AFL 2021: Eagle Brad Sheppard retires due to concussion issues

An emotional Brad Sheppard has followed West Coast teammate Daniel Venables into retirement as he continues to battle the lingering effects of concussion.

Eagles defender Brad Sheppard has announced his retirement from the AFL. Picture: Michael Klein

Heartbroken Eagle Brad Sheppard has retired immediately from the AFL amid ongoing and debilitating concussion symptoms from two incidents this year.

The 30-year-old defender announced his retirement via a club statement on Tuesday after revealing his decision in an “emotional” speech to teammates and staff earlier.

He is the second West Coast player this year to call time on his AFL career because of concussion complications.

Ex-Eagle Daniel Venables detailed in an eye-opening interview with News Corp Australia how severely the brain injury had impacted his life.

Sport’s greatest rivalry is just around the corner and you can catch the Ashes live and ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Brad Sheppard has called time on his career after lingering concussion symptoms. Picture: Getty Images

Sheppard made his call after receiving medical advice and with his long-term health in mind.

He played 20 of his 216 matches this year and was his typically reliable self but separate concussions against Carlton in Round 12 and Fremantle in Round 22 left him with lingering issues.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson spoke to reporters after the news broke but Sheppard opted not to at the end of an emotion-charged day.

“He’s had a wonderful career that’s been cut short, unfortunately,” Simpson said.

“He’s dealt with a lot of adversity over his career and always handled himself really well, and today’s no different – it was first class – but he’s going to be missed.

“It’s been a pleasure to be a part of it, really, and what he’s gone through. (He was an) All-Australian. His career speaks for itself – over 200 games.

“It’s just really sad that it finishes this way.”

Eagles defender Brad Sheppard has announced his retirement from the AFL. Picture: Michael Klein

Sheppard’s crowning glory was being named an All-Australian last year, but a hamstring setback in the 2018 finals stopped him from playing in the Eagles’ famed grand final victory over Collingwood.

Simpson said Sheppard would be remembered as one of West Coast’s best and most versatile players, capable of locking down small and tall forwards.

“The sad part about it (is) he didn’t get to fulfil his full career – but he did achieve a lot,” he said.

“The way we look at him; he is a premiership player. He was so much a part of that ‘18 season, along with a few other players.

“Obviously, Nic (Naitanui), ‘Gaffy’ (Andrew Gaff) and even Eric Mackenzie, but ‘Shepp’, in particular, all the way to that first final before he was struck down.”

Concussion has become the AFL’s greatest concern and Sheppard becoming the latest player to announce a premature retirement should only heighten the focus on an issue that continues to plague the game.

“It’s a brutal game. It always has been,” Simpson said.

“I think the AFL are doing a pretty good job to try and learn as much as they can.

“It still feels like that we’ve got a bit more to learn about the whole situation but I think that they’re putting the right things in place.

“The game’s never been as brutal as it is now. That’s what we sign up for and it comes with risk

Lighter Fyfe turns heads on return to training

Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe has put a nightmarish start to the off-season behind him and returned to running training with the Dockers.

Fyfe was able to kick and mark one-handed as he hit the training paddock for the first time since contracting an infection in the shoulder that has twice been operated on this year.

In photos captured by the Dockers, the 30-year-old appeared to have lost significant muscle mass during his time away from the game.

Shoulder concerns dogged Fyfe for the second half of 2021.

He dislocated his right shoulder in the round 12 loss to the Western Bulldogs, but returned to play a month later.

Nat Fyfe is back at training with the Dockers after surgery.

After dislocating the shoulder again in rounds 18 and 19, Fyfe was left with little choice but to undergo season-ending surgery in July.

Scans later revealed a crack in the bone block inserted into Fyfe’s shoulder as part of the surgery, forcing him to go under the knife again in October. He subsequently contracted a bacterial infection in the shoulder, which required intravenous antibiotics.

Fighting to be fit for the 2022 season, the dual Brownlow medallist took an encouraging step in the right direction on Thursday by running at training for the first time since picking up the infection.

The saga has led some AFL pundits to question whether Fyfe could still captain the Dockers in 2022.

Nat returned to running today 🎉

Plus kicking and marking one handed.

Love to see it 😍 #foreverfreopic.twitter.com/OhOfmcc4e4

— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) December 2, 2021

“There’s no way known that he’s going to be the captain of Fremantle next season,” Essendon legend Tim Watson said on SEN last month. “How can you be – under those circumstances? How can you be captain?

“He hasn’t run for four months, he hasn’t got back to training yet. He’s that far behind.”

Either way, it won’t be all doom and gloom for the Dockers come round 1, with the side picking up some promising young talent in the national draft last month.

Fremantle selected tall forward Jye Amiss with the eighth pick of the draft, as well as midfielders Neil Erasmus and Matthew Johnson, with picks 10 and 21 respectively.

Eric Benning (#54) rounded out the club’s picks, making 2021 the second consecutive year that Fremantle selected all-Western Australian talent at the national draft table.

Nat Fyfe’s 2021 season was cut short by his shoulder problems. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Eagles ward off free agency raid with mega deal

West Coast’s Tom Barrass is set to sign a mega six-year deal to stay at the Eagles’ in the face of strong interest from the Sydney Swans.

Barrass’s manager Nick Gieschen, from Connors Sports, is in the final stages of a deal which will tie the gun key defender and star free agent to West Coast until 2028.

Barrass, 26, does not come out of contract until next year, but the Eagles have moved early to take the jet backman off the free agency list.

It is a coup for the Eagles as they attempt to stay in the premiership frame beyond next season.

Barrass is one of the best key defenders in the game and had received strong interest from the Swans in recent years, including the October trade period.

Tom Barrass is set to sign a long-term deal with the Eagles. Picture: Michael Klein

But the strong-marking backman has rejected the interest from the Swans and was eager to lock away his future in the west one year early.

It means the Swans could turn their attention to Collingwood free agent Darcy Moore to secure the prime key defender the club is hunting for.

The Magpies have already begun discussions with Moore’s manager Liam Pickering about a new deal, but Moore typically takes his time on contract talks.

The uncertainty surrounding Jordan de Goey’s future as he awaits his New York court appearance makes Moore an even more important signature for the rebuilding Magpies.

But Collingwood remains confident Moore will stay despite another attempt from the Swans to land the All-Australian defender.

Sydney has an excellent young list and another A-Grade defender could help round out its list for an assault on a flag.