Relationship between pre-season strength and power measures and performance in elite Australian football

This study investigated the relationship between various measures of muscular strength and power and individual player performance in elite Australian football (AF). Strength and power data was collected from 30 players from one Australian Football League club at various time points over the 2014 pre-season period. Upper and lower body strength and power were assessed using a one repetition maximum bench press, isometric mid-thigh pull and loaded countermovement jumps respectively. These variables were related to individual performance indicators (Champion Data ranking and descriptive match statistics) averaged over 22 games of the 2014 regular season. A secondary analysis also correlated strength and power measures with high speed running data derived from GPS units worn during games. For all players combined, no significant relationships for strength measures were found with Champion data ranking, but some power measures recorded moderate-large inverse relationships (r = -0.38 to -0.61) with certain match statistics. When separated by position, strong positive associations (r = 0.51 to 0.73) between upper body strength and performance (Champion Data(C) ranking and match statistics) were recorded for nomadic (midfield) players, but not for non-nomadic (taller, set position) players. Lower body power was also moderately-strongly associated (r = 0.42-0.69) with (GPS) maximum game acceleration and speed for the nomadic and combined player groups. These findings suggest that strength and power are significantly related to some common AF performance indicators and that particular consideration should be given to the positional requirements of players in planning strength and power programmes.