Andrew Willcox is the lead physiotherapist for the Tasmanian Devils Talent Program, encompassing boys and girls under 16 and under 18 squads, as well as the newly formed Senior Talent Academies for men and women. Andrew has been working for the Devils for the last 6 years, and can be found on the sidelines either in Hobart or interstate most weekends of the AFL season.
Week to week, Andrew attends team training, assessing injuries, taping, managing rehab plans and overseeing a team of sports trainers. On a weekend, his role involves travelling with the team, pre-game preparation, and providing acute care on field for any injuries that may arise. He balances this with his clinical work at BODYSYSTEM, and is also completing the final stages of a Master of Sport & Exercise Physiotherapy through Latrobe University.
Most of the common injuries seen in AFL, particularly in the junior space are load or training error related. Many of these issues would benefit from a physiotherapy appointment to assess mobility and strength, and map out a training plan to mitigate injury risk and enhance performance. BODYSYSTEM also has an AFL specific screening which can be used to track these specific measures over time.
On top of his work at the Devils, Andrew has also been the team physio for the “Allies”, a representative team made up of players from Tasmania, Northern Territory and NSW/ACT that participate in the under 18 National Championships, working with both male and female squads. During his time in the talent program, Andrew has seen many aspiring young Tasmanians achieve their dreams of being drafted into the AFL.
Andrew with North Melbourne and former Tasmania Devils star Colby McKercher
Last year, Andrew spent time at North Melbourne with their high performance team, and will also spend a few weeks at both Richmond and the Western Bulldogs this year. The learnings from these experiences allow Andrew to bring fresh ideas back to BODYSYSTEM and the Devils, and will be invaluable in shaping the talent program moving forward in what is an exciting time for Tasmanian football in the build up to our AFL team entry in 2028.
