Comparison of playing positions in elite Australian football: A case study of one club

Previous research using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to track Australian football (AF) games has used a 1 Hz sampling rate and limited variables to describe game demands. The aim of this study was to compare midfielders and forwards/backs from one elite Australian football club via GPS tracking of games. Game files (n=100) were collected from 19 players (14 midfielders, 5 forwards/backs) and the total distance covered at various speed and acceleration/deceleration zones was analysed. Player positions were statistically compared by one-way ANOVA. Midfielders covered a greater total distance and distance at running speeds between 4-7 m.s. (p0.05). The movement demands for midfielders tended towards moderate to fast running speeds whereas forwards/backs displayed a greater proportion of their distance covered at high speed and acceleration/deceleration. It is suggested from the GPS variable that used conditioning should be somewhat indidvidualised to match the specific demands of the playing positions.C