Local footy young gun forced out of game indefinitely due to impact of concussion

Bed-ridden for days after a game, young gun Bailey Taylor-Egan has made the difficult decision to step away from football due to the impacts of concussion.

Bailey Taylor-Egan in action for Kilmore. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Concussion has forced talented young footballer Bailey Taylor-Egan out of the game at just 22.

Head knocks have been a hot topic in the AFL but little is made of the issue at local level where the impacts can be even bigger on part-time athletes.

Not just concussions but simply playing a match saw Taylor-Egan bedridden.

He played Kilmore Football Netball Club’s Round 1 match in the Northern Football Netball League but has made the difficult decision to step away from the game he loves indefinitely.

“It’s definitely something very important to me so it’s really taken a toll,” he said.

Bailey Taylor-Egan celebrates a goal for Kilmore. Picture: Nathan McNeill

“It’s not a traditional injury in that sense and something I’ve tried really hard to overcome but unfortunately it’s just gotten to the point where I can no longer perform my duties every week and I’d just be a liability to myself.

“I suffered brain bleeding a few years back and other ongoing issues that I’ve got to monitor and be medicated for.”

“Factoring everything in, it’s become too much, I can’t really find a solution to keep myself healthy and play football simultaneously so until I find something I just have to give it up.

Despite struggling with concussion issues last season, he missed four games, Taylor-Egan was still able to showcase his talent.

In 15 matches he kicked 34 goals, was named in the NFNL Division 3 Team of the Year at centre half-forward and finished top-10 in the competition’s Coaches’ MVP.

It saw several higher level clubs come calling but he ultimately decided to remain at JJ Clancy Reserve, where his brother Ben is president.

Kilmore has supported Taylor-Egan through his recovery and will remain a critical outlet for him moving forward.

He’d hoped to help the Blues back to finals after back-to-back fourth-placed finishes and will continue to help the club wherever he can.

“I felt I needed another year to develop, my game has certainly grown a lot but at 21-22 I still felt like I wasn’t at that Division 1 level yet,” Taylor-Egan said.

“Kilmore has given me absolutely everything and I wanted to give more back to the cause after we came so close last year and a minimum one more year would have been best for myself and the team.

“I spoke to the coach before Round 1 and just let him know that as soon as my health takes a dip and it’s too much to handle I’ll have to call it.

“Unfortunately after Round 1 I knew it wasn’t something I could continue doing.

“I’ll continue to support the club and continue to train and keep myself fit and do whatever I can to get back but until then I’ll be on the sideline.”

Kilmore president and brother, Ben, said the club was fully behind the young gun’s decision and would continue to support him whether he returned or not.

“Everyone from the committee down has said ‘we’re sorry but good on you for making the difficult decision’,” Egan said.

“He’ll have the club’s full support, we’d never push him into doing something that would negatively impact his health, the club is dedicated to its players and once you’re a Kilmore player you’re a Kilmore player for life.

“He was at last week’s game and it was tough for him, it was a beautiful day and made for him to tear it apart, he was there for the Thursday night dinner and he was at our Anzac Day training session.

“(From a family point-of-view) I think he was worried about what we’d say but it will be really good for him.

DIV 1: HARVEY DECIDES TO CALL TIME ON LEGENDARY CAREER

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

DIV 1: ROOSTERS FAVOURITE RETURNS IN EPIC WIN

“He clearly wasn’t enjoying it at times, which was hard to watch, and you’d have to almost carry him off and while everyone was singing the song, he’d be sitting in the corner in pain.”

While still young, Taylor-Egan holds out hope of returning to the field but will need the green light from his doctors.

“(I’ll be doing) nothing for the foreseeable future, I’m just seeking help from medical professionals to see what the best course of action is,” he said.

“If they think it’s no good then ultimately that’s the case, I can’t fight that and I wouldn’t put myself through that risk.”