‘Courageous’ former Eagle sues club, AFL and doctors over injuries

A former West Coast Eagles player is suing the AFL, his old club and two doctors over injuries he suffered while playing for West Coast.

Brad Sheppard, who suffered two serious concussions that led to his early retirement in 2021 at the age of 30, alleges he suffered losses as a result of negligence or a breach of contract by those he is suing.

Brad Sheppard of the Eagles handballs whilst being tackled by Bradley Hill and Cyril Rioli of the Hawks during the 2015 AFL Grand Final match between the Hawthorn Hawks in 2015.Credit: Quinn Rooney

In a writ lodged in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, Sheppard names doctors Gerard Taylor and Alex Strahan as defendants, along with the AFL and West Coast.

Filed on July 5, the writ claims “damages, interest and costs arising from personal injuries suffered by the plaintiff during his employment with the Australian Football League and the West Coast Eagles Football Club from 25 November 2009 onwards.”

The writ goes on to say that “such accident, injuries, loss and damage having resulted from the negligence and/or breach of contract and/or breach of statutory duty” of the named defendants.

AFL spokesperson Jay Allen said: “We are aware of the matter and will abide by the court’s directive.”

A West Coast spokesperson said the club would not be making any comment with the matter before the courts.

The 216-game veteran has engaged the services of injury compensation law firm Bradford Legal.

West Coast’s website describes Sheppard as “one of the best and most courageous medium-sized defenders of his era” and notes he was “desperately unlucky” to miss playing in the 2018 premiership team after tearing a hamstring.

Sheppard told the ABC in 2023 that a concussion suffered in a western derby against the Fremantle Dockers in 2021 had major impacts on his life for six months.

“The first two months I couldn’t even get my heart rate up over 100 without having headspins,” he said.

Eagles defender Brad Sheppard sustained two concussions in 2021.Credit: Getty Images

“And my concentration levels just weren’t there, my ability to focus on anything. I was just constantly tired.”

The 33-year-old is still plagued by concussion symptoms, with the ailment forcing him to quit a car dealership job in Broome last year.

Twelve days is now the minimum number of days before an AFL or AFLW player can return to play if they safely and medically clear the 11 steps in current concussion protocols.

AFL legal counsel Stephen Meade said the protocols were based on medical and scientific advice.

“We play a contact sport and there is always going to be risk, however over recent years we have continued to take action to strengthen match-day protocols and amend the laws of the game to discourage high contact, and we will continue to do so,” Meade said.

The AFL extended their return-to-play concussion protocols to 12 days in 2021, but Sheppard doesn’t feel that’s enough.

“I think the optimal level I’d like to see for players is 28 days, about a month off footy,” Sheppard said.

“It’s hard to say that to a player because you’re there for performance, it’s a performance industry.”

Sheppard’s misfortune represents the second serious concussion issue the Eagles have faced in recent times.

In 2021, lawyer and brain injury awareness advocate Peter Jess said former West Coast midfielder Daniel Venables deserved a $10 million payout from the AFL as a concussion compensation.

Venables played in the 2018 premiership side in his debut AFL season.

But a devastating concussion suffered in round nine of 2019 ended his career after just 21 games.

Venables was forced to retire in 2021 at the age of 22 after an independent board of neurologists and neuroscientists declared it was medically unsafe for him to play again.

Drs Taylor and Strahan have been contacted for comment.

With AAP

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