Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review

During Australian football (AF) matches, players are subjected to high running loads, which are intermittent in nature. There is a growing body of research that highlights factors which can both positively and negatively affect this match running performance (e.g., the total distance travelled by a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wing, C., Hart, N.H., Maayah, Fadi, Nosaka, K.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89352
_version_ 1848765205596602368
author Wing, C.
Hart, N.H.
Maayah, Fadi
Nosaka, K.
author_facet Wing, C.
Hart, N.H.
Maayah, Fadi
Nosaka, K.
author_sort Wing, C.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description During Australian football (AF) matches, players are subjected to high running loads, which are intermittent in nature. There is a growing body of research that highlights factors which can both positively and negatively affect this match running performance (e.g., the total distance travelled by a player during match-play). In order to appropriately evaluate these factors, a thorough search of MEDLINE, SportDiscus and Web of Science databases was performed, with a total of 17 manuscripts included within the final evaluation. The main findings from this review highlighted that match running performance is increased amongst those playing in midfield and half back/forward positions, in players with lower playing experience, as well as in matches against higher quality opponents, and in losing quarters. Additionally, a well-design interchange-rotation strategy may be able to positively affect match running performance. A decrease in match running performance was evident amongst more experienced players, during periods of acute fatigue (e.g., following periods of high intensity activity), during matches played in higher temperatures and matches with an increased number of stoppages. However, no effect of ground hardness or size, as well as responses to self-reported wellness questionnaires was found. Other factors such as finals series matches, pre-season training load and elements related to the schedule have been shown to have substantial conflicting results within the literature, increasing the difficulty in making generalisable conclusions to their effect on match running performance. Developing a thorough understanding of these factors which affect match running performance can aid practitioners and coaches to gain a greater understanding of a player’s performance as well as inform the development of strategies for its improvement.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T11:31:33Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-89352
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-14T11:31:33Z
publishDate 2021
publisher BMC
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-893522022-10-10T02:23:56Z Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review Wing, C. Hart, N.H. Maayah, Fadi Nosaka, K. Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Rehabilitation Sport Sciences High-speed running Match factors Match-analysis Microsensor technology Running distances NEUROMUSCULAR FATIGUE EXERCISE-INTENSITY PHYSICAL CAPACITY ACTIVITY PROFILE METABOLIC POWER PERIODS During Australian football (AF) matches, players are subjected to high running loads, which are intermittent in nature. There is a growing body of research that highlights factors which can both positively and negatively affect this match running performance (e.g., the total distance travelled by a player during match-play). In order to appropriately evaluate these factors, a thorough search of MEDLINE, SportDiscus and Web of Science databases was performed, with a total of 17 manuscripts included within the final evaluation. The main findings from this review highlighted that match running performance is increased amongst those playing in midfield and half back/forward positions, in players with lower playing experience, as well as in matches against higher quality opponents, and in losing quarters. Additionally, a well-design interchange-rotation strategy may be able to positively affect match running performance. A decrease in match running performance was evident amongst more experienced players, during periods of acute fatigue (e.g., following periods of high intensity activity), during matches played in higher temperatures and matches with an increased number of stoppages. However, no effect of ground hardness or size, as well as responses to self-reported wellness questionnaires was found. Other factors such as finals series matches, pre-season training load and elements related to the schedule have been shown to have substantial conflicting results within the literature, increasing the difficulty in making generalisable conclusions to their effect on match running performance. Developing a thorough understanding of these factors which affect match running performance can aid practitioners and coaches to gain a greater understanding of a player’s performance as well as inform the development of strategies for its improvement. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89352 10.1186/s13102-021-00362-5 English http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ BMC fulltext
spellingShingle Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Rehabilitation
Sport Sciences
High-speed running
Match factors
Match-analysis
Microsensor technology
Running distances
NEUROMUSCULAR FATIGUE
EXERCISE-INTENSITY
PHYSICAL CAPACITY
ACTIVITY PROFILE
METABOLIC POWER
PERIODS
Wing, C.
Hart, N.H.
Maayah, Fadi
Nosaka, K.
Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review
title Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review
title_full Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review
title_fullStr Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review
title_short Evaluating match running performance in elite Australian football: a narrative review
title_sort evaluating match running performance in elite australian football: a narrative review
topic Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Rehabilitation
Sport Sciences
High-speed running
Match factors
Match-analysis
Microsensor technology
Running distances
NEUROMUSCULAR FATIGUE
EXERCISE-INTENSITY
PHYSICAL CAPACITY
ACTIVITY PROFILE
METABOLIC POWER
PERIODS
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89352