Why Ankle Taping in AFL Might Be Doing More Harm Than Good

Every weekend in AFL, you see it.
Players lined up in the physio room, ankles wrapped like mummies before they even touch the field.
For some, taping is a ritual. For others, it’s reassurance.
For many clubs, it’s standard protocol.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth.

Chronic ankle taping is wildly overrated.
Not only is the evidence mixed on whether it prevents injuries long term… but there’s emerging research suggesting it can actually reduce strength, alter biomechanics and create reliance, rather than resilience.

This isn’t an anti-taping rant. Taping has a time and place.
But the way it’s used in AFL?
That’s where things start to fall apart.

Let’s break down what the science really says and why so many players feel like their ankles never truly get stronger.

Myth #1: “Taping prevents ankle sprains.”

Sort of… but not how people think.

Rigid taping does limit inversion range of motion, for a short period.
Studies show it reduces excessive ankle roll early in activity, which can help players with a very recent sprain or a history of instability.

But here’s the bit most people don’t know:

Tape loosens. Fast.

Sweat, heat and repeated loading mean the mechanical support of tape can drop off drastically within the first 20 to 30 minutes of intense activity.

So by quarter time?
You’re mostly just wearing an expensive sticker.

Myth #2: “Taping improves performance and stability.”

The research doesn’t back this up.

Studies show that ankle taping can alter neuromuscular activation, particularly in the peroneals and plantarflexors.
These muscles are the very ones that protect you when you cut, pivot, land or accelerate.

Some research shows changes in joint moments and motor patterns that effectively reduce natural strength and stiffness around the ankle.

Translation:
The tape might be stabilising the ankle…
but your muscles might be stabilising it less.

That’s not performance.
That’s compensation.

Myth #3: “Even if taping doesn’t make me stronger, at least it reduces injury risk.”

Actually, this is where things get messy.

While taping may reduce recurrence in previously injured ankles, the evidence is far weaker for healthy ankles.
Some studies show little difference between taped and non-taped ankles when it comes to overall injury rates in already-healthy athletes.

What’s even more concerning is the indirect risk:

Relying on tape can delay or replace the rehab that truly prevents ankle sprains.

Balance training
Proprioceptive work
Strengthening the peroneals
Improving power and dynamic control
Building tissue tolerance under fatigue

These are the strategies shown to reduce ankle sprain rates by 30 to 45 percent in athletes.

Tape doesn’t do that.
Tape just covers up the deficit.

It’s an external bandaid on an internal problem.

Myth #4: “Taping is harmless.”

Not quite.

Chronic taping may contribute to:

• reduced muscle activation around the ankle
• altered movement mechanics up the chain
• over reliance on passive support
• poorer intrinsic stability
• reduced sensory input as the tape wears off

In a high-speed, multi-directional sport like AFL, you need ankles that can think for themselves, not ankles that only behave when they’re wrapped tightly.

When tape changes the way the joint moves, forces don’t disappear…
they move.

That can shift load into the knee, hip or foot in ways that aren’t always predictable or desirable.

So When Should AFL Players Use Tape?

Tape makes sense if:

• you’re in the acute phase of rehab
• you’ve had a recent sprain
• you have documented mechanical instability
• you’re returning to play but still rebuilding capacity
• your medical team is using it as a short-term adjunct, not a long-term replacement for strength and proprioception

Tape should support a plan.
Not replace one.

So Why Do So Many Players Get Taped Every Week?

Simple. It’s fast, familiar and feels supportive.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth for the industry:

Taping keeps athletes dependent on the physio instead of independent in their own body.

It’s easier to tape a player than it is to rebuild their entire ankle capacity.
But easy doesn’t mean effective.

AFL is a sport of explosive change of direction, aerial contests, repeated sprint efforts and chaotic landings.
Tape isn’t enough for that load.
A highly trained neuromuscular system is.

What AFL Players Actually Need Instead of Chronic Taping

1. Peroneal strength that can handle chaos

The peroneals are your ankle’s seatbelts.
If they’re weak, no amount of tape can save you.

2. Progressive proprioception

Single leg work
Perturbation training
Eyes-closed balance
Reactive drills

This is what prevents sprains, not rigid tape.

3. Controlled plyometrics

Landings that teach the ankle how to absorb force.
Not avoid it.

4. Fatigue-based stability training

Sprains happen when you’re tired.
Your rehab should reflect that.

5. Exposure to sport-specific chaos

Running. Cutting. Spinning. Tackling. Contesting. Jumping.
Tape doesn’t train any of this.

Your ankle must learn the language AFL speaks.

The Bottom Line

Chronic ankle taping in AFL isn’t making players safer, it’s making them dependent.

Tape isn’t a substitute for capacity.
Tape isn’t a strength program.
Tape isn’t neuromuscular conditioning.
Tape isn’t resilience.

The athletes with the strongest, most reliable ankles in footy aren’t the ones taped every week.
They’re the ones whose ankles have been trained, not just treated.

If you want durable ankles that survive the chaos of AFL, you need a progressive rehab program, not another roll of rigid.

Your ankles deserve better than habit.
They deserve high performance.