A pilot case-control study was conducted to identify possible risk factors for injury in three metropolitan Melbourne football leagues. Eighteen cases (injured players) and eighteen controls (uninjured players) participated in the study over a one month period during the 1997 football season. Injury risk factor trends were suggested for player age, player experience, preseason start time, previous injury history, self-training and seasonal sports participation. No trends were suggested with respect to protective equipment use, shoetype, participation in formal training, exposure time, warm up habits and cool down habits. The upper limb was the most commonly injured area. Ligamentous/joint sprains and fractures were the most common natures of injury. The majority of injuries were due to collision/struck by incidents.