Not strictly on the Zurich issue but the Supreme Court today handed down a big impact decision in the world of AFL and concussion.

Justice Keogh approved that allegedly concussed players formed a class and did not as argued by the AFL and Geelong need to sue the AFL and clubs on an individual basis.

This is big to say the least.

MFC can expect quite a few claims. In his judgment the Judge noted that Geelong alone could face up to 300 claims.

Court documents do not name the players who have joined Rooke, or the 90 overall registered group members, but they did confirm that Margalit Lawyers is also representing AFL great Gary Ablett snr in his separate concussion case against the AFL, Cats and Hawthorn.

While the class action still covers players who took to the field from January 1, 1985 to March 14, 2023, the initial trial will focus on the period Rooke played in the AFL from 2002 to 2010, helping to provide clarity for those who played before and after those dates.

In his analysis of earlier arguments, Keogh delivered a sobering warning for the AFL and the Cats, stating that “there are almost 300 players who played AFL games for Geelong during the claim period and who potentially suffered concussions and brain injury”.

“There is a real prospect of Rooke establishing that concussion is not an unusual injury for players to sustain during AFL games or training. Further, the class of group members in this proceeding includes persons who are in a close relationship with injured players and have suffered psychiatric illness because of injury to those players,” Keogh said.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-cats-fail-in-bid-to-quash-concussion-class-action-20250910-p5mtup.html

This is perhaps a world first and will be closely watched

Edited September 10, 2025Sep 10 by Diamond_Jim

5 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Not strictly on the Zurich issue but the Supreme Court today handed down a big impact decision in the world of AFL and concussion.

Justice Keogh approved that allegedly concussed players formed a class and did not as argued by the AFL and Geelong need to sue the AFL and clubs on an individual basis.

This is big to say the least.

MFC can expect quite a few claims. In his judgment the Judge noted that Geelong alone could face up to 300 claims.

Court documents do not name the players who have joined Rooke, or the 90 overall registered group members, but they did confirm that Margalit Lawyers is also representing AFL great Gary Ablett snr in his separate concussion case against the AFL, Cats and Hawthorn.

While the class action still covers players who took to the field from January 1, 1985 to March 14, 2023, the initial trial will focus on the period Rooke played in the AFL from 2002 to 2010, helping to provide clarity for those who played before and after those dates.

In his analysis of earlier arguments, Keogh delivered a sobering warning for the AFL and the Cats, stating that “there are almost 300 players who played AFL games for Geelong during the claim period and who potentially suffered concussions and brain injury”.

“There is a real prospect of Rooke establishing that concussion is not an unusual injury for players to sustain during AFL games or training. Further, the class of group members in this proceeding includes persons who are in a close relationship with injured players and have suffered psychiatric illness because of injury to those players,” Keogh said.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-cats-fail-in-bid-to-quash-concussion-class-action-20250910-p5mtup.html

This is perhaps a world first and will be closely watched

Will certainly change the playing field.

The AFL will be 💩 themselves imho

7 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Will certainly change the playing field.

The AFL will be 💩 themselves imho

They will have insurance but will it be the right type and for enough dollars.

The bigger problem is going forward no one will insure them and hell will break loose. The Tribunal policies on head high hits aren't solely about protecting players as we all know.

They apparently dont do much but players will be all wearing helmets by 2030, even just for optics.

Also the sooner they adopt world rugby's smart mouthguards the better.