According to a survey by the AFL Players Association, the number of AFL players who do not report a concussion is increasing

Loading

The concussion question was asked as part of the AFLPA’s annual Health and Awareness Survey, conducted during club visits. It is not mandatory for players to complete the survey, but the vast majority do, with 92 per cent of respondents saying their club will prioritize their health and safety over performance when dealing with a headbutt in 2022, a decrease of 1 percent corresponds to previous year.

The unwillingness to report symptoms will affect the AFL and the AFLPA in a climate where class action lawsuits have been filed, as well as two separate individual concussion-related lawsuits.

The PA also reported that in recent years “there has been a significant increase in the number of football concussion-related injury claims.

“In 2021, these accounted for 63 percent of successful football injury termination requests. For comparison, prior to 2021, there were only four total concussion claims.”

The PA offers a range of support services for ex-players, including a hardship fund.

The filing also said it had not been given a timeline by the league for implementing recommendations from the McCrory report that the AFL released last October.

A public hearing into the inquiry into concussion and the effects of head injuries in contact sports will be held in Melbourne on April 26.

Stay up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.