The story of Guy Walker, a serious cricketer, who was drafted as a rookie a few years ago but unfortunately spent his time as a Demon on the injured list.

Former AFL and Big Bash League player Guy Walker opens up on life-changing disability claim

Story is behind a paywall. What is (or was) his disability and what's he up to now?

2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Story is behind a paywall. What is (or was) his disability and what's he up to now?

Diagnosed with suprascapular neuropathy which ended his sports career, left him with maximum 50 per cent of shoulder movement for the rest of your life and around three years of health coverage. Covid19 made access to health carers problematic. He was not able to work and his situation with care was becoming more and more difficult. Ultimately, contacted by former Dees teammate Kade Kolodjashnij, who had himself been forced into premature retirement because of concussion effects. He put him onto an insurance expert who reviewed his situation and now has more full insurance and access to specialists. He is hopeful of securing better treatment for a better outcome for himself.

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Diagnosed with suprascapular neuropathy which ended his sports career, left him with maximum 50 per cent of shoulder movement for the rest of your life and around three years of health coverage. Covid19 made access to health carers problematic. He was not able to work and his situation with care was becoming more and more difficult. Ultimately, contacted by former Dees teammate Kade Kolodjashnij, who had himself been forced into premature retirement because of concussion effects. He put him onto an insurance expert who reviewed his situation and now has more full insurance and access to specialists. He is hopeful of securing better treatment for a better outcome for himself.

Thanks WJ. Is the condition considered to be a sports-related injury or illness? Or is it a condition that anyone could get?

I hope he can get better and have a good life from hereon. 

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Thanks WJ. Is the condition considered to be a sports-related injury or illness? Or is it a condition that anyone could get?

I hope he can get better and have a good life from hereon. 

Not sure as to the cause but most likely sports related (bowler at cricket and played footy).

3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Thanks WJ. Is the condition considered to be a sports-related injury or illness? Or is it a condition that anyone could get?

I hope he can get better and have a good life from hereon. 

“Never had a problem with my shoulder before. I played my first Big Bash game against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, and felt something go in my shoulder throwing,"

"I ended a year later having a major shoulder reconstruction, rehab for a whole year. Unfortunately, the first surgery didn’t work properly and I was out for a second season in a row. It was a really tough time, and the start to my shoulder problems.

"I took a step back and was realistic – I was a right-handed fast bowler, and unfortunately I had so many shoulder surgeries I couldn’t throw properly any more. I had to sacrifice and put down that loss of cricket, which was really difficult for me.

“I sort of made the decision to transfer from cricket to AFL. I was training with Melbourne for the first six months. The last session before Christmas, I went into a tackling drill and got tackled by one of the littlest blokes on Melbourne’s list and felt my shoulder kind of die.

"I walked into the neurologist’s office – I could see in her face it wasn’t good. I could see in her face and the first thing she said to me was you’ve got 40 per-cent of a shoulder for the rest of your life, and you’ve to retire from cricket and AFL immediately."

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/amp/afl/news/afl-2021-cricket-big-bash-league-victoria-melbourne-demons-guy-walker-retirement-injuries/1r4q0eheuw5is10usksqvw49g7

 

Thanks WJ and Nascent. A bit of a reality check for us supporters who demand so much of our team with little appreciation of the personal challenges they may face.