Concussion epidemic: Nightcliff Tigers star Trent Melville opens up on serious head injury

A NTFL Chaney Medallist has bravely shared details on how his whole life has changed one year after being concussed. Read how the injury continues to plague him.

Nightcliff’s Trent Melville had just driven to work when he realised he had no memory of how he had got there.

It was then he knew he was in trouble.

It was a world away from the star’s Chaney Medal winning exploits in the 2019-20 Nightcliff grand final where he kicked five goals against St Mary’s, or his contributions in another epic premiership win the year after.

The Tiger has now been out of the game for more than a year after suffering the long term effects of concussion, which have impacted every aspect of his life.

The knock he suffered against Palmerston at Cazalys Arena in Round 3 of the 2022-23 season led to the eighth concussion of his playing career

Unlike the previous incidents, however, this knock continues to plague the 31-year-old more than a year later, disrupting every aspect of his life.

Melville didn’t think much of the incident at the time.

He made sure he left the field and went to hospital after blacking out momentarily after the knock.

But that forgotten drive into work a week later raised alarm bells.

“I went to pick up a loose footy and as I stood up I got cleaned up by someone, we smashed heads and I sort of blacked out for a second,” he said.

“I didn’t think too much of it and got up about 10 seconds later and took myself off the ground and off to hospital, not thinking much of it.

Nightcliff's Trent Melville won the 2019-20 NTFL Chaney Medal

“About a week after my headaches were getting worse, and I drove to work and when I arrived I couldn’t remember driving which is when I thought ‘something’s not right here’.

“I went to hospital and that’s when I was taken from work and told not to drive and things like that, because I had no recollection of the morning which is pretty scary and dangerous.”

More than a year down the track the migraines persist, and Melville can’t even attend games at the moment after developing an aversion to bright lights.

“At the beginning it was pretty much like chronic migraines, they were unbearable, fatigue, couldn’t get out of bed, lots of memory loss and dizziness,” he said.

“I was really struggling and I had to take time off work which settled things a bit; from there it’s kind of been a rollercoaster, some days I feel okay and the next I’m feeling terrible.”

Trent Melville can’t even go to games at the moment because of an aversion to bright lights, while the noise makes it difficult to go out with mates.

The injury has also forced him to transition to part time work, bringing about a substantial financial impact.
His social life has also been heavily reduced.

“It’s impacted my whole life, for pretty much the past year I’ve struggled to work, had to go part time and that’s had a pretty big impact on me financially, I’ve probably lost half my yearly wages,” Melville said.

“I’ve had to go to a lot of appointments which is stressful, had to change my diet, I can’t socialise, I can’t do much at all, I pretty much work half a day and then go home.

“I can’t go out and have dinner or a drink, and I can’t go to the footy at the moment because the lights are too bright and I can’t handle it.

“Everyone thinks you’ll get a bit better every day and then suddenly be fine, but that’s not how head injuries work, some days can be good and others I’ll be down in the dumps.”

Trent Melville starred again in the 2020-21 NTFL grand final in which his Tigers beat St Mary’s in extra time. Picture: Che Chorley

Melville has played senior footy for 13 years and looking back believes one of the big issues in the game, and sport in general, is there isn’t enough education around what to do after being hit in the head.

And while he’s had great support from his employer, Melville feels that same support was not extended by AFLNT, leaving him to seek out and research his own care routine.

“I’ve played senior footy for 13 years and I’ve never been educated on what exactly to do post-concussion injury,” he said.

“We know the stuff like don’t drink or go to sleep, but not how to manage it and now I do around diet, sleep and exercising, but it’s too late, I didn’t know at the beginning.

“I feel if I did my situation could have been avoided, we need to educate people on what they need to post-concussion because I’m 31 and I had absolutely no idea.

“There’s probably online resources, but are we reading them or teaching them at clubs? Probably not. I’m a grown man who headed back to work on Monday, and I regret that now.”

Melville has since been in contact with doctors from Territory Sports Medicine, specialists in Cairns and Doctor Brett Jarosz from Optimise Sports Chiropractic in Melbourne, who’s an expert in treating concussion.

While being able to play again is the aim, he just wants his life back to normal first.

“There’s just no timeline, you have to keep an open mind, I might wake up tomorrow and be fine or wait six to 12 months, you just have to keep persisting, and do the right things,” he said.

“I just really want to get back to work and be able to socialise with my friends, I’d obviously love to play, but I need to get a lot of other things right first and that will be a bonus.”

Trent Melville with the ball at Gardens Oval. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Nightcliff Tigers have shared links to fundraisers for Melville on their Facebook page in recent weeks to help him seek out advice from doctors interstate.

The AFLNT said it prioritised the health and safety of participants at all levels of the game and took concussion management very seriously.

“AFLNT is aware of Trent’s concussive event and has on several occasions made contact with him including to express its best wishes to him and his family in his recovery,” an AFLNT spokeswoman said.

“AFLNT has been in regular contact with Nightcliff Football Club and will continue to offer support to Trent, including through subject matter experts and medical professionals.”

The AFL released its strategic plan to sport-related concussion in March formalising a guiding framework for the industry’s approach to concussion through to 2026.

It follows more than 30 changes to concussion protocols, tribunal guidelines and on-field rules over the past two decades to protect the head and improve the response to head knocks.

The AFL has agreed to an increased financial investment in the AFL Players’ Injury and Hardship Fund with a view to expanding and increasing payments and benefits available to former AFL and AFLW players who suffered serious long-term injuries.

Concussion management information and resources for all levels of Australian football are available at afl.com.au/concussion/.