AFL Under WorkSafe Scrutiny as CTE Concerns Intensify Across the Code

The AFL is facing renewed pressure over its approach to player brain health after WorkSafe Victoria launched an investigation into whether footballers were adequately protected from repeated head impacts during training.

The inquiry comes amid alarming revelations that 33 Australian Rules footballers have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, after death, adding fresh urgency to the debate surrounding concussion management and long-term player welfare.

WorkSafe is examining whether the league complied with its obligations under Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, with investigators focusing on contact training practices and the monitoring of collision loads from November 2022 onwards.

The regulator is expected to provide an update on the investigation by July 28.

Investigation Focuses on Training-Related Impacts

While much of the public discussion surrounding concussion has centred on incidents during matches, the WorkSafe investigation is understood to be examining the repeated impacts players may experience during training.

The inquiry will consider whether the AFL had appropriate systems in place to monitor collision exposure and reduce the risks associated with regular contact sessions.

These repeated impacts do not always result in an immediate concussion diagnosis, but medical experts have increasingly warned that cumulative exposure may still contribute to serious long-term neurological damage.

The investigation has intensified scrutiny of the AFL’s existing safeguards and raised questions about whether the league has moved quickly enough to respond to emerging scientific evidence.

Thirty-Three Footballers Diagnosed With CTE

Recent investigations revealed that 33 Australian Rules footballers, including 19 professional and semi-professional players, had been diagnosed with CTE after death.

The degenerative brain condition has been linked to repeated head impacts over an extended period. It has also been associated with serious changes in memory, mood, behaviour and decision-making.

Professor Alan Pearce described CTE as a preventable condition caused by environmental exposure.

“CTE is a preventable environmental disease,” he said.

Associate Professor Michael Buckland, from the Australian Sports Brain Bank, said the findings demonstrated the risks associated with spending many years participating in contact and collision sports.

He warned that the scale of the issue required urgent attention from sporting organisations, medical professionals and regulators.

Former Players Remain at Centre of Debate

Several current and former AFL players have become prominent figures in the wider conversation about concussion and long-term brain health.

Angus Brayshaw was forced into retirement after receiving medical advice concerning the effects of repeated concussions, while Nathan Murphy also ended his playing career early because of ongoing concussion concerns.

Former Brisbane Lions defender and current West Coast player Brandon Starcevich has publicly discussed fears surrounding his future health after suffering multiple concussions.

Former St Kilda player Justin Koschitzke has also spoken about the lasting effects of serious head injuries sustained during his career.

Their experiences have reinforced concerns that the consequences of concussion may continue long after a player leaves the field.

Twelve-Day Return Protocol Faces Renewed Questions

The WorkSafe inquiry has also brought fresh attention to the AFL’s minimum 12-day return-to-play protocol following a concussion.

Former AFL concussion adviser Paul McCrory previously opposed the policy, arguing that it did not fully reflect developing scientific evidence and that some players may require considerably more time to recover.

The central concern is that concussion recovery can vary significantly between individuals, making a fixed minimum period only one part of a broader medical assessment.

Critics have called for a more cautious approach that prioritises long-term health rather than focusing mainly on when a player can safely return to competition.

Contact Training Restrictions Planned for 2027

Calls to reduce contact during training gained momentum following an inquest into the death of former Richmond player Shane Tuck.

Former Victorian coroner John Cain recommended that the AFL introduce limits on contact training as part of broader efforts to reduce players’ exposure to repeated head impacts.

The league has since committed to implementing contact training restrictions from the beginning of the 2027 pre-season under its Brain Health Initiative.

However, the WorkSafe investigation is expected to examine whether adequate protections were already in place before those future restrictions were announced.

The timing of the proposed changes may now face further scrutiny as experts and former players continue to argue that stronger measures are needed sooner.

Insurance Changes Add to Player Uncertainty

Concerns about player protection increased earlier this year when Zurich Insurance confirmed changes affecting total and permanent disability coverage for AFL footballers.

Claims made after May 1 relating to traumatic brain injury, concussion, CTE, post-concussion syndrome and neurological impairment would no longer be covered under the relevant policy.

The insurer cited continuing uncertainty about the long-term health effects associated with concussion in high-contact sports.

The decision raised serious questions about the financial support available to footballers who develop debilitating conditions after their careers have ended.

For many former players, the issue is no longer limited to medical treatment. It also involves income protection, compensation and support for families dealing with long-term health consequences.

More Than 100 Former Players Involved in Legal Action

A concussion class action involving more than 100 former AFL players is being led by lawyer Michel Margalit.

The legal action alleges that players suffered lasting injuries linked to repeated head impacts and argues that the support currently available remains inadequate.

Margalit said footballers should be treated as workers who were exposed to serious occupational risks while participating in a highly profitable professional sport.

“Footy is big business. It’s work,” she said.

She also argued that the AFL Players’ Association Hardship Fund, despite recent improvements, did not provide protections comparable to a statutory workers’ compensation system.

Former Geelong player Max Rooke is among the best-known former footballers involved in the action.

AFL Defends Its Brain Health Measures

AFL executive Laura Kane said the league remained committed to expanding its research into concussion and long-term neurological health.

She said the AFL was considering a long-term study that could include brain donation and other research initiatives as part of its Brain Health Initiative.

Kane also said players were educated each year about concussion symptoms, reporting requirements, medical management and potential long-term risks.

According to the league, its research program is also examining new technologies and protective measures, including instrumented mouthguards, brain imaging and equipment designed to reduce head trauma.

The AFL maintains that the Brain Health Initiative will combine medical research with practical innovation across the competition.

Pressure Continues to Build

The WorkSafe investigation places the AFL under pressure from regulators, medical experts, former players and legal representatives at a time when confidence in the sport’s concussion framework is being closely examined.

The debate now extends far beyond isolated incidents or individual return-to-play decisions.

At its centre is a more difficult question: whether enough has been done to protect footballers from the cumulative effects of years spent training and competing in one of Australia’s most physically demanding sports.