AFL and Orygen Digital unite on project to build resilience in young football players

Young players at the Telstra AFL Draft Combines used VR headsets to replicate goalkicking under pressure as the AFL looks at ways to build players' mental resilience

Orygen Digital has announced a new project as part of its partnership with the AFL, focused on advancing innovative approaches to youth mental health, wellbeing and performance.

The inaugural project was delivered as part of the 2026 Telstra AFL and AFLW National Draft Combine wellbeing program, where players had the opportunity to experience a VR goalkicking simulation designed to recreate the pressures associated with elite competition.

DRAFT HUB Click here for the latest draft news

The project will help shape future evidence-based innovative digital tools that prepare players to perform under pressure and build their resilience, creating new opportunities to prepare young athletes for the pressures of elite sport and the challenges of everyday life.

Co-developed by the Orygen Digital experts at their XR Innovation Lab with the AFL Mental Health and Wellbeing team , the project will explore how immersive technology can be used to build skills such as attentional control and emotional regulation, to equip players with the skills to manage high-pressure performance situations before they enter the elite game.

The skills being developed are relevant well beyond football, helping young people develop resilience and manage stressful moments in everyday life.

AFL Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Dr Kate Hall, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to preparing young people for success both on and off the field.

“The AFL and Orygen share a commitment to supporting young people to thrive,” Dr Hall said.

“Stepping into the AFL or AFLW system is an exciting moment for young athletes, but success at the next level requires more than physical talent.

“It demands the mental skills to manage pressure and perform in high-stakes environments, and through this project we are exploring innovative and evidence-based ways to support our young athletes in managing the challenges of the next stage of their football journey.”

Professor Lucia Valmaggia, Head of the Orygen Digital XR Innovation Lab, said virtual reality offers a unique opportunity to help young people build skills through immersive experience.

"Virtual reality enables young people to practise skills in immersive environments that feel real, engaging and meaningful, while remaining safe and controlled."

"By combining Orygen's expertise in youth mental health and digital innovation with the AFL's commitment to player wellbeing, we have an opportunity to expand use of emerging technologies to support performance as well as build mental wellbeing."

"Importantly, these skills extend far beyond football. Learning how to regulate emotions, focus attention and perform under pressure can support resilience in many areas of life."