It’s time for the AFL to take head accidents critically, as a result of as we have now seen with the umpire dissent rule, solely extreme punishments will deter gamers and coaches from doing the flawed factor.
According to a research in 2017 primarily based on American soccer, 99 per cent of examined brains of NFL gamers, 88 per cent of Canadian Football League gamers, 64 per cent of semi-professional gamers, 91 per cent of school soccer gamers and 21 per cent of highschool gamers had varied levels of CTE persistent traumatic encephalopathy.
The most well-known circumstances of American footballers with CTE are Junior Seau (43) and Dave Duerson (50), who dedicated suicide whereas affected by CTE. Jovan Belcher (25) killed his girlfriend earlier than killing himself in 2012, and Aaron Hernandez (27) who dedicated suicide after being convicted for a homicide in 2013 additionally suffered from CTE, in addition to Phillip Adams, who shot and killed six folks earlier than committing suicide in April of final yr.
Dr Ann McKee, a neuropathologist and the director of the CTE Centre at Boston University mentioned that CTE has been linked to a host of signs, together with reminiscence loss, despair, aggressive behaviour and generally suicidal ideas. It is a progressive illness, and the signs can come up lengthy after the hits to the top have ceased.
Yes, American Football is a totally different sport than Australian Rules soccer, however Australian Rules soccer remains to be one of many hardest video games on the earth. The head is knocked and jolted quite a few occasions in each sort out and bump any participant receives.
CTE has already reared its head in our recreation. Former Richmond participant Shane Tuck was recognized with Stage 3 CTE after taking his personal life on the age of 38, probably the most extreme case we have now seen but in Australia.
This article isn’t about Tom Stewart and I’m not going to criticise his character. He is perhaps the nicest man recognized to man, however his hit on Tiger Dion Prestia on Saturday afternoon was horrible. He ran straight in direction of Prestia as soon as the ball was out of play and made no effort to not hit him within the head. Stewart knew he was the larger man, and in a second of insanity he knocked out a participant who was unable to defend himself.
How lengthy ought to he get? I feel he ought to obtain six weeks. With the proof and knowledge already on the market by way of quite a few sports activities concerning concussion, it’s time the AFL made a statement. Not solely does Prestia miss two video games simply in a soccer sense, however there’s no assure he’ll absolutely recuperate from this concussion, which is why the top ought to all the time be protected.
The manner the soccer media method concussion additionally wants to vary. I’ve misplaced depend of what number of occasions I’ve heard that Tom Stewart is a good bloke or that he must be feeling horrible about what he did.
Are we purported to really feel sorry for him? I’d wish to assume our ideas are with Dion Prestia, who has been knocked out. Tom Stewart’s emotions don’t matter on this scenario. I’m positive he feels horrible, and offering he didn’t intentionally got down to damage Prestia, so he ought to. That is absolutely the minimal you’ll count on from any kind-hearted human to really feel.
The AFL, the AFL media and AFL members and supporters have to get up and odor the roses, as a result of not solely is it extremely harmful for AFL gamers, it’s additionally extremely harmful for junior ranges and people taking part in grassroots soccer.
Concussion in soccer can fully cripple this recreation. We don’t have the cash that the NFL does, and a lawsuit like these seen within the US may fully destroy this recreation, particularly after what we’ve seen and the impact the pandemic had on the league.
The AFL must do one thing. Now.
