#172 - Why Most AFL Return-to-Play Programs Fall Short

#172 - Why Most AFL Return-to-Play Programs Fall Short

Author: Prepare Like a Pro with Jack Mclean July 19, 2026 Duration: 22:28
Highlights from the episode: ‎‎ - The checklist that proves an athlete is actually ready - Designing for the worst-case scenario and why it matters - The overload trap of introducing too many stressors at once - The 4-to-6-week rule that stops you from wasting time in the gym - The two biggest mistakes coaches make during rehab ‎‎‎ Do you have feedback on the show? We would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback and tell us what you love and what you think could be better. And, if you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a review. ‎ Feedback: https://preparelikeapro.com/contact/ Review: https://link.chtbl.com/PLPlivechats/ ‎ Show notes: https://preparelikeapro.com/why-most-afl-return-to-play-programs-fall-short/ ‎ Are you ready to enhance your coaching? Uncover the strategies to build a thriving online platform, liberating yourself from the time-for-money constraints while pursuing a career as an AFL S&C coach. ‎ Book a FREE coaches discovery call at https://calendly.com/plp2/15min ‎ 🚀 Ready to level up your gaming skills in record time? Join our exclusive Game Speed Coaching Program today! With personalized coaching, you'll unlock your full potential and dominate the competition. ‎ 🕒 But hurry we're only accepting 10 participants for this round! Secure your spot now before it's all gone! ‎ Click here to join and reserve your spot: https://bit.ly/game-speed-coaching-program ‎ Don't miss this opportunity to take your speed to the next level. Act fast and start your journey towards becoming the fastest player on game day!

Hosted by Jack McLean from Prepare Like a Pro, AFL Performance Tips for Strength & Conditioning Coaches & Footballers digs into the practical, often unspoken details of building elite Australian Rules footballers. This isn't about generic fitness advice; it's a focused conversation for those directly involved in the craft, whether you're a coach designing programs or a player executing them. Each episode addresses the specific, pressing questions that arise in gyms and on training grounds, breaking down the science and strategy behind peak athletic performance. You'll hear discussions on conditioning methods, injury mitigation, strength application for the field, and how to tailor preparation for the unique demands of the AFL. The aim is to move beyond theory and into actionable knowledge, providing a clear edge in a highly competitive environment. Tune in for a straightforward exchange of ideas that cuts to the core of what it takes to develop, sustain, and enhance football performance at the highest level. This podcast serves as a dedicated space for deepening your understanding of the physical side of the game, one rep and one session at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

AFL Performance Tips for Strength & Conditioning Coaches & Footballers
Podcast Episodes
#373 - Grant Jenkins on What Separates Good Athletes from Great Ones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:20
🔑 Highlights from the episode: ‎ - Why the NFL puts strict limits on preseason training - What a bigger budget actually buys in sports science - How he structures (or doesn't structure) team meetings - The one skill ever…
#173 - Choosing the Right Periodisation Model in AFL, NRL, and Soccer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:03
Highlights from the episode: ‎‎ - The difference between linear periodisation and everything else - Why undulating periodisation bookends a training week - The periodisation model that rarely fits field sports - What act…
#371 - Dan Ramsden on Post-Concussion Injury Risk Nobody Talks About [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:37
🔑 Highlights from the episode: ‎ - The biggest concussion misconception coaches have right now - Why contact exposure alone doesn't prevent injury in athletes - How objective testing reveals what eye tests miss - The sur…
Dan Ramsden on High-Performance Concussion Framework [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:11
🔑 Highlights from the episode: ‎ - Is neck strength testing actually failing to predict concussions? - The rapid maneuver that instantly stops player dizziness - The hidden danger of prescribed heart rates post-concussio…