DEES STAR ‘DEVASTATED’
Melbourne premiership star Angus Brayshaw says he’s “devastated I can no longer play the game I love” after being forced to retire from football by medical experts due to the impact of his concussion in last year’s qualifying final.
In a devastating blow to the Demons on the eve of the season, the 28-year-old told teammates on Thursday morning he would walk away from the AFL after 167 games.
Brayshaw returned to training following his concussion in Melbourne’s qualifying final loss against Collingwood in September, but recent findings of “microscopic changes in the brain” caused his medical team to advise him to retire.
The midfielder was left unconscious on the MCG turf after colliding with airborne Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard in an incident that sparked debate over the AFL’s protection of players from head knocks and prompted a rule change ahead of the 2024 season.
A club statement on Thursday said Brayshaw was medically retired due to recent neuropsychological testing, which had been ongoing since his concussion in September.
“That process allowed Brayshaw to return in a controlled training program, but recent neuropsychological testing brought that recovery program to a halt,” the statement read.
“A recent highly specialised scan result revealed microscopic changes in the brain that had developed since the concussion. It was based on these results that Brayshaw has been medically retired.”
Brayshaw said he respected the verdict of the medical professionals and “the importance of putting my health before my career”.
He said he hoped his plight would lead to better outcomes for other players.
He is the fifth AFL player to retire due to concussion since the beginning of last season.
“I am really proud of what I have achieved over the past decade,” he said. “I have been able to live out my childhood dream and, while it’s been cut short, I am forever grateful to everyone who has been involved. Concussion is a massive issue facing our game. I hope from this can come some positive outcomes for the future of player safety.”
Brayshaw, who sat out half of his second season in 2016 and the majority of 2017 after suffering four concussions in 12 months, followed Brisbane’s Marcus Adams, Adelaide’s Paul Seedsman, Sydney’s Paddy McCartin and Hawthorn’s Max Lynch into retirement due to the effects of brain injuries suffered while playing. AFL executive general manager of football Laura Kane applauded Brayshaw’s leadership and called his retirement a “courageous act”. Brayshaw was consistently one of Melbourne’s best players as a midfielder, wingman and halfback across his career. He was instrumental in the Demons’ 2021 grand final win over the Western Bulldogs as he racked up 25 disposals.