A string of ACL injuries has plagued the A-League Women's season, raising concerns about the league's investment in player welfare and research. Central Coast Mariners defender Cannon Clough sustained an ACL and meniscus tear after a seemingly innocuous incident during a game. "I've never faced an injury that keeps you out for as long as this one. Nothing has hit me that hard," Clough said, highlighting the emotional and physical toll of such injuries.
Clough is one of seven A-League Women players who have suffered an ACL tear this season. In the past two weeks alone, four players – Clough, Sabitra Bhandari, Grace Kuilamu, and Isabella Coco-Di-Sipio – have been sidelined with the injury. The high number of ACL injuries has prompted calls for increased investment in the league, particularly in data collection and research to understand the factors contributing to these injuries.
Currently, there is no publicly available data tracking ACL injuries in the A-Leagues, nor any dedicated internal research exploring the circumstances of their occurrence. This lack of information hinders efforts to identify risk factors and implement preventative measures. Players and advocates are pushing for the league to become fully professional, believing that increased investment will lead to better resources and support for players.
The physical demands of the league, especially around busy periods like the Christmas season, are also a concern. Players feel they haven't fully recovered before being thrust back into competition, potentially increasing their risk of injury. "I don't feel like I've recovered from the games around Christmas time, and it's now the middle of January," one player noted. "It's tough, and I don't think you can point to any one thing, but all of them combined feels like it increases risk".
The push for a full-time league is driven by the belief that greater investment will lead to more research, which in turn can help prevent major injuries and prolong the careers of Australia's top female footballers. The recent spate of ACL injuries has amplified these calls, with players emphasizing the need for better data, analysis, and preventative strategies to protect their well-being and ensure the sustainable growth of the A-League Women.
