Liam Picken might not play again in 2018 as he battles concussion, Luke Beveridge says

THE Western Bulldogs’ bumpy ride to 2018 has hit another speed bump, with coach Luke Beveridge revealing the future of one of his premiership stars remains in doubt.

Liam Picken after being knocked out against Hawthorn. Pic: Michael Klein

WESTERN Bulldogs premiership hero Liam Picken could be forced to consider an early retirement due to concussion.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge revealed Picken’s ongoing symptoms were so severe that it was unclear when he would be able to play again.

The hard nut was still being rocked by dizzy spells and headaches, could not cope with loud music inside the club’s gymnasium and was unable to train.

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Beveridge said Picken — who is contracted until the end of next season — may not play again this year, putting his career beyond that in doubt.

He needs only two more matches to reach 200 AFL games.

“Liam at the moment is quite openly saying that he knows he’s nowhere near ready to play again,” Beveridge said.

“There’s every chance that ‘Picko’ doesn’t play again this year.

“He’s still getting dizzy spells, he’s got headaches and he can’t train with the footballs.

“He cannot even cope with music in the four walls of the football club, so that’s how extreme it is at the moment.”

Liam Picken with wife Annie Nolan and their three children Malachy, Delphi and Cheska. Picture: Hamish Blair

The issues stem from a head knock Picken, 31, suffered in the match against Hawthorn in the JLT Series when he clashed with teammate Josh Dunkley.

It was his second heavy head knock in 12 months following a similarly heavy blow against Fremantle in Round 3 last year.

Beveridge was adamant that Picken’s health was the priority and said “it would be a big challenge for everyone” determining whether the favourite son was “going to play maybe next year”.

He has been out indefinitely since the preseason blow on March 3 in Ballarat.

“We’ve sought some external consultants in the medical field who know a little bit more about brain injury and can give us some support around concussion, to provide our doctors and our medical staff with some advice,” Beveridge said on SEN.

“We’ve got as much clarity as you can, but we make some informed decisions when it comes to the point where maybe Liam’s keen to play again.”

Picken is attended to by Bulldogs medicos after his concussion in the JLT Series. Pic: Getty Images

Concussion is one of the biggest issues in the game, with a group of former players including former Cat and Bombers’ ruckman John Barnes and ex-Demon Shaun Smith leading a concussion damages claim against league and its clubs.

A raft of players have been forced to retire from the game early due to concussion including Heritier Lumumba (Melbourne), Sam Blease (Geelong), Jack Fitzpatrick (Hawthorn), Leigh Adams (North Melbourne) and Matt Maguire (Brisbane).

Former Saint Justin Koschitzke admitted last month he regretted returning too soon from a severe head knock in 2006 and continued to suffer from memory loss.

“I was really foolish to come back that year and play and if I had my time again I definitely would have taken the year off and rehabbed it properly and made sure I was in a fit state, mentally and physically, the next year,” Koschitzke said.

The league is using brain scans of former and current stars to conduct some world-leading research on concussion.

Picken is widely regarded as one of the most courageous and inspirational players in the competition and was given a two-year contract extension last year on the back of his stunning feats in the 2016 finals series.

Last year, the premiership star led the club’s goal kicking with 24 majors from 22 games.

Picken was a star throughout the Bulldogs’ 2016 finals campaign. Picture: Wayne Ludbey