Former Geelong star Max Rooke will be lead plaintiff in a landmark lawsuit against the AFL, brought by players who claim to have been permanently damaged by concussions and other head knocks.
The class action has been lodged by former footballers who suffered "serious damage" as a result of concussions sustained during their careers.
The law firm representing the players, Margalit Injury Lawyers, said in a statement this morning the suit would allege Rooke had suffered "permanent, life-altering injuries … due to the negligence of the AFL".
More than 60 former players have signed up for the legal action, seeking compensation for pain and suffering, economic loss and medical expenses.
It was recently revealed that former Western Bulldogs premiership star Liam Picken was suing the league and his former club over ongoing health issues linked to multiple concussions suffered during his career.
Picken alleges he was allowed to keep playing even though he repeatedly flagged concerns about concussion symptoms. It is also alleged the Bulldogs let him play on, despite Picken having returned below-average cognitive test results as early as 2014.
The class action has been lodged in court as the league pledged $25 million to fund a study into the long-term effects of concussions and head knocks on players.
The league will begin recruiting participants this year for the 10-year study.
The AFL is also preparing to lodge a submission to an ongoing senate inquiry into the effects of head trauma sustained in contact sports.
The study is part of a plan that sets out "strategic pillars including Education, Prevention, Detection, Recovery, Support and Innovation and identifies key priorities, objectives and actions for each of these pillars".
"Overall, this past year represents significant progress in the area of concussion management with the adoption of a new governance structure, the development and release of the strategic plan and the release of updated concussion guidelines," AFL executive Andrew Dillon said.
"These actions demonstrate the AFL's ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, increased transparency and diverse consultation, in the prioritisation of health and safety of all Australian football participants across all levels of the game."
Former greats died with chronic brain injuries
The issue of the long-term consequences of repeated concussions and head knocks in Australian Rules has flared up in recent years, with revelations that late AFL players Polly Farmer, Danny Frawley, Shane Tuck and Murray Weideman had been suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy when they died.
Apart from Picken, former Collingwood AFLW player Emma Grant has taken legal action against the club after her career was ended by the effects of concussion.
Grant claims Collingwood was negligent in allowing her to resume training three weeks after she suffered a significant concussion.
Former Melbourne Demons high-flyer Shaun Smith won a $1.4 million insurance pay out after battling the long-term impact of repeated head knocks.
The league is also considering the introduction of an expanded financial assistance scheme for former AFL and AFLW players who suffered a serious injury with long-term consequences and are experiencing financial hardship as a result.
Independent review criticised league's previous approach
A recent independent review of the AFL's handling of the concussion issue found that the league's previous research into the long-term effects of concussion was "under-funded and under-resourced and suffered from a lack of governance, stewardship and coordination".
The neurologist who undertook that previous research for the AFL, Paul McCrory, has been accused of plagiarising material.
Under the current guidelines, AFL and AFLW players cannot return to the field until 12 days after they have sustained a concussion, and must also satisfactorily navigate an 11-step program.
The AFL has told clubs that WorkSafe recently closed an investigation into concussion management by the league on the grounds that "the concussion management by the AFL and Victorian-based AFL clubs meets or exceeds the relevant workplace safety obligations".
