AFL Football Physiotherapy in Richmond, Melbourne

Physiotherapist Emma Draffin demonstrating a football rehabilitation exercise in the Complete Physio Richmond gym

Expert Physiotherapy for AFL and Football Injuries

At Complete, we bring AFL-level physiotherapy expertise to amateur footballers and elite athletes alike. Our clinicians have worked inside AFL and AFLW football departments, and we apply that same evidence-based approach to every patient who walks through our doors on Bridge Road, Richmond, just minutes from the MCG.

If you’re a local club footballer dealing with a recurring hamstring strain, an AFLW athlete managing a knee injury, or a junior player working through growing pains, our team has the experience and facilities to get you back on the field.

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Our AFL Experience

Complete Physio Richmond is proud to have consulted for both local and international professional sporting organisations, with deep roots in Australian football.

AFL and VFL clubs we’ve worked with include: Essendon, North Melbourne, Richmond, Melbourne, Carlton, Williamstown (VFL), and the Dandenong Stingrays.

Clinicians with AFL Experience

  • Indi Franke – Physiotherapist
    Indi spent five seasons with the Gold Coast SUNS AFL Club (2018–2023), including two as Lead Physiotherapist for the SUNS AFLW team. She brings elite-level knowledge of hamstring injury management, pre-season screening, and return-to-play decision making in football environments.

  • Dr Mark Scholes – Senior Physiotherapist
    Mark was the Dandenong Stingrays Football Club physiotherapist from 2008 to 2017, treating thousands of junior and adolescent sporting injuries across nearly a decade in the TAC Cup / NAB League system.

  • Emma Draffin
    Emma is an APA Titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist with experience managing injury across elite women’s football programs. With a Masters in Sports Physiotherapy from La Trobe University and additional qualifications in strength and conditioning, Emma has a particular focus on hip, knee, and lower limb injuries common in football. She is also a speaker at our Hamstring Injuries in Football Seminar.

  • Prof. Christian Barton
    Director Christian has worked with AFL players and clubs bringing a research-led approach to injury management, with a particular focus on knee and lower limb conditions common in football.

  • David Thwaites
    Clinical Director David is an experienced physiotherapist with a particular interest in exercise rehabilitation of the knee, including osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain, and ACL injury rehab. He completed a Masters by Research at La Trobe University in 2024, exploring treatment of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. David also writes on AFL-related injury topics, including his analysis of Achilles ruptures in AFL following Sam Draper’s injury.

Common AFL and Football Injuries We Treat

Football places enormous demands on the body — repeated sprinting, sudden changes of direction, contested marking, and heavy contact all contribute to a high injury rate. The most common football injuries we see and treat at our clinic include:

Hamstring strains

The most prevalent injury in AFL football, hamstring strains can range from minor muscle irritation to complete tears. Our clinicians draw on their experience within AFL football departments to guide diagnosis, imaging decisions, rehabilitation, and return to play.

Read more about hamstring strains →

ACL and knee ligament injuries

Knee injuries, including ACL ruptures and MCL sprains, are among the most significant injuries in football. We provide comprehensive post-surgical and non-surgical rehabilitation programs to guide athletes back to sport.

Read more about ACL injuries →

Groin pain

Groin injuries are common in football due to the kicking, change of direction, and acceleration demands of the sport. These injuries can be complex and often require a thorough assessment to identify the specific structures involved.

Read more about groin pain →

Hip pain

Hip impingement and hip-related groin pain are increasingly recognised in footballers. Our clinicians are experienced in assessing hip joint and surrounding muscle issues.

Read more about hip pain →

Ankle sprains

Rolled ankles from uneven ground, contested ball-ups, and landing from marks are extremely common in football at all levels.

Read more about foot and ankle injuries →

Shoulder injuries

Shoulder dislocations, AC joint sprains, and rotator cuff injuries frequently occur through tackling, bumping, and awkward falls during games.

Read more about shoulder pain →

Achilles tendon injuries

From Achilles tendinopathy through to complete ruptures, these injuries can be season-ending. David Thwaites recently wrote about the significance of Achilles ruptures in AFL following Sam Draper’s injury.

Read our Achilles rupture blog →

Patellofemoral (kneecap) pain

Kneecap pain is common in footballers due to the running, jumping, and squatting demands of the sport. Our clinic has particular expertise in this area, led by Prof. Christian Barton.

