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.

761 days: Brayshaw's "terrible existence" amid insurance...

This remains one of the great injustices in modern football.

The sooner we rid ourselves of these parasites the better.

It’s obviously a very delicate matter and if it didn’t involve one of our very favourite ex players we probably wouldn’t care less, but at the end of the day are we happy to have a high profile sponsor like this or not, bearing in mind that they’re still a business that needs to make a profit, without acting illegally or irresponsibly

Edited yesterday at 04:501 day by joeboy

Sorry but what an insult to have that sponsor on our jumper when they won't pay out.

On 23/08/2025 at 12:38, Nicko said:

If this is true

https://apple.news/AvuyRRFr8SD-_Jvyit2N59A

‘…major sponsor of Melbourne as part of a deal signed last year which has since caused some of Brayshaw’s best friends - who still play for the Demons - significant embarrassment.

Zurich’s logo on the fronts of the players’ jumpers serves as a constant reminder of their retired mate’s ongoing suffering from head knocks.’

It is well past the time to release Zurich from their financial commitments to us! Maybe they can use their sponsorship dollars to payout the players that deserve it!

Get the Gaffa tape out this weekend boys before you walk on the field. F them

I wonder if players in the near future will have to sign wavers for concussion based injuries before they are allowed to play

Kick Zurich to the curb

Said it ages ago

The poor bloke is being spied on

Can’t play golf

Golf!

Putting weight on which would be a really bad cherry on top for an elite sportsman

Being spied on!

KICK THEM TO THE CURB

Tape up the logo to send a message, f them

4 hours ago, red and blue forever said:

I wonder if players in the near future will have to sign wavers for concussion based injuries before they are allowed to play

I don't think legally they can as it won't stand up due to other legislation/laws overriding...but maybe one of our lawyers could confirm....

The Zurich logo sits on the Melbourne guernsey while Zurich's hired doctor — one against seven — blocks a former Melbourne player from money he is clearly owed. 761 days. Private investigators. Wedding photos submitted as evidence. This is what the sponsorship relationship looks like when the veneer comes off.

But Zurich is not alone. Westpac was ordered by the Federal Court to pay $1.3 billion — the largest civil penalty in Australian corporate history — for 23 million breaches of anti-money laundering law, including failures to monitor transactions linked to child exploitation networks. Westpac then sued its own insurers to recover $400 million of that penalty. It is now the principal partner of Cricket Australia, its logo on the Australian cricket shirt. Rehabilitation complete. The sport washes the stain, the stain subsidises the sport. No Westpac employee was prosecuted.

Researchers have documented this pattern. A 2024 peer-reviewed study found that harmful industries — tobacco, gambling, alcohol, fossil fuels — use sports sponsorship specifically as a public relations strategy to counter negative perceptions of their products. Sport is purchased to launder reputation.

Angus Brayshaw cannot speak publicly, cannot work, cannot play golf without private investigators documenting it. Melbourne FC's silence is not neutrality. It is a choice. And it is the same choice every code makes every time it accepts money from industries whose conduct, examined without the gloss of sport, would make most supporters recoil.

It's disgusting. Insurers love to pretend they have your best interests at heart, right up until it's time for them to do their job.

I can't imagine how difficult this is for the poor guy. Imagine having to walk away from your career, your mates and support network, the reason you get up in the morning - and then get punished for it.

Zurich need to be punished themselves for this. Get them off the jumper and out of the club.

15 hours ago, red and blue forever said:

I wonder if players in the near future will have to sign wavers for concussion based injuries before they are allowed to play

do you think the concussion rules are about protecting the players.

Yes to some extent but really it's about protecting the AFL and clubs from liability.

Insurance is a different kettle in that it's all about pricing of risk. Going forward insurers can if they wish simply exclude concussion related injuries from cover.

AFL players are already excluded from workcover.

All that to one side Gus had a policy with cover and it certainly looks like he should be paid

13 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

do you think the concussion rules are about protecting the players.

Yes to some extent but really it's about protecting the AFL and clubs from liability.

Insurance is a different kettle in that it's all about pricing of risk. Going forward insurers can if they wish simply exclude concussion related injuries from cover.

AFL players are already excluded from workcover.

All that to one side Gus had a policy with cover and it certainly looks like he should be paid

Excluded from WorkCover while playing? What about training -both on the field and in the gym/pool, etc - and the standard non-football related workplace injuries? Also, WorkCover is Victoria's workplace insurer. Is it the same in all other States and Territories?

Being able to sue somebody for concussion or mental health reasons and getting a pay out from some organisation is going to be the the killer of AFL football let alone junior football and other sports. AFL footballers get paid well these days , the players should have their own insurance. We may even get to a stage whereby players will sue players from other club due to sustained concussion. Biggest winners will be the Lawyers naturally.

Sean Murphy, father of ex-Pie Nathan, told me some time ago that Nathan and James were paying in the order of $20k per year in premiums.

Like James, Zurich have been relentless in digging into Nathan's past including speaking with his U13's coach.

43 minutes ago, Coolx2 said:

Being able to sue somebody for concussion or mental health reasons and getting a pay out from some organisation is going to be the the killer of AFL football let alone junior football and other sports. AFL footballers get paid well these days , the players should have their own insurance. We may even get to a stage whereby players will sue players from other club due to sustained concussion. Biggest winners will be the Lawyers naturally.

This isn't the US; there are substantial protections against vexatious / litigious claims and this isn't the Australian landscape at all. It's an extremely unnuanced take.

I think elsewhere at least one person has mentioned that we are of very little interest to sponsors - or at least don't attract anywhere near the same level of interest as most clubs.

It seems like we may be clinging on to Zurich out of desperation.

I know they have a fiduciary duty, but this sounds grotesque. It's dystopian. Brayshaw and others are being treated like suspected criminals. He's one of the most loved players of the last 20 years and our major sponsor is making his life nightmarish.

I hope we don't just [censored] them off but [censored] them off and make it very clear why.

2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Excluded from WorkCover while playing? What about training -both on the field and in the gym/pool, etc - and the standard non-football related workplace injuries? Also, WorkCover is Victoria's workplace insurer. Is it the same in all other States and Territories?

yes

I was surprised when I first read that a couple of years ago.

I suspect it's the same in most jurisdictions in Australia.

It would be interesting to see how NZ handles it as they have had a no fault injury compensation scheme for fifty years or more

The Insurance industry is a shady industry, they'll frustrate you into submission and do their best to avoid a payout.
While they support the club, a division of Zurich is simultaneously making life difficult for one of our favourite sons. It’s an awkward impasse.

Believe the deal runs end of this year, i think we'd all like to see them gone for season 2027 but we do need a major co-partner to pay the bills