All In the Name of the Game

by Melanie Dunn

For sports-lovers, the most devastating thing that could happen is that their favourite athlete gets injured and is out of action for weeks.

As upsetting as this may be for both the viewer and the player, it is a risk that comes with the territory and the athletes have chosen to accept this risk and play anyway.

With high contact sports like AFL, the inevitable injuries that take place and the athletes’ acceptance of serious injuries this is something I do not understand.

When Fremantle Docker Michael Barlow broke his leg in two places last year, it really made me question why the players willingly put themselves in such a situation.

Similarly, a friend of mine recently got concussed during his footy match and did not fully recover for two days. Bbut he took it all in his stride, claiming it is part and parcel of the game.

Yes, in most sports injuries are to be expected, and though there are preventative measures put in place (such as mouthguards and cups), there are circumstances where you can not anticipate what is going to happen, such as the Michael Barlow case.

I do not think that I would play a sport like AFL if I knew how high the injury rate was. That said, I play netball and although I haven’t had many serious injuries, I accept that there is a chance I might end up with a broken bone.

Sports-related injuries are definitely a risk to our health but there is a risk in everything we do, from walking across the street to eating a foreign food.

I don’t think we should stop playing because we are fearful of being hurt because it is part of the game, but we should definitely take more preventative measures and try to anticipate situations where an odd injury could occur.