Antonio Loiacono’s brain donated to Australian Sports Brain Bank for concussion research

The brain of young country footballer Antonio Loiacono, who tragically died after an on-field collision, will be examined to learn how to better manage head trauma in amateur sports.

The brain of a South Australian country footballer who died after an on-field collision will be examined by one of the country’s leading neuropathologists to learn how to help better manage head trauma in amateur sports.

Antonio Loiacono’s brain will be donated to the Australian Sports Brain Bank, where it will be examined by Associate Professor Michael Buckland, who posthumously discovered fatal disease in the brain of former AFL player Shane Tuck.

Mr Loiacono, 20, died last month after suffering fatal injuries playing for Birdwood in the club’s season-opening Hills Football League match against Gumeracha.

Mr Loiacono, who was playing his first season at the club, was sent into cardiac arrest when he collided with an opposition player late in the game.

He was treated on the field by paramedics before being flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was later declared brain dead.

The brain of Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono will be donated to the Australian Sports Brain Bank, where it will be examined by one of the country’s leading neuropathologists. Picture: GoFundMe

Prof Buckland, who founded the Australian Sports Brain Bank, said examining Mr Loiacono’s brain was important to understand the effects of head trauma in young athletes.

“The only way we’re going to get information on that is to have a look at lots of brains like Antonio’s, from very young people that have had a history of some concussions and other head knocks,” he said.

Prof Buckland said it was “unlikely” chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the fatal disease discovered in Tuck’s brain after his death, would be found in Mr Loiacono’s brain given his age.

He said Mr Loiacono’s brain would be examined for three or four months after the South Australian coroner had determined his cause of death.

Prof Buckland said the donation of Mr Loiacono’s brain was a “wonderful, generous gift” from his family.

Ahead of his funeral on Thursday, Mr Loiacono’s mother Wendy Smith told The Advertiser there needed to be a “greater understanding of the after effects of head trauma in amateur football as the younger generation of players work their way up the ranks to play professional sport”.

Australian Sports Brain Bank founder Associate Professor Michael Buckland will examine the brain of Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“There needs to be greater education about how head trauma should be appropriately treated on the field,” Ms Smith said.

“First aid is typically reliant on the mums and dads, coaches and volunteers – consideration should be given to first aid accreditation and frameworks put in place, especially in emergency situations at amateur football games, which could ultimately save lives in the future.”

During her son’s eulogy, Ms Smith said the donation of his brain would provide “valuable insights into the very early pathology of concussion and assist with effective treatments to help prevent future head trauma in Australian contact sports”.

“Our beautiful family will make sure you continue to fly high, sprinkling your magic in making sport safer and the world a better place,” Ms Smith said.

Mr Loiacono will be the youngest amateur Australian rules footballer to donate his brain for research.

Mr Loiacono was farewelled by family and friends on Thursday at the Harrison Rivergum Chapel in Adelaide’s north east, almost a month after his death.

Antonio Loiacono’s teammates paid tribute to the young footballer ahead of their win over Macclesfield in the Hills Football League. Picture: Ben Clark

A Sydney Swans guernsey, signed by every player and donated to the family as a tribute, was hung in the chapel.

“There have been many moments of sorrow, but even more moments of happiness and laughter as his friends and family have shared stories of his life,” Ms Smith told The Advertiser.

“We are so blessed to have had such a happy kid.

“We have been in awe at the outpouring of love and support we’ve received since Antonio’s death. So many people are flying in from around the country to celebrate his memory.

“We’ve been so humbled. We knew he was popular, but even we didn’t understand the magnitude of his friendships.

“He always had a unique gift of belonging, closeness, and uniting people.”