed schedule & lack of support 
. These girls are already under a lot of stress; do we really need to add injury risk to the mix? 
. I mean, can you imagine if the guys got treated this way? "Oh, just stretch it out, mate" 
. No way, players need full-time staff support and better recovery times. The condensed schedule is a recipe for disaster, especially in those sweltering Aussie summers 
. And what really gets me is that they're not even considering the psychological impact of all this. "You don't have to self-motivate"... come on, you gotta want it more than that 
. The league needs to step up its game (pun intended) and invest in some proper research and support for these players 
.
. It's not rocket science, just basic common sense. And on top of that, we need more research into how these injuries happen so we can prevent them in the first place 
. These girls are out there risking their bodies for our entertainment, and it's just heartbreaking when something like this happens... 
these ACL injuries r getting outta hand... i mean idk wut is bengin on here but cant they jus sorta invest some money n resources 2 study these injuries & find a solution? 
its not like it costs that much, & it could prevent all these long-term rehab periods 
ACL Injuries are no joke, especially when you're dealing with A-League Women players who are already at risk 
. Players need resources and support to recover, not just a pat on the back 
a full-time structure would totally make a difference imo, it'd allow them to have better recovery time and staff support, which is literally what they need to recover properly 
and who knows maybe one day we'll see more resources put into research on acl injuries too 
I'm really surprised no one's talking about the impact of climate change on A-League Women matches 
. We need more data on how different weather conditions affect players' performances and recovery times. Can't just ignore this because it's not a traditional "injury" 
. Is that really something we should be glossing over?
. It's crazy that these players are having to deal with this on their own, with no one there to help them out 
I feel for these players, having to deal with heat exhaustion and dehydration on top of their injuries 
. These athletes deserve better support and resources 
. Let's get behind them and make some changes 
. I get why they want a full-time league though - it would make so much sense to have more resources available for players and staff. And think about all the potential long-term careers that could be derailed by preventable injuries 
. I mean, it's not just one or two, it's SEVEN! 
.
. Let's get behind our A-League Women players and make sure they're safe and supported on and off the pitch 
she just gets a jumpin injury & her season is RUINED. 7 players already this season? that's crazy talk!! 
& i'm HERE. FOR. IT!!! 
We need more research, better staff support & recovery time, period!