Essendon great Matthew Lloyd slams new AFL skinfold ruling

The AFL has brought in a controversial rule regarding the measurement of body weight - and one legend absolutely hates it.

The AFL is bringing in yet another rule over the measurement of player’s body weight, one that has left Essendon great Matthew Lloyd gobsmacked.

In January, it emerged that player weights were being kept out of this year’s AFL Record season guide, with the message it was inappropriate “in this day and age” for weight to concern the public.

Essendon v Collingwood LIVE with no ad breaks during play on Kayo | THURSDAY 3:20PM AEDT| New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

That was met with widespread scorn around the industry, including from Port Adelaide premiership player and media pundit Kane Cornes.

“The world has gone so soft that I can’t believe it,” Cornes said at the time.

“You’re a professional athlete. You’re not an influencer on social media.”

The league has now taken a further step by essentially banning the traditional skinfold tests for under-18 boys and girls, a test used to predict the total amount of body fat in a player.

The football bosses of all clubs attended a meeting at AFL headquarters in Melbourne last week and were told the rule, without consultation.

The AFL will no longer conduct skinfold tests on junior footballers. Photo by Michael Klein.

“Body composition assessments (excluding height and weight) will not be conducted in any Talent Pathway programs or on any athletes that are eligible to compete in the Pathways programs,” the AFL memo read, as reported by Caroline Wilson on Footy Classified.

“Body weights will only be measured by qualified High Performance/Sports Scientists, Sports Dietitions, or Medical Practitioners, in a safe and private setting.

“All data collected must be kept private.”

Wilson added: “The end of skinfolds did raise the eyebrows of some clubs who feel there are other reasons you do skinfolds, other than body shaming players about their weight.”

Cornes again weighed into the debate, telling the program the tests are helpful in preparing young athletes for the rigours that lie ahead in the AFL world.

“It tells you a lot about the way they prepare themselves,” Cornes said of the tests.

“You just wonder whether that prepares them the best possible way for the challenges they are going to face once they get into the system.”

The ruling applies to boys and girls in the junior system. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Former Essendon full forward Lloyd stated he was outside the required threshold at the Bombers at one stage of his 270-game, 926-goal career.

The 46-year-old slammed the new directive, stating the test had given him “a massive wake up call” that helped his career.

“I think the world’s gone mad,” he said. “I’ve never known a player in my time that didn’t take it for what it was.

“You get your skinfolds done and you go, ‘you know what, I’m at the level (or) I’m above the level’.

“I was above the level for a period of time and it was a massive wake up call.

“And you’d be training the next six Sundays until you get yourself right.”

Footy Classified host Craig Hutchison suggested a different take on the ruling.

Matthew Lloyd said he failed a skinfold test at one stage of his career.

“The counter argument to that is the younger generation, who are more socially aware and perhaps in a more progressive society, would argue that it can intensify anxiety, mental health and social perception,” he said.

Lloyd had a blunt response to that assertion.

“Well I think you’d struggle with the game anyway if you can’t cope with that,” he said.

There was a strong reaction to the move on social media.

“It’s the woke stuff coming through the AFL. This isn’t golf where there are zero athletes, this is elite sport,” wrote one user on X.

“Spot on (Lloyd)! They’d struggle with the game if they can’t handle a simple skinfold,” wrote another.

“Lloydo’s 100% correct... the world has gone completely mad. What a soft, sad generation we are witnessing,” added another.

“If you want to play at the highest level, you need to be at peak performance. If they take your time in running time trials, how are skinfolds not in the picture?” asked a fourth.

Originally published as Essendon great Matthew Lloyd slams new AFL skinfold ruling