Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw retires due to ongoing concussion issues

Just two weeks out from the club’s season opener, Melbourne premiership player Angus Brayshaw has made the difficult decision to end his 167-game career.

Melbourne premiership midfielder Angus Brayshaw hopes his retirement at age 28 can help make football safer for players battling concussion.

The prolific midfielder told his teammates at 11am on Thursday he would end his career – which was dubbed a medical retirement by Melbourne – following the discovery of microscopic changes in brain scans undertaken since his last concussion in September.

While the 167-gamer wanted to play on this season, the tough decision was made in consultation with medical staff, the AFL, his manager Tom Petroro from TLA and, importantly, Brayshaw’s family.

Brayshaw, who is one of the most popular figures at the club, will leave a considerable void on and off the field, but the decision was made in the best interests of his long-term health.

Angus Brayshaw and coach Simon Goodwin last September. Picture: Michael Klein.

The Brayden Maynard incident from last year’s qualifying final. Picture: Fox Sports

Brayshaw said he was shattered, but took pride in what he had achieved on the field over nine seasons.

“I am devastated that I can no longer play the game that I love, but I respect the verdict of the medical professionals, and the importance of putting my health before my career,” he said.

“I am really proud of what I have achieved over the past decade. I have been able to live out my childhood dream and while it’s been cut short, I am forever grateful to everyone who has been involved.

“Concussion is a massive issue facing our game. I hope from this, a terrible result for me personally, can come some positive outcomes for the future of player safety.”

Melbourne plans to keep Brayshaw, if possible, in an off-field role at the club.

It is believed Brayshaw has suffered at least six serious concussions, and four in a 12-month period in 2017 which prompted him to take a break from the game.

It was in that year he began wearing a helmet, which would become a trademark for the rest of his career.

His brother, Hamish, said on Thursday before the retirement announcement that he hoped Angus would give the game away.

Hamish Brayshaw referenced the fact that Angus’ fiancee Danielle is the daughter of St Kilda great Danny Frawley, who was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a form of brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head – after his death in 2019.

The Demons confirmed Brayshaw has been ‘medically retired’. Photo by Michael Klein

Brayshaw celebrates during the club’s drought-breaking 2021 premiership. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

“It’s hard because obviously (Angus) is engaged to Danielle Frawley and there is a history with the Frawley family,” Hamish told SEN WA.

“Personally and selfishly as a brother, I’d like him to be probably conservative. He has played 160-odd games and he has won a flag.”

Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert said Brayshaw was a much-loved Demon.

“Currently, our total focus is going into supporting Angus, his fiance Danielle and the broader Brayshaw family after this devastating news,” Pert said.

In recent months, Brayshaw has been consulting with neurologists since his latest concussion in the finals last year which left Brayshaw knocked out after a heavy bump from Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard.

Maynard left the ground in an attempt to smother but crashed hard into Brayshaw’s head early in the Magpies’ qualifying final win, which will be Brayshaw’s last AFL game.

Maynard told the this masthead he couldn’t sleep and felt sick after the Brayshaw hit last year which the Collingwood defender was cleared for at the AFL tribunal.

The AFL has since changed its rules to outlaw similar incidents.

Brayshaw in full flight on the track this month. Picture: Michael Klein

AFL footy boss Laura Kane said Brayshaw’s decision to retire was “one more courageous act that Angus consistently demonstrated throughout his decorated career across 167 games.”

Four players retired from the AFL last year due to concussion as Collingwood premiership defender Nathan Murphy also considers the risks of his serious concussion history.

Murphy last week pulled out of the Magpie’s pre-season matches and said he hadn’t yet considered retirement.

Brayshaw, who was taken pick three in the 2014 draft, has enjoyed an excellent career playing across the ground.

He played an excellent game in the 2021 Grand Final, helping lead Melbourne to a drought-breaking premiership and finished third in the 2018 Brownlow Medal.

He was contracted to the club until the end of 2028.

Melbourne officials have been aware Brayshaw would likely make the call to retire in recent days.

It has been a challenging summer for Melbourne which has also dealt with Joel Smith’s failed drugs test, Clayton Oliver’s personal issues and a legal dispute involving former president Glen Bartlett, amid allegations about the club’s culture.