The speed of AFL in 2021 could mean injured players spending more time than usual on the sidelines

Players returning from injury being held back an extra week could become the norm as the AFL enters a new period of “ballistic” speed that demands they be more ready.

North Melbourne is holding back star midfielder Ben Cunnington for an extra week, despite having fully recovered from his concussion issues, to keep building his “loads” for an AFL re-entry.

Kangaroos coach David Noble said Cunnington had long passed all his concussion protocols and was well entrenched back in training.

But after a one-week sample of the AFL under some rule changes, Noble said caution would be the order of the season.

“The way the game has sped up a little bit we need to be conscious of exposing our guys into that ballistic movement,” Noble said on Thursday.

“(Cunnington) is fully training, been training for over a week. We’ve had him in competitive work and if you ask him he’s ready to go.

“It’s just that balance between getting the numbers right so we can keep him in the team for a long period of time.”

Jed Anderson and Aaron Hall are set to come into the Kangaroos team to play the Gold Coast, and Aiden Corr could yet back up after being subbed out of last week’s loss to Port Adelaide.

Despite some criticism of the sub rule being used for players who are able to play the next week, Noble said the rule “worked well” because Corr could have done long-term damage if he played on.

“There’s a little bit more of a complication with the way his feet are structured,” he said.

“Had we kept him out there it would he would have a been a far greater risk after he tried to stay on. The medical sub worked well in that sense.”

North Melbourne coach David Noble said caution would be the order of the season. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Noble praised new recruit Jaidyn Stephenson, who netted 33 touches in his Kangaroos debut as a midfielder.

“He adds a different element. People forget how tall he is and how quick he is, so his range to get hold of the ball, move, his ability to shift and change angles is really good,” he said.

“We know he’s a good decision maker and the balance of him in there when Ben comes back, Jed … the balance of how he comes in and can play centre forward really excites us.”

Noble also added his voice to the chorus of complaints about the new density rules in the second-tier VFL competition.

“Didn’t like ’em. I’m not a fan,” he said after seeing them at play during a practice match.

“The work of forcing a player right back to the goalsquare I don’t think is right. I think it needs a lot more discussion.”

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