The recent episode of ABC’s Four Corners examined the tragic story of Nick Lowden, who became the youngest footballer diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at just 23 years old. CTE, a condition impacting individuals involved in contact sports, was first identified in boxers nearly a century ago, and it also affects soldiers and victims of domestic violence. In a poignant moment, Lowden questioned his mother, asking, “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with my brain?”
Many narratives surrounding CTE culminate in the stark and emotionless language found in coroner’s reports. John Cain’s inquest into Shane Tuck’s death meticulously detailed the effects of CTE on both the brain and the lives of athletes and their families. Both the Tuck and Lowden families recounted the struggles of young men grappling with their condition, relying on their sporting instincts to persist before ultimately withdrawing. Cain’s unemotional account of Tuck’s final 24 hours was particularly harrowing.
These accounts predominantly feature professional or semi-professional athletes. However, the grassroots impact remains elusive and challenging to assess. Lowden was not just a casual player; he participated in Australia’s premier junior competition, the under-18 TAC Cup, where he sustained a significant concussion. He later secured a premiership in the competitive SANFL league, yet many clubs at lower levels face dire conditions. As standards decline, so do the quality of facilities, umpiring, and access to medical care. Many regional clubs are operating under increasingly precarious circumstances, and those managing clubs in suburban or rural areas report a growing disconnect with the AFL.
Peter Hanlon addressed this issue in a feature series commemorating the 40th anniversary of a notorious country grand final between Colac-Coragulac and South Warrnambool. Hanlon characterized the match as “For every Danny Frawley and Polly Farmer,” and spoke with men who have faced numerous mental health challenges over the years, alongside their increasingly worried families. He noted, “there are thousands who endured multiple concussions in the suburbs and the bush who are pondering a frightening thought – what if that’s me?”
The questions raised by Four Corners echo those posed by grieving families, coroners, litigants, and men struggling in their 40s and 50s: what responsibility does the governing body hold? Is the AFL accountable for the entire ecosystem of junior, suburban, and country football? Are they liable for incidents that occurred decades ago? Should they educate every parent regarding head trauma?
What remains indisputable is that the AFL has been sluggish in addressing the risks associated with CTE. For almost ten years, their concussion protocols were influenced by Dr. Paul McCrory, who, in 2016, dismissed the concerns surrounding CTE as “a lack of governance, stewardship and coordination” His leadership of a multimillion-dollar AFL study into concussion faced criticism for its “repeated head trauma is extremely undesirable” before he was unmasked as a plagiarist. Laura Kane, the AFL’s general manager of health and football operations, acknowledged on Four Corners that the league has yet to establish a CTE policy but asserted its commitment to research in this field. She mentioned that many of Cain’s coronial recommendations were “is by reducing exposure, just like skin cancer and the summer sun” and remarked, “Our job is not to communicate every single aspect of risk that exists in our game.”
The league’s response reflects an organization aware of the looming legal threats, yet it lacked the depth needed to address the serious existential challenges facing the sport. While the harmful effects of concussions are well-documented, the cumulative microscopic brain damage resulting from regular impacts and tackles ultimately leads to CTE. Lowden, who began playing football at age six, could have developed CTE without ever having a concussion.
Neuropathologist Michael Buckland refers to CTE as a “disease of exposure.” He explained to Four Corners that the path to prevention involves reducing exposure, similar to the approach taken with skin cancer and sun exposure. This would require significantly limiting contact training hours and raising the age at which young players can tackle, a move likely to face substantial opposition. Ann McKee from Boston University, an authority on CTE, advocates for banning tackling until adulthood. While many neurologists differ on this issue, the consensus is that starting contact sports at a later age and reducing the number and duration of senior matches is crucial. These recommendations often conflict with the AFL’s commercial interests.
The AFL has predominantly concentrated on head injuries at the elite level. However, nearly 750,000 individuals participate in various forms of Australian rules football, from Auskick programs to numerous junior and senior clubs nationwide. Kane stated, “Our job is not to communicate every single aspect of risk that exists in our game.” While she has a point, the case of a 23-year-old with CTE dramatically alters the parameters of risk. The focus shifts from older retired players facing dementia to questioning whether the sport is fundamentally unsafe for all participants. This is a pressing concern for many parents and former players alike, and the AFL’s failure to adequately address these issues on Four Corners raises the likelihood that they may soon need to confront these questions in a courtroom.
- This is an extract from Guardian Australia’s free weekly AFL email, From the Pocket. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
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