The Australian Football League (AFL) has provided its written response to the recommendations contained within the Finding of State Coroner, Judge John Cain following Inquest into the death of Shane Tuck.
The AFL acknowledges the Finding and welcomes the input of the Coroner, via his recommendations, which is consistent with the AFL’s prioritisation of the health and safety of players at all levels of our game and which will form part of our ongoing process of consideration of potential improvements in our strategic approach to the prevention and management of concussion and other head trauma in Australian Football.
In its response, the AFL:
- Has confirmed its implementation of the Coroner’s recommendation that concussion spotters in the ARC have power to mandate the removal of an AFL or AFLW player from the field of play for a comprehensive off-field clinical assessment;
- Is currently implementing the recommendation that it consider limiting contact training sessions at AFL and AFLW Clubs, noting that the AFL already prohibits combat boxing and sparring, and that the AFL’s consideration of further limitations will include on-going collection, compilation and review of training data and obtaining input from, amongst others, the AFLPA, the AFLCA and Clubs.
- Is currently considering the recommendation that the AFL appoint independent doctors to attend all AFL and ALFW games to assist club doctors in the assessment of a player for suspected or actual head injury, noting the AFL already appoints independent doctors to attend AFLW matches. The AFL supports the consideration of appointing independent doctors at AFL and AFLW matches, and is currently liaising with contact sports globally and considering other matters to identify best practice for the role to be played by an independent doctor in collaboration with club doctors.
- Confirmed it is implementing the Coroner’s various recommendations addressing education on concussion and repeated head trauma, noting that:
- It has and continues to work with the AFLPA in the development, review, continuous improvement and delivery of educational material to AFL players and team staff;
- It has and continues to review, develop, update, disseminate and make available various, and easy to understand, educational materials and other information for peopled involved in all levels of Australian Football, including recently updating the Community Football Concussion Guidelines and developing a pre-recorded webinar, and is continuing to investigate how this information can best be made available to the Australian Football community.
"The AFL continues to invest in, and support, research into concussion and repeated head trauma, including supporting the use of instrumented mouthguards by players, encouraging brain donation, and investing in the AFL Brain Health Initiative longitudinal research program," AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said.
"On behalf of the AFL, we reiterate our deepest sympathies to the Tuck family on Shane’s untimely passing in 2020 and their immense contribution to research into concussion and head trauma in Australian Football."
