I encourage anyone interested in learning more about traumatic brain injury and concussion to check out the below website.  Lots of brilliant free resources in the way of fact sheets, 15 minute online training and more comprehensive online training for those wanting to learn more.  Great resources.  Get informed.  You never know when the information may be of benefit.

https://www.connectivity.org.au/

I should mention I am not paid to promote that website!  I am a nurse, parent of kids who play sport & volunteer in various organisations.  Really happy to spread the word about anything that will help our community.  

https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/1/12/21554602/the-cost-of-being-the-king-spencer-fisher-ufc

Everyone should read this article about Spencer Fisher, former mma fighter, describing his rise and fall dealing with concussion and CTE. Being mma it seem far removed from football, but not so far when you think of Spud Frawley and Jeff White. 

“He’d just kind of black out and have, like, a slight convulsion,” she says. “It wasn’t epilepsy, but it was a convulsion. I’ve seen him do it a couple of times, where his eyes are open...” She freezes her face and flutters her eyes. “Just kind of, gone. I just sit there and shake him to get him to come back, and he always starts sweating afterward.”

My former neighbour played rugby for years, at a relatively high level. He was prone to being very aggressive ... I witnessed him going from talking calmly to losing his temper/shouting violently in seconds. 

He drove me out of my old house. I didn't feel safe living next to him. (Inner city/terraces houses very close together, and there was an 'issue' between us.)

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt by presuming he had/has CTE, rather than him simply being a psycho. He seemed to exhibit classic CTE behaviour. 

NO reports, as far as I know, attribute it to CTE or refer to any cause, indeed, but this thread seemed the nearest to 'suitable': Troy Selwood dead at 40, with reports tagged with Lifeline and Beyond Blue.

Sad.

Edited February 4, 20251 yr by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

10 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

NO reports, as far as I know, attribute it to CTE or refer to any cause, indeed, but this thread seemed the nearest to 'suitable': Troy Selwood dead at 40, with reports tagged with Lifeline and Beyond Blue.

Sad.

Beyond words Timothy, beyond words. 

The AFL will be dragged kicking and screaming to update the rules around concussion protocols.

And we the fans will have to accept that our favourite players will be missing for more than the paltry 12 days at the moment.

Here are the rules around boxing…..yes boxing….with a 30 day minimum for non contact after concussion.

If that “sport” is doing it right now, the the AFL will be forced to catch up, through various legal action , no doubt.

 https://djsir.vic.gov.au/combat-sports/contestant-safety/non-fight-periods-and-return-to-fight-strategy#:~:text=Contestants with a diagnosed or,for at least 30 days.

 

Edited February 4, 20251 yr by george_on_the_outer

If you haven’t already seen it, watch Plumb on iview. 

Surely it's coincidence but Frawley, Shane Tuck and now Sellwood are casualties with close relatives who also played at the highest level. On top of that Brayshaw, Shaun Smith and Paddy McCartin all had to retire and all have family that played too. Of course there are other players such as Venables and Daniel Bell also badly impacted by head knocks. But it seems like so far there's some weird correlation between concussions and playing families - people I would say love AFL so much. 

 

Anyway RIP Sellwood. AFL shouldn't ruin lives. 😢

1 hour ago, Fanatique Demon said:

If you haven’t already seen it, watch Plumb on iview. 

This.

Do.

2 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

The AFL will be dragged kicking and screaming to update the rules around concussion protocols.

And we the fans will have to accept that our favourite players will be missing for more than the paltry 12 days at the moment.

Here are the rules around boxing…..yes boxing….with a 30 day minimum for non contact after concussion.

If that “sport” is doing it right now, the the AFL will be forced to catch up, through various legal action , no doubt.

 https://djsir.vic.gov.au/combat-sports/contestant-safety/non-fight-periods-and-return-to-fight-strategy#:~:text=Contestants with a diagnosed or,for at least 30 days.

 

Yep.

As loss-of-player outcomes become greater for clubs, would there be matching outcomes for the clubs causing the concussions?

Melbourne: loses Brayshaw permanently. Collingwood: retains Maynard seamlessly. Answers own question.

Adam Hunter has been found dead in WA.

Same tag lines, such a sad thing to read. 

Be kind to each other and if you are struggling please, reach out. It's not weakness.

7 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

The AFL will be dragged kicking and screaming to update the rules around concussion protocols.

And we the fans will have to accept that our favourite players will be missing for more than the paltry 12 days at the moment.

Here are the rules around boxing…..yes boxing….with a 30 day minimum for non contact after concussion.

If that “sport” is doing it right now, the the AFL will be forced to catch up, through various legal action , no doubt.

 https://djsir.vic.gov.au/combat-sports/contestant-safety/non-fight-periods-and-return-to-fight-strategy#:~:text=Contestants with a diagnosed or,for at least 30 days.

 

I suspect that in another 50 years or so (hopefully sooner) society will wonder why boxing was still allowed in the first quarter of the 21st century.

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I suspect that in another 50 years or so (hopefully sooner) society will wonder why boxing was still allowed in the first quarter of the 21st century.

It beggars belief. Only a couple of sports that actually target the head.

6 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I suspect that in another 50 years or so (hopefully sooner) society will wonder why boxing was still allowed in the first quarter of the 21st century.

Yep! While nearly other sport's desperately trying to avoid knocks to the head in this one the best 'strategy'  is to punch the opponent so damn hard in the head  they get a concussion.