ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE SUMMIT
Australia's leading professional development event for high-performance & rehab professionals
RAISE THE STANDARD.
Join the country’s leading performance and rehabilitation practitioners for a world-class industry event inside an elite AFL environment.
Centred on three key pillars — Speed & Athletic Development, Rehabilitation & Return to Play, and Sport Science & Innovation — the 2026 Athletic Performance Summit brings together some of the most respected minds in elite sport to explore the questions shaping modern high-performance practice.
Expect world-class keynotes, applied case studies, elite sport insights and meaningful connection with leading local and international practitioners.
New for 2026, attendees can add a limited-capacity Saturday practical workshop, designed to go deeper into the application of speed development and return-to-play.
EVENT DETAILS
Main Summit
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER, 2026
SPEED & RTP PRACTICAL
SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER, 2026
duration
1 - 2 DAYS
LOCATION
MISSION WHITTEN OVAL, MELBOURNE, AUS
TICKETS
Summit Pass | Two-day Pass
PRESENTERS
JONAS DODOO, Speedworks Training
Performance Consultant & Head Coach
Session Focus: Speed development, multidirectional movement & developing your coaches eye
BEN SIMPSON, Paris Saint-Germain
Director of Special Projects & Sports Innovation
Session Focus: Maximising performance through innovation, technology and environments in elite football
EBONIE RIO, VIS & La Trobe University
Research Professor & Sports Physiotherapist
Session Focus: Tendon rehabilitation, pain, loading and return-to-performance.
TIM mcGRATH, Pitch Ready
Prev. Director of Player Health & Performance, Washington Commanders
Session Focus: Practical Lessons in ACL Rehabilitation and Return to Play
NAthan Kiely, Newcastle Knights
Speed, Strength & Power Coach
Session Focus: Coaching the coordination, stiffness and postural qualities behind speed in the gym
More to be Announced...
Western Bulldogs Performance & Medical Staff
About the event
PRACTICAL TAKEaways
The Summit is built around the questions practitioners are actually facing. Every session is designed to deliver practical insight practitioners can take back into their own athletes, teams and environments.
Industry CONNECTION
Connect with leading high-performance managers, coaches, clinicians and sport scientists from across professional & semi-professional sport, private practice and schools.
ELITE AFL ENVIRONMENT
Hosted at Mission Whitten Oval, the Summit places the learning inside a real high-performance sporting environment.
NEW FOR 2026: Western Bulldogs x Jonas Dodoo Practical
For the first time, the 2026 Athletic Performance Summit will expand beyond the main conference day to include a limited-capacity practical workshop on Saturday 5 September.
Delivered in partnership with world-renowned speed coach Jonas Dodoo, plus guest sessions from Nathan Kiely and Western Bulldogs Performance Staff - this practical intensive is designed for those looking to go beyond the presentations and explore the practical application of speed & power development, return-to-play and performance principles in a live environment.
MAIN SUMMIT | 8am - 5pm | Fri 4 September
- World-class Keynote Presentations from local and international speakers
- Applied case studies from elite sport
- Expert panels and practitioner discussion
- Insights across athletic development, rehab and sport science
- Network with leading coaches, clinicians and performance staff
- Delivered inside an elite AFL environment
Practical | 8Am - 3pm | Sat 5 September
- Limited-capacity practical workshop
- Applied sessions from Jonas Dodoo, Nathan Kiely and Western Bulldogs performance staff
- Linear and multidirectional speed development
- Gym-to-field speed development principles
- Return-to-play progression and movement application
- Practical coaching, observation and discussion in a live environment
Limited to 35 spots
Last year’s Summit sold out with 200+ practitioners in attendance.
BUILT ON THE QUESTIONS SHAPING MODERN PERFORMANCE
- How do we better bridge rehab and performance?
- How do we prepare athletes for the true speed and chaos of sport?
- How do we make better return-to-play decisions?
- How do we integrate gym, field, data and coaching?
- How do elite environments translate theory into practice?
- How do we develop athletes across the pathway, academy and professional levels?
PRICING
SUMMIT PASS
- Full-day Athletic Performance Summit (Friday 4 September)
- Access to all keynote presentations and panels
- Morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea
- Barista Coffee & Refreshments
- Networking with leading practitioners
- Certificate of attendance
Early Bird
$399
TWO-DAY PASS
Includes everything in the Friday Summit, plus:
- Saturday Practical Workshop
- On-field coaching with Jonas Dodoo, Nathan Kiely & Western Bulldogs performance staff
- Small-group practical learning and Q&A
- Additional catering throughout the workshop
Early Bird
$1,149
MADE POSSIBLE BY...
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHo SHOULD ATTEND?
Performance coaches, physiotherapists, rehab professionals, sport scientists, athletic development coaches, coaches, teachers and practitioners working with athletes.
WILL I RECeiVE CPD POINTS?
As our presenters finalise their content, we work closely with several governing bodies to accredit this event for continued professional development. Last year the event was accredited by the following organisations:
- ASCA: TBC
- AUSACTIVE: TBC
- ESSA / AHPRA: TBC
- OSTEO AUS: TBC
ARE PLACES LIMITED?
YES. Places in both the Friday Summit & Saturday Workshop are limited.
The summit sold out last year with over 200 in attendance. The practical workshop is strictly capped at 35 to ensure hands on experience.
WILL FOOD & DRINK BE PROVIDED?
YES!
There will be barista coffee, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and refreshments for all attendees.
We will endeavor to cater for any dietary requirements.
IS THERE FURTHER NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AFTER THE SUMMIT?
There is deliberate networking sessions built into the Friday's Summit, with drinks and canapes included for all delegates. We are exploring the option of running an additional evening session off-site but at this stage we are focused on creating an exceptional professional development event with genuinely world-class content and insights.
CAN I BOOK MULTIPLE TICKETS or EXPLORE ALTERNATE PAYMENT METHODS?
Of course, we offer a group booking discount and often see group bookings come through from a variety of organisations.
Please get in contact with institute@westernbulldogs.com.au to discuss group bookings or arrange payment via invoice.