Neuroscientist reveals number of days AFL players should be sidelined after a concussion

The minimum number of days a footy player should be sidelined after sustaining a concussion to allow the human brain to “recover properly” has been revealed.

St Kilda captain Danny Frawley in 1992.

AFL players suffering heavy concussions should be sidelined for a minimum of 30 days, a senior neuroscientist from Australia’s sports brain bank says.

A mandatory one-month lay off should also be enforced in all local and junior leagues, according to leading concussion expert Prof Alan Pearce.

St Kilda champ Danny Frawley was suffering from a crippling neurological disorder linked to repeated head knocks at the time of his death last September, the Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday.

Frawley is the second Australian rules player after Graham “Polly” Farmer to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which causes depression, mood swings and suicidal thoughts.

Frawley lies stunned after being hit behind the play in 1988.

CTE can only be diagnosed after death.

Under current AFL rules, players who have suffered concussions can return without missing a single match if they pass a neurological screening test and show no symptoms.

West Coast Eagles star forward Josh Kennedy returned to the field in a game against Richmond at Metricon Stadium last week just minutes after a heavy head knock, before being ruled out with concussion.

Collingwood also suggested forward Brody Mihocek had been passed fit to play just days after being knocked out in a sickening clash at the Gabba last month. He was later rested.

Prof Pearce, the Victorian-based affiliate of the Australian Sports Brain Bank in Sydney — where Frawley’s CTE diagnosis was made — said a 30-day hiatus would allow the human brain to “recover properly, so it reduces inflammation and the brain’s immune cells can repair the micro-damage”.

“They don’t get enough recovery if it’s only seven days and they go out again and potentially suffer more trauma to the brain with bumps and tackles,” Prof Pearce said.

“I can understand why a team is so desperate to get a player back in, but an extra couple of weeks’ rest could extend a career by years. Symptom resolution is not an indicator that the brain has recovered.”

Frawley bleeds from a cut above his ear.

Frawley had some fiery clashes during his career.

Frawley was a much-loved player and media personality. Picture: Mark Stewart

Prof Pearce said a recent New Zealand study found about 50 per cent of concussion sufferers had continued to show signs of brain abnormality up to 30 days after being injured.

Frawley’s wife Anita said she hoped her late husband’s CTE diagnosis would “prevent other families from going through what we did”.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said the league had been notified of Frawley’s CTE diagnosis, declaring the game’s concussion protocols had “changed considerably” since the days when Frawley played.

“Danny’s death last year had a profound impact on our industry. Everyone who knew Danny loved Danny” McLachlan said.

“I have spoken to (Frawley’s wife) Anita and said we will work with the brain bank and other researchers to better understand this disease and its impact.”

The AFL had made a number of changes, “particularly over the past 20 years, to provide greater education and awareness and also greater on-field protection to players” surrounding head knocks, McLachlan said.

But concussion crusader and veteran player agent Peter Jess said the AFL’s current concussion protocols were “manifestly inadequate”.

“We have not learnt from the past mistakes. It condemns the current and future players to the same horrific outcomes of Polly Farmer and Danny Frawley,” he said.

Originally published as Neuroscientist reveals number of days AFL players should be sidelined after a concussion