How did you get into sport?

Lindsay Bull - Head Physiotherapist, Gold Coast Suns, AFL

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Lindsay (Linds) has a wealth of experience having spent over a decade in the AFL initially starting as a Rehab Physio and then progressing on to be the Head Physio for the Gold Coast Suns. In addition, he’s worked with Championship side Bristol City FC and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the UK as well as working as a physiotherapist at the 2012 London Olympic games. In this conversation, we dive into the nuances of injury management within an AFL club as well as reflecting on Linds’ fascinating career from growing up in country Queensland, to working in professional sport in the UK to now being one of only a handful of practitioners heading the medical department of a club who compete in the biggest professional sporting league in Australia. 


Highlights from the episode…

  • Linds pursued physiotherapy due to his passion for sport and the problem solving aspect of injury management. 
  • Linds took time off to travel around the world and found himself eventually living in the UK. 
  • How a serendipitous encounter with a fellow Australian Physio in the UK led to a unique 4 hour long interview process that eventually secured his first professional sports role with Championship side Bristol City FC. 
  • The power of being naive and how having a lack of naivety/ignorance may actually be detrimental to decision making. 
  • Linds talks about his time at Bristol City and what led to an emotional departure. 
  • Linds’ next move was with Notts County Cricket Club and he describes the ins/outs of being a physio for a professional cricket team. 
  • Linds’ time culminated in working in the 2012 London Olympic games and shares his role and experience. 
  • After the UK, Linds returned to Australia and talks about how he secured a role in the AFL with the Gold Coast Suns. 
  • We discuss the differences in injury management approaches from what Linds’ experience in the UK compared to the AFL. 
  • How heavily relying on sport science can effect the interactions between coaches, players and any staff members. 
  • Building a relationship with a player is crucial, and it’s significance is far deeper than you think. 
  • Linds shares how he has been able to work with one club for over a decade in amongst coaching changes, winless periods, various audits of the performance/medical departments etc. 
  • Linds talks about one of the overarching philosophies to injury management at the Suns.
  • We discuss how to avoid “confirmation bias” and not just doing something because in the past it has worked. 
  • Finally Linds shares specifics regarding the clubs screening approach to athlete profiling, injury prevention and monitoring. 



Lindsay Bull contact details: 

 

People mentioned: 

  • Alex Rigby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-rigby-55ab2155/
  • Peter Lion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterlion/
  • Mark Young: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-young-b2aaa520/
  • Dr Luke Eggleston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-luke-eggleston-8a9a7250/details/education/

Host: Luis Resa

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How did you get into sport?By Luis Resa