Former AFL midfielder Koby Stevens open to donating brain for CTE concussion research

There are calls for the AFL to invest in new technology to detect concussion symptoms as a former Saint reveals how players game the system.

Former AFL midfielder Koby Stevens says players are manipulating the league’s concussion protocols as he declared he would be open to donating his own brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

As the AFL prepares to finalise new return to play protocols for players who have suffered concussions, Stevens called on the league to invest in new technology to detect concussion symptoms.

Under concussion protocols introduced last year, players have to pass a concussion test five days before their next match to be considered for selection.

However, Stevens said this manual approach was being manipulated during baseline pre-season testing.

“We’re still using a system where it’s a card game that you have to pass,” Stevens told the Herald Sun.

“I know players definitely do it slower during the pre-season so that when they are injured they can get back quicker.

“I think we can take that out of the equation. There’s definitely technology in this world that can identify a player’s brain function at a normal state and at an injured state.”

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Koby Stevens says AFL players are manipulating AFL concussion protocols. Picture: Michael Klein

Stevens was forced into an early retirement at the age of 27 in 2018 after suffering 10 concussions across nine seasons with St Kilda, Western Bulldogs and West Coast.

Through new cutting-edge treatments and alternative medicine, he has been able to rediscover a strong quality of life since stepping away from football.

But Stevens has backed the need for greater research around CTE in the wake of “scary” recent findings in post-mortem analysis of the brains of former footballers Shane Tuck, Danny Frawley and Graham “Polly” Farmer.

The Australian Sports Brain Bank has called on more former players to consider donating their brains after ex-Richmond onballer Tuck became third AFL player to be diagnosed with CTE.

“I think so,” Stevens said when asked if he would consider donating his own brain.

“I definitely think there’s a lot more research to go into it and we’ve got to continue doing that. So I think it’s something that a lot of athletes and even general society should do.”

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Stevens played against Tuck and was coached by Frawley during his time at St Kilda.

“It is scary and it’s sad and I knew Tucky and Frawley,” Stevens said.

“I think a lot of people still don’t really understand that disease.

“Are we doing enough, early enough, to stop these things happening? I’m not sure if we are here in Australia. It took me eight, nine concussions before it was even talked about. I believe I was living with symptoms for three or four years before that.

“I don’t think about it (CTE) at all because I’m in a good place, but I think more can be done earlier.”