AFL accused of lacking ‘integrity, morals and ethics’ for delaying injury payout to former Bulldog Nigel Kellett

Former Bulldog Nigel Kellett, diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and CTE symptoms, is still waiting on a promised$1 million-plus injury payout from the league.

1992. Nigel Kellett and Simon Atkins celebrate. Footscray v North Melbourne. Neg: 920420/171 [Herald Sun 20/4/1992]

The AFL has been accused of lacking “integrity, morals and ethics” for delaying a promised $1 million-plus injury payout to former Bulldog Nigel Kellett.

Kellett has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and CTE symptoms, which neuro experts say he has likely acquired from repeated collisions suffered during his 10-year career at the Kennel.

The disease, which is similar to what Hollywood star Bruce Willis is suffering, has robbed Kellett of his mind’s ability to find words and to speak fluently.

In a sign of desperation, the 54-year-old has planned and attempted at least six suicides in recent years.

Former Bulldog Nigel Kellett and partner Sue Rudolph. Picture: Michael Klein

AFL lawyer Peter Gordon – and former Bulldogs president – declared in a signed document dated November 8, 2022, that Kellett would be paid a monthly hardship allowance and a lump capital sum. The allowance is being paid, but 16 months after Gordon’s initial promise, the lump sum has not.

Kellett’s lawyer John Edgar, from Frenkel Partners, said: “The AFL should honour its obligation to look after these players who have been injured in the course of their playing days. In Nigel’s case, his need is immediate and overwhelming.’’

Kellett’s partner, Sue Rudolph, said: “You’d think an organisation like the AFL would have the integrity, morals and ethics to honour their word. I don’t get why we’re still waiting.’’

Sue said that despite her impassioned letters and texts to the AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, chairman Richard Goyder and legal counsel Stephen Meade, the situation has been lost in a quagmire of legalities.

Rudolph has called out the AFL.

Kellett sings the song with Simon Atkins in 1992.

She said that, at a recent meeting, a leading neurologist shared the gruesome prognosis that people with FTD of Kellett’s variant typically lived between seven and 12 years. Sue has been told Kellett has likely lived with the disease for about nine years.

“We don’t have a long future together,’’ Sue said. ’’We don’t get to grow old together. We just have the now.

“I expect the AFL to uphold their word and deliver on what they promised. That they haven’t is shameful. The AFL knows about Nigel’s brain damage. They’ve seen his medical file and reports.’’

The AFL was contacted for comment.

Kellett’s story is revealed a day after the AFL-endorsed Danny Frawley match for mental health. Called “Spud’s Game: Time 2 Talk”, AFL executives joined almost 70,000 fans at the MCG in a show of support for people suffering mental health issues.