Ex-AFL player Ty Zantuck says painkilling jabs have destroyed his quality of life

FORMER Richmond and Essendon hardman Ty Zantuck says painkilling jabs have destroyed his quality of life, with the 36-year-old saying he can no longer work and is now exploring legal options.

FORMER Richmond and Essendon hardman Ty Zantuck says painkilling jabs have destroyed his quality of life.

Zantuck, 36, has endured 15 operations on his spine since retiring from the AFL 12 years ago.

He says he can no longer work and was recently diagnosed with depression.

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The 77-game defender has warned the AFL’s next generation of stars to steer clear of painkilling injections at all costs, confirming he was exploring legal options.

He estimated he received up to 50 jabs across three seasons at the Tigers starting in 2002.

“When I was drafted my back was as good as gold, but I had a bit of soreness and they eventually found some stress fractures,” Zantuck said.

“Normally, you just have some rest but they decided to start giving me cortisone and anaesthetic to get me to try and play.

“Then they started sending me up to Victoria House to have epidurals the day before games. I was having injections before training sometimes.”

Former AFL player Ty Zantuck with his kids Jagger, 6, and Zepplin, 2. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Ty Zantuck playing for Richmond in 2003.

Zantuck said he bore no ill feelings towards Richmond and that he still supported the Tigers and celebrated last year’s premiership win.

A Richmond spokesman said: “We have been aware of Ty’s situation for some time and have previously met with him.

“We will continue to look for opportunities to support him where possible.”

The AFL Players’ Association is assisting Zantuck and helping him cover his mounting medical expenses.

Zantuck said he had received advice the painkilling injections might have caused irreparable damage to his back.

“It’s very consistent with misuse of needling, especially epidurals,” he said.

“You can see in the muscles and the nerves that there’s just no response to any treatment — they’re just dead.

“That’s what happens, and if you have too many it just completely ruins your back.”

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Former AFL player Ty Zantuck with kids Jagger, 6, and Zepplin, 2. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Asked about his depression, Zantuck said: “I’ve laid in hospital for weeks at a time on ketamine and morphine drips and that can just drain the life out of you.”

The 2002 AFL rising star nominee recalled being encouraged to train while injured during a pre-season camp in the Grampians.

“They said: ‘Instead of carrying a backpack with 30kg, we’ll just make it 20kg and see how you go’,” Zantuck said.

“I just limped all the way through the camp.

“I was playing games and tackling blokes, and I couldn’t even feel my hips. It sort of deadens your whole torso.”

Zantuck will undergo another operation next month to insert a spinal cord stimulator.

“Hopefully it will help a little bit, but it’s not going to go away,” he said.

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