Are 2 mid-career AFL retirements a sign Australian athletes are taking brain health more seriously?

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The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, following Angus Brayshaw’s in February and a number of other high-profile footballers in recent years, signals a shift in how athletes view brain trauma risks in sport.

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The Conversation

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https://theconversation.com/are-2-mid-career-afl-retirements-a-sign-australian-athletes-are-taking-brain-health-more-seriously-228197

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Friday, April 19, 2024

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Summary

Key Points:

The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, following Angus Brayshaw’s in February and a number of other high-profile footballers in recent years, signals a shift in how athletes view brain trauma risks in sport.
Rather than downplaying or ignoring the potential damage being done to their health by a career filled with brain trauma, some athletes are now choosing to end their careers early.

Why do athletes risk their brains?

For decades, sports have fostered a win-at-all-costs culture, with a pseudo-military flavour of sacrifice and duty to one’s teammates.
This has given rise to athletes ignoring or downplaying injuries whenever possible to continue the game.
Media commentators also celebrate athletes who return to the field after sickening collisions as “courageous”, having “no fear”, or “gaining respect from teammates and opposition”.

A shift in attitude?

Murphy’s retirement and acknowledgement of his long-term brain health is one sign the culture of valorising injury and risk may be changing.
But there is other evidence of a shift.
Australian research shows risky attitudes and behaviours toward concussion have begun to dissipate over recent years.
However, a 2021 follow-up study, using the same survey in a separate group, showed significant improvements towards concussion.

Are more retirements to come?

In the meantime, the current group of athletes – professionals and amateurs alike – must weigh up the costs of participation in high contact games.
It’s in the best interests for the longevity of these sports – and the athletes we love to cheer on.

Alan is a non-executive unpaid director for the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
He has previously received funding from Erasmus+ strategic partnerships program (2019-1-IE01-KA202-051555), Sports Health Check Charity (Australia), Australian Football League, Impact Technologies Inc., and Samsung Corporation, and is remunerated for expert advice to medico-legal practices.