The AFL is working towards having two of its clubs pilot a Brain Health Initiative to help address the issue of concussion

It’s been five years since the passing of St Kilda great Danny Frawley. And AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says the league owes it to the Frawley family to do more – here’s what he’s talking about.

The AFL is working towards having two of its clubs pilot a Brain Health Initiative next year to enable long-term research programs on concussion and regular brain monitoring.

All 18 clubs are expected to take part from 2026.

It comes five years after the death of St Kilda great Danny Frawley, who was suffering from CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the league owed it to the Frawley family – and players who have experienced the impact of concussion – to ensure the game is as safe as possible.

The league is also collaborating with researchers and brain banks, and working in consultation with the AFL Players Association to combat the game’s most serious challenge.

“It is five years since Danny Frawley passed away and we owe it to Danny, (Frawley’s widow) Anita and the girls, and to all those players who have been impacted by the effects of concussion to not only do more to ensure the game is as safe as it can be, but also to ensure that we continue to expand our knowledge through ongoing research,” Mr Dillon said.

“We are also working very closely with the AFLPA on finalising the introduction of the expanded Injury and Hardship Fund for former players, which we will resolve in the coming months.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

The AFL Commission has already approved more than $31m of funding for this clinical research program to run through until 2033.

All clubs are expected to be part of the program within two years, with recruitment of retired players likely to start from 2026 onwards.

The AFL is working with the AFLPA to formalise the arrangement with ethics approval in the coming months.

Pre-season baseline and post-concussion assessments will form the principal data collection. Players will also be assessed upon their exit from the AFL and through retirement at two, five and 10-year-plus time points.

Mr Dillon said the Brain Health Initiative was “by far the biggest and most complex (initiative), but also the most exciting we are working on.”

“Building the infrastructure required to enable long-term research and programs and regular brain health monitoring for men and women from the time they are drafted through to post-career has been incredibly complex.

“But we are now close to finalising some of the initial partnership arrangements with various research collaborators and brain banks, and are continuously in consultation with the AFLPA, with a view to players from two AFL clubs taking part in a pilot program in 2025, assuming ethics approval is obtained by them.

“There are a number of national and international experts who provide advisory consultation to us in the development of the Brain Health Initiative that will contribute to making our game safer.”

Liam Duggan comes from the field under concussion protocols this year. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Mr Dillon said the AFL currently had six full-time people working on concussion projects, insisting “brain health and the impact of concussion is the No.1 health and safety issue for our game.”

“The more research we do, the more we learn,” the AFL CEO said. “Brain health and concussion is a complex medical issue that requires time and funding.”

“We have the funding, and we will continue to invest time into research with the right expert partners.

“For the now, we have made more than 30 changes to our rules, tribunal and match review process to make the game safer, and we will continue to evolve the game, as required.

“We are equally committed to long-term research that helps us to better understand how we can protect the longer-term health and welfare of our players at all levels of our game.”

The AFL is also looking at funding a neuropsychologist to join each club’s healthcare team to assist in concussion care for players as well as to collect research data.

Originally published as The AFL is working towards having two of its clubs pilot a Brain Health Initiative to help address the issue of concussion