The AFL Players’ Association is pleased to announce an exciting new three-year partnership with one of Australia’s leading universities, La Trobe University.

La Trobe University was announced as the new Higher Education partner of the AFL Players’ Association at the annual AFL SportsReady Next Goal breakfast, held today at the MCG.

The partnership will see the Players’ Association work alongside La Trobe University on key research across a variety of sport related disciplines, including coaching, physiotherapy, psychology, exercise physiology, journalism, management and nutrition, highlighting sport as one of the University’s dominating components.

The Players’ Association will aim to utilise La Trobe’s extensive academic expertise and student body to assist in affirming La Trobe’s Elite Athlete Friendly status.

AFL Players’ Association CEO, Matt Finnis said “La Trobe have committed to supporting our player programs pathway into degree courses – which include an array of sports oriented courses from sports journalism, management, psychology, nutrition, physical education, physiotherapy and physiology.

“The University has recently created “La Trobe Sport”, a new unit to showcase their expertise and promote the credentials of La Trobe in this industry.  If their commitment to broader sport follows the initiative they have already shown in AFL then it will be an unrivalled success.”

Professor John Rosenberg, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at La Trobe University said, “The partnership with the AFL Players’ Association is very exciting for La Trobe as it will materially contribute to our goal to be the number one sporting university in the nation. The research and internship opportunities, along with the association with AFL Players’ Association programs provide unique opportunities to showcase our expertise in areas such as sport management, athlete welfare and support, and sport science that sets La Trobe apart from other universities.”

Professor Russell Hoye, Director of La Trobe Sport noted that the “AFL Players’ Association and La Trobe share the goal of making a substantial contribution to the ongoing sustainability of the Australian sport industry and the welfare of all its participants from grassroots to elite athletes”.

The AFL Players’ Association is extremely proud of the partnership with La Trobe University and looks forward to maximising both their brands nationally across the next three years.