SA Footy

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/afl/news/article/-/9107895/former-afl-star-seeking-compensation-for-brain-damage/
Former AFL star seeking compensation for brain damage

Former Demons player Daniel Bell is seeking compensation from the AFL after he was diagnosed with brain damage.

Bell who was delisted by the Demons at the end of the 2010 season claims that multiple concussions suffered throughout his career have led to his condition.

Speaking to SEN this morning Bell said he struggled to remember words and names.

"I have noticed a few issues over the years, especially with my concentration throughout meetings and games," Bell said.

"And I have had a couple of times where I have actually drawn blanks."

Having played only 66 games for the Demons Bell doesn't blame the team doctors for his condition.

"In my case I don't think I was mismanaged. The only person that mismanaged it was me."

The case has been submitted to the AFL Players' Association which will then go before the AFL Grievance Tribunal.

Bell is seeking damages worth 50 per cent of his last contract, which is less than $100,000.

The 25-year-old has been told that another concussion may increase the chances of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia later in life.

The AFL has recently introduced a rule that prevents a concussed player from returning to the field of play.

Might have been good to quote "The Age" article which included the following statement:

''There's a clause that says you have to lodge your claim within six months after your final contract, so I suppose I've thought that if I don't lodge it, what happens if I've got dementia in 20 years?'

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/former-afl-player-seeks-compensation-20110330-1cgf7.html

Bell's head's been ringing.

I wonder if he's heard...

Explains all Bell's clangers really.

Pretty ordinary form those comments.

Good to see somebody else chime in.

Two things.

1. If he is in such bad shape, why did he re-nominate for the draft this season?

2. On SEN this afternoon, they stated he suffered 15 bouts of concussion as a teenager even before he was drafted to the AFL. Where is his duty of care to himself that he never wore a helmet to minimise the risks?

Wow, 15 times concussed??? That's a heck of a lot.

What a joke. Sets a precedent for others to follow and then forces the league to change impulsively. As someone already said why did he nominate for the draft again?

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Two things.

1. If he is in such bad shape, why did he re-nominate for the draft this season?

2. On SEN this afternoon, they stated he suffered 15 bouts of concussion as a teenager even before he was drafted to the AFL. Where is his duty of care to himself that he never wore a helmet to minimise the risks?

helmets shown not to help at all, if not make it worse.

CoverKing wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Two things.

1. If he is in such bad shape, why did he re-nominate for the draft this season?

2. On SEN this afternoon, they stated he suffered 15 bouts of concussion as a teenager even before he was drafted to the AFL. Where is his duty of care to himself that he never wore a helmet to minimise the risks?

helmets shown not to help at all, if not make it worse.

Yep, that's what Gridiron players, boxers, cricketers, basball players, cyclists, etc, etc, etc, say was well.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Yep, that's what Gridiron players, boxers, cricketers, basball players, cyclists, etc, etc, etc, say was well.

what a stupid statement! How can you compare the helmets worn in those sports to the ones worn in the various footy codes


NFL players still get concussed even with their extra protective gear so CK does have a point to some degree

heater31 wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Yep, that's what Gridiron players, boxers, cricketers, basball players, cyclists, etc, etc, etc, say was well.

what a stupid statement! How can you compare the helmets worn in those sports to the ones worn in the various footy codes


NFL players still get concussed even with their extra protective gear so CK does have a point to some degree

I think the stupid comment made was that helmets don't help, they just make it worse. Ridiculous.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:1. If he is in such bad shape, why did he re-nominate for the draft this season?

Did he re-nominate or did his name automatically go on the list. Can recall something about de listed players automatically going onto the draft list.

I read an article somewhere that suggested the problem with protective gear is that it encourages people to just go in harder and take more heavy impacts.
Then, it is not just he brain that suffers from torsion and tears but other internal organs too - it suggested gridiron players tended not to live long as a result.
So, the best answer may be to slow AFL down, and reduce impacts, with rule changes,rather than pad the players up in armour.

It sounds like it's a contractual right he or any player has so I have no problem with him pursuing it if he thinks he can claim $50,000 back from the AFL when he now can't play the game anymore, whether we think it's his fault or not. I think we'd all do the same. If you don't ask you don't get.

Bad luck for the fella, but I had to do a google search to work out who he was...

apparently another player has also put in a similar claim

Puts my dodgy knees and ankles in perspective. Hope his rehab helps him progress.