This study aimed to monitor subjective mental fatigue (MF) during pre-season in elite male Australian rules football (ARF) athletes and identify factors associated with MF. Thirty-nine elite male ARF athletes (24.6 ± 4.5 y) rated their MF on a visual analogue scale on each training day of a 13-week pre-season (n = 1353 samples, 48 training days). Strength, running measures, sport-specific factors (age, mass, games played, playing years, contract status) and training participation were recorded. Linear models were used to determine the effects between factors and MF. Elevated MF was observed in weeks 2-4 and 7-10 vs practice match week 1 and week 12, and weeks 2-4, 8-10 vs week 11 (all p < 0.05). No strength, running characteristics, sport-specific factors or training participation variables were significantly associated with MF. Mental fatigue changes over an AFL pre-season, being higher in the first 10 weeks, before reducing in the final 3 weeks. Sport-specific factors and physical characteristics were not associated with MF. These findings encourage practitioners to measure MF, particularly in early pre-season, to assess athlete response to training. Practitioners should also look to incorporate adequate mental recovery to optimise the balance between fatigue and performance enhancement during this period.
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