Heritier Lumumba seeking answers on long-term health after series of concussions

HERITIER Lumumba was a mysterious no-show from Melbourne’s first day of training amid fears a lingering concussion problem could jeopardise his career.

Heritier Lumumba is still struggling with concussion. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

HERITIER Lumumba was a mysterious no-show from Melbourne’s first day of training on Monday amid fears a lingering concussion problem could jeopardise his football career.

The Demons have cleared Lumumba to resume training, satisfied he has passed the necessary concussion-related tests after multiple head knocks last season.

But the Collingwood premiership backman has ruled himself out of the start of pre-season training to seek more information about his long-term health.

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He was absent from Gosch’s Paddock as Hawthorn premiership star Jordan Lewis stepped out with his new Melbourne teammates for the first time since his trade bombshell last month.

A time frame has not been set for Lumumba’s return to full training, leaving a cloud hanging over his at times turbulent 223-game career.

Lumumba’s manager, Ben Niall, confirmed his client planned to return to football for the 2017 season.

Heritier Lumumba in action for Casey Scorpions in the VFL. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said the club would support Lumumba’s search for answers.

“Heritier did not train with the full squad as he is currently gathering additional information about his health before making the decision to return fully to pre-season training,” Mahoney said.

“We have been very diligent with our concussion management and we are supportive of Heritier gathering this information.”

Lumumba, 30, played five senior games before suffering his first head knock in Round 6 last season.

The 2010 All-Australian returned through the VFL but received another blow in Round 15, ending his season as he dealt with symptoms including headaches.

The hard-running playmaker is out of contract at the end of next season and is not an automatic selection in the Dees’ best-22 under new coach Simon Goodwin next season, as the emerging Dees attempt to secure their first finals berth in 11 years.

It is expected the former Magpie will come under strong selection pressure from Essendon recruits Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham and slick half-back flankers Christian Salem and Jayden Hunt.

Salem trained and has fully recovered from a thyroid problem which limited him to eight games last season.

Heritier Lumumba crossed to Melbourne in 2014. Picture: Michael Klein

Lumumba joined Melbourne at the end of 2014 after a fallout with Collingwood officials and teammates over not acting on an alleged homophobic slur.

In his farewell speech at Collingwood, Lumumba thanked the club for helping him “find the true meaning of my true name ... which means the prince, the one who will have the last laugh, and (who) is gifted”.

After securing a trade involving Mitch Clark (Geelong) and Travis Varcoe (Collingwood), Lumumba played 19 games and finished 16th in the best-and-fairest in his first season with the Demons in 2015.

He was four days late for the start of pre-season training one year ago due to a visa problem in Congo, and in another twist in June this year, Lumumba said he was struggling with the death of champion boxer Muhammad Ali.

“I’m still mourning the passing of the great Muhammad Ali. I think that is something to note,” Lumumba said.

“That has probably been the most difficult time in this period.”

Melbourne has picks No.47 and No.68 in Friday night’s national draft in Sydney.