No More Skinfold Testing for Draft Prospects, Prioritizing Mental Health Over Medical Data, Weights Are Being Hidden, Breaking News

AFL clubs will reportedly no longer be allowed to carry out skinfold tests on potential draftees, in a new move towards prioritizing the mental health of players.

Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson reported the league last week informed teams via a memo of the decision, which affects all players within or eligible to participate in the Talent Pathways programs heading into the AFL Draft.

While skinfold testing itself is an old-fashioned measure of body fat percentage, it will give teams less information about players’ fitness – and ensure players aren’t ‘fat shamed’.

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It follows the removal of player weight information from the annual season guide for similar mental health and privacy reasons.

“Body composition assessments (excluding height and weight) will not be performed in Talent Pathways programs or on athletes eligible to participate in the Pathways programs,” Dr.’s memo said. Kate Hall and Grant Williams.

“Body weights will only be measured by qualified elite sport/sports scientists, sports dietitians or doctors, in a safe and private environment. All data collected must remain private.”

Wilson added to Nine’s Footy Classified: “And for the female players, they don’t need to be weighed at all unless they raise their hands.

“But the end of skinfolds did raise eyebrows from some clubs who think there are other reasons for using skinfolds than to shame players about their weight.”

In response, Port Adelaide big Kane Cornes questioned the call, saying: “You have to ask whether this prepares them in the best possible way for the challenges they will face once they come into the system.

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd went even further, declaring: “I think the world has gone mad.

“I’ve never known a player in my time who didn’t take it as it was. You get your skin folds done and you go, you know what, I’m at the level, I’m above the level (that’s allowed).

“I was above the level for a while and that was a huge wake-up call. You will train for the next six Sundays.”

Host Craig Hutchison made the counter argument that this is “a younger generation that is more socially conscious and perhaps in a more progressive society would argue that this can intensify anxiety and mental health (issues).”

Lloyd replied abruptly, “I think you’ll have trouble with the game anyway if you can’t deal with that.”