Brain Injuries in the AFL

[Beaussie]

Anyone else catch 4Corners last night on the ABC? Very sad and confronting viewing. I honestly didn’t even really understand what CTE was until last night, and I don’t know what the answer is for contact sports going forward.

It is so tragic seeing lives lost from a game people love to play.

This no doubt has also huge implications for not just the AFL, but all contact sports.

[leeroy*NRL*]

I think the NRL is doing a way better job than the AFL in regards to HIA and stand down policy.

especially the last few years with players having to miss games due to head knocks
even coming from the field for 15mins to be assessed, and having extended bench

NRL new the effects it would have on the game and they have hit it HEAD ON

With the AFL AND NRL in the future..

Team lists and squads will have to get bigger to tackle this

they may have to even put into contact that lists the dramas that can come with contact sports.

[Fred]

The AFL have mandatory missing of games - I think it is something like 12 days (but don't quote me), but certainly players are missing quite often due to concussion. Additionally, the AFL have an independent doctor who can actually have the game stopped if he or she feels an incident requires examination. They have also changed the rules re: protecting the player in tackles re: driving head into ground. I think there is an element nowadays, and been saying this for years, that players have come accustomed to getting free kicks for head high and no longer protect themselves as they used to in the past - in my day if you were within 5 metres you were open for a shirt front or hip and shoulder - nowadays many players are running along and are shocked if they get a side bump or hip and shoulder from an opposing player protecting the guy getting the ball. I also see players leading with the head more often, and I think this should be a free kick - which would stop this sort of thing quick smart.