Talking Footy

Source: The Courier-Mail

STATE of Origin great Willie Carne says football has become so dangerous that he does not want his children to risk the massive head injuries he suffered.

As the sporting spotlight falls on the NRL and AFL finals, doctors are warning head knocks could have long-term health implications.

Carne, who was knocked out a dozen times and now suffers short-term memory loss, says he would prefer his two young sons play golf.

His concerns are backed by former Broncos teammate and Australian captain Darren Lockyer, who is calling for the banning of the shoulder charge and the introduction of independent doctors to monitor concussed players.

Their comments come as more than 3000 former gridiron players in the US have joined a class action lawsuit against the NFL over football-related head traumas

Carne, 43, once regarded as the world's best rugby league winger, lined up for the Broncos 136 times and starred in 12 Origin battles and 10 Tests for Australia.


Former rugby league player Willie Carne says he has fears for his sons Will, 4, and Jed, 2, if they take up the game. Picture: Glenn Barnes

He says he was knocked out "a dozen times" playing league and then rugby union for the Queensland Reds.

"My short-term memory these days is terrible," he said.

"Based on what I went through, I don't want my kids to play footy. I'd rather they did something safer like tennis and golf.

"Will is 4 1/2 and Jed is 2 1/2 and in another couple of years Will is probably going to want to play footy with his mates.

"But parents and the administrators have to protect players especially the kids with stronger guidelines and laws. I'd rather my boys didn't play football at all."


Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton said concussions suffered by footballers were "a ticking time bomb" and expected many ex-players to present with signs of brain injuries in years to come.

"What we're seeing in America will likely start to occur here," he said. "Players are now bigger, stronger and faster than ever. The collisions are like car accidents. But the brain does not become any more resilient to blows.

"Rugby league television ads featuring massive hits are appalling and officials really need to tighten their rules on things like the shoulder charge. It's no stretch of the imagination to suggest a player could be killed getting hit by one of those.

"Make no mistake a concussion is a serious brain injury. Sport should not be about how much damage you do it should be about the positive aspects the strength, speed and agility."

Lockyer writes in his column in The Courier-Mail today that "the shoulder charge just has to go".


Darren Locker wants the shoulder charge banned.

"People who played 20 years ago will say we are going soft, but the impacts are more intense," he writes.

"Mums aren't going to put their kids into rugby league if we see hits like these shoulder charges in recent months.

"Players are getting concussed multiple times a season and it adds up over time."

Dr Chris Hatherly, the national research manager for Alzheimer's Australia, told The Courier-Mail there was "conclusive evidence" repeated head injuries dramatically increased the risk of developing Alzheimer's and dementia, with a severe concussion increasing the risk by 4.5 times.

Carne said he was "sickened" by rugby league highlights showing massive hits and players knocked cold.

"Rugby league should be promoting the magic of the game, not the physical damage," he said.

"Kids see blokes being flattened and think it's awesome. They don't realise the long-term damage that hits like that can cause."

Carne switched from league to rugby union in 1997 but says it was no safer. "I got knocked out at the Reds as well.

"I'd undergo a heap of tests after I had concussion and I seemed to be OK but you don't know what's going to evolve 10 years down the track."

Former South Sydney premiership winner and coach George Piggins, one of the toughest men to ever play rugby league, has also called for the banning of the shoulder charge after Rabbitohs player Greg Inglis was suspended for three weeks for flattening Dragons player Dean Young.

"If they don't do something about it, someone will die," Piggins told The Courier-Mail.

"I used to have a reputation as a tough player but, mate, I went out there to play footy, not to kill someone."

King-Eliagh wrote:

Hahaha

The game involves physical contact. Take your skirt off Xman! Though im undecided on shoulder charges this thread is about good ol fashioned biffo so stop your hysterical...



...delusions so you can discuss the theme of this thread properly. If you ask me, you're brain washed/damaged already, such has been the hysterical nature of your arguments in here.

Oh and your highlighted section re telvised add of big hits being "appalling" ... so whattaya think about the essendon hawks intro this year which glorified on field fisticuffs in the AFL? Contradicting yourself or your code with your lilly boy rubbish in this thread Xman? I think both :D

King-Eliagh wrote:

Evidence? What? You're using medical evidence, using data from violent events which dont occur on the footy field in a hysterical fear campaign.

Xman please provide relevant evidence. Where are the deaths and brain injuries from on field fisticuffs?

As I said, we should be more worried about bee stings...i certainly am.

Xman you've gone all koooky my friend, crazed and confused like poor helen lovejoy. LEt's keep the evidence relevant now shall we?

King-Eliagh wrote:

you've got diddly evidence. Helen Lovejoy lives in the flesh of Xman folks!

King-Eliagh wrote:

violence in junior sport is a ok. RL and MArngrook are violent sports. Are you un ok with violence in junior sport helen? who am i kidding, you're helen lovejoy!

As for the fist fighting causes head injury Q...ahhh duh, of course it does. Why do you ask such dumby Q's Helen?

King-Eliagh wrote:

I dont think parents should be getting involved with on field fisticuffs, no. I've clearly explained my viewpoint countless times in this thread Xman, yet you still fail to understand plain english....what's wrong Helen? Would you like me to explain my viewpoint one more time?

There's also a link between marngrook and head injury, and RL and head injury. Facts are, much more head injury comes during the normal state of play than the biffo we all love and enjoy. So again I urge you Xman/Helen, synchronised swimming or marbles are the sports for you. ... unless you condone violence which causes head injuries that is.

All over you like a rag helen.

Striker wrote:

Adults are capable of punching at appropriate times. Children are not.