Concussion in the AFL: League appoints expert panel to lead investigation into Paul McCrory

The AFL has taken a big step to ensure its review into concussion expert Paul McCrory is truly independent. But what exactly will the specialist panel be looking into? Find out here.

The AFL has been urged to ensure its review into concussion expert Paul McCrory is truly independent after it chose an specialist panel to head up the wide-ranging investigation.

The league has tapped Queen’s Counsel Bernard Quinn to lead the review, given his expertise in “matters involving complex medical/scientific research” as well as work with the Royal Commission into the Victorian bushfires.

University of Queensland Professor of Neuroscience Michael O’Sullivan will provide expert advice with counsel Jane Lindgren to assist Quinn in his review.

The league said its review would investigate the work and research of Florey Institute associate professor McCrory during his time providing advice at the AFL.

It would also examine allegations of plagiarism by McCrory and the circumstances in which he treated AFL and AFLW players after May 2018.

On that date, he provided an enforceable undertaking to the Medical Board of Australia not to perform neurodiagnostic procedures, but the AFL was not aware of them until recent weeks.

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Concussion expert Paul McCrory.

The claims of former AFL players Daniel Venables and Kade Kolodjashnij, who believe McCrory minimised their issues, have been detailed in a series of News Corp exclusive reports in recent weeks.

The review will also investigate all research projects “announced, proposed, conducted or participated in” by McCrory in relation to brain injuries in football.

Former AFL researcher Alan Pearce, who was sidelined by the AFL when conducting research on the brains of players, urged the league to be truly independent.

He said McCrory’s plagiarism allegations included copying slabs of texts from other work and putting different interpretations on them.

One example includes using part of a 2001 statement on concussion for his own 2005 paper, but noting how rule changes were of “little use” when the original text said they were “playing a key role” in limiting concussion.

“He used that text and turned it into something saying (rule changes) weren’t important. It certainly undermines confidence in science. It’s interesting that the same information can be interpreted in a completely different way,” Pearce told News Corp.

“The UK parliamentary inquiry into concussion in sport was accused of marking their own homework and what we have here is the same thing up to this point. I am hoping we can have independent people involved and somehow have the AFL support research but in a more transparent and independent way.”

Former Sun and Demon Kade Kolodjashnij has accused McCrory of downplaying the brain injuries that ended his career. Picture: Tony McDonough

The Medical Board of Australia is also investigating McCrory over claims made in the Herald Sun by former players that he treated them after the May 2018 enforceable ban.

It is not known if he performed those banned tests, but AFL players are expected to be interviewed about their treatment by McCrory.

AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon admitted on Monday McCrory was an “important and long-standing advisor on concussion to the AFL” who was understood to be the pre-eminent expert in the field.

“Protecting the health and wellbeing of all people who participate in our game is the highest priority for the AFL and we take concussion and the protection of the brain health of those playing our game extremely seriously. It is important that the independent review closely look at the questions that have been raised in relation to Professor McCrory’s work for the AFL,” Mr Dillon said.

Originally published as Concussion in the AFL: League appoints expert panel to lead investigation into Paul McCrory