Read more about patellofemoral pain →

Stress fractures and bone stress injuries

Pre-season training loads can put footballers at risk of bone stress injuries, particularly in the shin, foot, and pelvis.

Read more about bone stress injuries →

Tendinopathies

Patellar tendinopathy (“jumper’s knee”), Achilles tendinopathy, and gluteal tendinopathy are all common in footballers and respond well to structured, progressive rehabilitation.

Read more about tendinopathy →

What to Expect at Your Appointment

At Complete, you can expect a thorough assessment of your football injury. A consultation starts with getting to know you – your current injury, your playing history, your position, and your goals for returning to football.

You’ll then be guided through testing to determine your strength, mobility, and function. This may include sport-specific movements such as running, change of direction, single-leg hopping, and kicking mechanics, depending on your injury. Our clinicians will accurately diagnose your injury, explain how it may have occurred, provide expected timeframes, and discuss your return to football.

If medical imaging (X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound) or onward referral to a sports doctor, surgeon, or other specialist is needed, our clinicians can arrange this on the spot.

Book an Assessment

Football Injury Treatment

Our clinicians use a range of evidence-based treatments tailored to your injury and your goals for returning to football:

  • Exercise rehabilitation
    The cornerstone of every football injury recovery. Our clinicians will develop a progressive program specific to your injury, your position, and the physical demands you need to meet. Exercises may be completed at home, in your gym, or in our well-equipped on-site gym during supervised rehab sessions.
  • Return to running and activity exposure plans Graduated programs to safely build your running and training loads back to match intensity.
  • Dry needling
    Used to address muscle tightness, trigger points, and pain associated with football injuries.
    Learn more about dry needling →
  • Soft tissue massage and joint mobilisation
    To restore range of motion and reduce pain.
  • Taping and bracing
    Protective taping for ankles, shoulders, and other vulnerable areas during your return to training and games.

Return to Football Testing

Returning to football after injury is exciting, but it’s important to reduce the risk of re-injury. Our clinicians will design a return-to-sport testing battery tailored to you, your injury, and the demands of your position.

Clinical testing
Range of motion, swelling, strength, and structural testing of the injured area.

Strength and power testing
Dynamometry, repetition maximum testing, and strength endurance assessments. All testing is compared between limbs and against normative values.

Functional testing
Squats, calf raises, jumping, hopping, agility, and balance testing relevant to football demands.

Psychological readiness
Return-to-sport questionnaires to assess confidence and readiness to return to competitive football.

Injury Prevention for Footballers

Prevention is a critical part of what we do. Our clinicians will provide guidance on reducing your risk of re-injury and future injuries, which may include:

  • Preventative strength and conditioning exercises to continue in the gym
  • Warm-up and activation routines for before training and games
  • Load management advice to help you train smart across the season
  • Pre-season screening to identify areas of risk before the season begins

Learn from Our Team

We don’t just treat football injuries – we educate clinicians and the community about them.

Hamstring Injuries in Football Seminar — Our clinicians Indi Franke and Emma Draffin, alongside Sports Physician Dr Matt Chamberlain (Head Doctor, Carlton FC), present a 3-hour seminar on the clinical management of hamstring injuries in AFL and AFLW.
Learn more about the seminar →

Life as an AFL Physiotherapist — Read about the experience of working inside an AFL football department from one of our former physiotherapists who moved into a full-time AFL role.
Read the blog →

Sam Draper’s Achilles Rupture — David Thwaites breaks down why Achilles ruptures are such a significant injury in AFL, what recovery looks like, and what the research says about returning to elite sport.
Read the blog →

Proud Supporters of Local Football

Complete is a Gold Sponsor of South Yarra Football Club for Season 2026, continuing a partnership that began in 2025. We also support the Swinburne University AFC (the Razorbacks) in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.

All South Yarra players, along with friends and family of the club, receive a $20 discount on both initial and follow-up appointments – simply mention your affiliation with the club when booking. You can see all of our community partnerships here.

Located on Bridge Road, Richmond - Minutes from the MCG

Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) viewed from Yarra Park, minutes from Complete Physio Richmond

Our modern space is located at 656 Bridge Road, Richmond – just a short trip from the home of AFL football. We’re easily accessible for footballers across Melbourne’s inner east and beyond.

Our modern space is located at

  • 656 Bridge Road, Richmond

Just a short trip from the home of AFL football. We’re easily accessible for footballers across Melbourne’s inner east and beyond.

Complete Physio Richmond clinic storefront at 656 Bridge Road, Richmond
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