Footy faces a big danger from brain disease, and the AFL's words are not enough

A recent TV program looked at the life and death of Nick Lowden, who was only 23 when he became the youngest footballer diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a brain condition that affects people who play contact sports, like boxing, and also soldiers and victims of domestic violence. Lowden asked his mother, 'Why am I like this? What's wrong with me? What's wrong with my brain?'

Sadly, some of the worst stories about CTE end up as neutral reports from coroners. One such report into the death of Shane Tuck described what CTE does to the brain and the lives of athletes and their families. The Tuck and Lowden families shared how young men didn't understand what was happening to them, often trying to fight through their problems like they would on the field, but eventually becoming withdrawn.

These difficult stories usually involve professional or semi-professional players. It is harder to understand and deal with the effects of CTE at the local level, where many people play for fun. Lowden was not just playing in a local park league; he suffered a serious head injury in a top junior competition. While he also played in a strong league, there are many lower levels of the sport. As the level of play drops, so does the quality of the sports fields and the availability of medical help. Many local clubs are struggling, and they feel disconnected from the main Australian Football League (AFL).

This issue was highlighted in a newspaper series about a very rough country football match 40 years ago. The reporter described the game as 'extremely violent' and spoke to men who had struggled with mental health problems for decades, as well as their worried families. The article suggested that for every famous player like Danny Frawley or Polly Farmer who suffered, there are thousands of less famous players who had multiple head injuries and are now worried about their own health.

The questions now being asked are similar to those asked by grieving parents, coroners, and former players: What is the responsibility of the AFL, the sport's governing body? Is the AFL responsible for all levels of the sport, from juniors to country leagues? Should they be responsible for incidents that happened 40 years ago? And should they be responsible for teaching every parent about the risks of head injuries?

It is clear that the AFL has been too slow to address the dangers of CTE. For years, their advice on head injuries was influenced by a doctor who, in 2016, dismissed concerns about CTE. He led a large AFL study into concussion that was later criticised for poor management and organisation. Recently, the AFL stated they do not yet have a specific policy for CTE but are committed to research. They also said that some recommendations from coroners are being addressed and that 'repeated head trauma is extremely undesirable'.

These were weak words, especially considering the serious threat this brain disease poses to the sport. While a single concussion can have severe consequences, CTE develops from the repeated, small impacts to the brain during games. Nick Lowden, who started playing at six years old, could have developed CTE even without a major concussion. It’s a condition linked to how much players are exposed to physical contact.

One expert calls CTE a 'disease of exposure'. To prevent it, he explained, exposure must be reduced, similar to how we protect ourselves from skin cancer by avoiding too much sun. This means significantly cutting down on contact during training and raising the age at which young players are allowed to tackle. Some experts even suggest banning tackling until players are adults. While not all doctors agree, most believe that starting contact sports at a later age and having fewer, shorter matches is important. However, these suggestions may conflict with the AFL's financial goals.

The AFL has mostly focused on head injuries at the highest level of the game. But nearly three-quarters of a million people play Australian rules football in some form. The AFL stated that their job isn't to explain every single risk in the game. However, a 23-year-old developing CTE changes everything. This isn't just about older former players at risk of dementia; it's about whether the sport itself is too dangerous for everyone who plays it. This is a question many parents and former players are asking. It's a question the AFL failed to answer properly on television, and it's a question they might soon face in court.