Brayden Shaw opens up on the mental and physical battle after concussion forced him to retire
Not every career can finish with a fairytale and being forced to retire by concussion took Brayden Shaw to a “dark place”. The suburban footy great and former Collingwood father-son pick opens up on his physical and mental health.
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It’s the hardest simple decision Brayden Shaw ever made.
The decorated midfielder revealed he is still suffering severe concussion symptoms almost three months after being forced to hang up the boots.
In the final quarter of Hurstbridge’s Northern Football League Round 1 loss to Greensborough, Shaw was knocked out, triggering an epileptic seizure.
He would spend two days in hospital but the mental battle has been as difficult as the physical recovery.
“I’m still suffering from headaches and slurred speech, it has knocked me about,” Shaw told Leader.
“The decision to pull the pin was one of the toughest I’ve had just because I love the game, love the footy club, it’s very tough watching.
“I miss (football) desperately, it’s been real tough … Round 1 with five minutes to go in a game where we’re getting beaten by 100 points, it wasn’t the way I wanted to finish.”
The fact the incident happened in front of his family only made the aftermath worse.
“I spent a couple of days in hospital, which wasn’t nice, and to have my wife and kids at the game to see what happened …,” he said.
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“For them to see me in that way, it’s not good for anyone, let alone my family.”
Forced to hang up the boots before he was ready took Shaw to a dark place.
Football was everything for a man whose family is synonymous with Aussie rules — from under-10s, to the Northern Knights, a Collingwood father-son selection, two NFL premierships at Bundoora and another at Hurstbridge.
It had been a wonderful ride but one that came to a crashing halt.
Shaw credited his wife Kez and parents Tony and Debbie for helping him come out the other side.
“When you’ve been doing it since you were 10, once it’s gone, you feel a bit empty, to be honest,” he said.
“It’s weird waking up on a Saturday and not packing your bags to go to a game and then go out there and go to war with your mates.
“Obviously I had some fair conversations with my wife and I’ve got three young children under six.
“I had some massive conversations with them but one person who’s helped me through it a bit more has been dad.
“I got to a bit of a dark place, to be honest, once it all finished, I was very upset and didn’t know where to go to next, and dad helped me through that, and mum of course.
So proud of my son Brayden who retired tonight. He captained Bundoora and Hurstbridge for over a decade. 3 NFL Premierships,BOG in 2 of those. Unlike dad I haven’t heard a bad word said about him from anyone. Love you son. Dad.
— Tony Shaw (@TonyShaw22) April 11, 2019
“In the end I’ve got to look after a young family so the decision was made pretty easily to pull the pin and just make sure I get my head right so I can enjoy watching my kids play.”
Ironically, Shaw is a workplace health and safety officer with Simonds Homes.
Family has been Shaw’s saving grace and stepping back from football has meant spending more time with his children — Brodie, Lara and Zayne.
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“I’m loving having the chance to take my kids to their sport, see them play footy and basketball, they’re little things you miss out on,” he said.
“Being able to spend more time with them as been magnificent … having that family time has kept me going.”
Despite not being able to run out on Saturdays, football is still a major part of Shaw’s life.
The 32-year-old still trains twice a week with Hurstbridge and is an assistant to Bridges’ senior coach and brother-in-law Jarrod Tilley.
“I still train on Tuesdays and Thursdays but I just don’t go out and get my head caved in on Saturday,” he joked.
“It’s been nice to wake up on a Sunday morning and not feel like I’m 100 years old, but jeez, you still miss playing once it’s gone.
“I’ve been pretty blessed to have played footy at two amazing football clubs.
“I’m really enjoying standing in the coach’s box with my brother-in-law and also one of my best mates in Ben Shelton and I think we’re creating a pretty good vibe and culture at the footy club.
“I’d love to see that through, I’d love to see this team have some success, I think they deserve it as a playing group, as a club and a town as a whole.”
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