Clubs vulnerable to massive payouts for concussion-related retirements

As Dees star Angus Brayshaw considers his immediate and long-term AFL future, a possible retirement due to concussion could prove disastrous for AFL clubs.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Angus Brayshaw of the Demons leaves the field on a stretcher during the 2023 AFL First Qualifying Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Demons at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 07, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

AFL clubs have no protection if players like Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw are forced into a concussion-related retirement with millions of dollars due on their contracts.

Brayshaw on Friday continued to successfully work through the minimum 12-day concussion protocol after being knocked out for two minutes in his collision with Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard.

Under those concussion protocols if he proceeds without delay through the 11 steps he would be allowed to play a preliminary final.

On Friday afternoon, ahead of its clash with Carlton, Melbourne was preparing to assemble their battery of experts early next week to assess Brayshaw’s progress and make a responsible decision weighing the short and long-term risks.

His captain Max Gawn on Thursday said he was five days into the protocol given few setbacks since the weekend.

Angus Brayshaw remains in doubt for a possible preliminary final. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

His brother Hamish made clear this week that he had a decision to make on his career given repeated concussions despite a contract that extends through to 2028.

He backtracked later in the week given Brayshaw’s symptoms had rapidly improved, but four players this year have already retired through concussion — Max Lynch, Marcus Adams, Paul Seedsman and Paddy McCartin.

None of those players had more than a season on their contract which could be paid out as part of an agreed settlement with their club.

Brayshaw has five years left on his contract and under current rules the Demons would still be responsible for paying out that deal.

As the AFL moves with the times clubs might lobby for an exemption given one catastrophic brain injury can end a player’s career.

It came as former AFL concussion expert Paul McCrory was savaged in the English media on Friday for his work shaping world concussion policy despite his widespread plagiarism and misrepresentation of concussion evidence.

Paul McCrory.

Greens Senator Janet Rice, who chaired a recent senate inquiry into concussion, said on Friday the Brayshaw-Maynard case heightened the need for the Federal government to develop a national strategy to deal with concussion in sports.

Senator Rice said: “I respect the (AFL) tribunal’s decision in this matter as it is an independent body, but there is no doubt about the seriousness of the concussion that Brayshaw sustained and the potential lifetime consequences of concussions like this.”

“The way the AFL and other professional codes deal with this kind of collision will undoubtedly have to change as the sporting community continues to deal with concussion and CTE.

“I urge the government to take the Committee’s report very seriously and quickly move to implement its recommendations.”