Will help AFL players.
Won't help 15-17 year olds at the expense of doing less skills work and fitness.
No and nor would lifting weights have assisted with preventing the injuries. The 'benefits' of weightlifting in preventing injury are highly overrated (and unsurprisingly, over quoted in bodybuilding forums). Nathan Buckley for example, serious weight lifting, serious fitness nut. Career finished a few years early as a result of hamstring problems.
Again, my comments were in regards to 15-17 year olds wanted to get drafted. Not for professional AFL players. I take offence, like many people playing the sport, that the coaches and trainers are substandard because they don't believe in getting players to powerlift on a daily basis.