Lethal Injection: Leigh Matthews questions why so many players are ‘managed’

Leigh Matthews wants to know why so many players are missing games due to load management.

The AFL legend told 3AW Football it happens almost every week now.

‘Not dropped, rested or managed,’ Lethal said.

‘In other words, the principle being he’s not injured, but we think he’s better off not playing.’

Jimmy Bartel noted that Essendon’s Aaron Francis has been ‘managed’ after playing his first game of the year.

Leading sports doctor Peter Larkins said we have more data to work off these days.

‘We understand that muscle soreness and tightness can lead to an injury,’ Doc Larkins said.

‘I’m not sure they rest a player completely if there’s nothing wrong with him.’

Click play for the full discussion