Dave’s Football Blog

We’re just a week away from the start of the AFL Finals Series, and thanks to the Brisbane Lions’ big fat choke last week, pretty much everything has been decided except for fourth place, which earns a club the opportunity to go to Geelong and get blasted by the Cats without actually being eliminated from the Finals. (If you’re still unfamiliar with format of the Finals Series, look here.)

So how has Geelong done it the last two years? Like every football club on the planet, they’re always looking for an edge, and maybe this is it: infrared heat vests.

The Jett Heat Vest is designed to accelerate metabolism, improve circulation and provide warmth. It has been approved by Racing Victoria for use in trackwork, with jockeys such as Damien Oliver and Darren Gauci wearing the vest to lose weight and relieve muscle soreness and back-related problems.

Physiotherapist Bruce Cohen said trials of the vest were just another small way of staying ahead of the pack. “Physios have long used infra-red treatment and to make that mobile is an exciting concept,” said Cohen, who also works for Geelong as a forward scout. “The vests increase blood flow which can help resolve soft tissue issues.”

Y’know, these vests would be way cooler if they came in orange. That way, the Cats could all look as cool as Marty McFly.

These vests, which were designed down under, actually seem a bit similar to The Glove, which regulates body temperature and helps athletes cool down more quickly after workouts. Kind of makes you wonder what would happen if Geelong combined those two things. They might have actually beaten Collingwood that one time.

Now we just have to find a way to use this technology on Wayne Rooney’s feet, Chad Johnson’s shoulder and Shawn Merriman’s brain.