CONCUSSION AGONY
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They said if I idn’t already have a form of brain damage, I definitely would the next concussion (I get)
A Gold Coast Aussie rules player has opened up about the heartbreak she has felt from being told she is one head knock away from brain damage and can no longer play contact sport.
Madelyn Doherty is still feeling the lingering effects of her sixth concussion, suffered seven months ago while playing for the Surfers Paradise QFAW Division 1 team as she chased her dream of playing in the AFLW.
The 22-year-old’s speech remains interrupted and she struggles to maintain focus, while doctors have provided a grim warning if she ever decided to take to the field again.
It’s why she has passionately backed a move by the Australian Institute of Sport to release groundbreaking recommendations that include minimum 21day rest periods to protect kids and grassroots’ players from brain damage.
After initially being told she was to not be involved in any contact sport for six weeks due to the severity of her last incident, her doctor told her she should reconsider ever playing again.
“They said if I didn’t already have a form of brain damage, I definitely would the next concussion (I get),” Doherty said.
“So unfortunately I can’t play any more contact sports because that's not something I am willing to risk.
“This all happened in July 2023 and I’m still experiencing some symptoms.
“Like struggling to concentrate and always stumbling my words.
“It broke my heart because I have grown up as sporty, always playing at least two sports a year and while studying to become a personal trainer.
“But now it has been taken away from me for good.”
Before her last head knock, Doherty had already suffered two concussions from playing basketball, one from surfing and two from mucking around at home with friends and family.
Doherty said her final concussion was her worst.
“The last concussion I had was the worst by far, I honestly don’t remember what happened,” Doherty said.
“All I know is what I was told, which was I was going for a ground ball where I was then shouldered on my left side as I picked up the footy.
“I just dropped and landed on the right side of my head.
“One of the girls went to pick me up off the ground, just thinking I needed help and not knowing I was out.
“As she did, my head went lopsided and my eyes rolled into the back of my head.
“I then woke up with the trainers over me yelling out for a stretcher and I remember getting really aggressive and angry, which is not like me at all.”
After several minutes of Doherty telling the trainers she could walk off, she was carried to the bench where she was assessed by the trainers.
She would continue to get more aggressive towards the head trainer as he would repeat questions that Doherty had already answered.
“I sat out the rest of the game and my moods consistently changing from angry, to happy to extremely sad,” Doherty said.
“I was taken to hospital that night and we were sent home as the hospital was so busy.
“We returned to hospital two more times within the first week and a half because my symptoms had gotten worse.
“I had pretty much every symptom in the book.
“I’ve never felt so ill or had a headache like that and I have had my fair share of migraines before.”
Despite not being able to play, Doherty is putting her footy knowledge to good use, being an assistant coach for the under-15s and a strength and conditioning coach for the women’s team.
Now, the avid sports lover is chasing another path in sport.
“I have taken a liking to the gym and am getting ready for my first body building competition,” Doherty said.
“I’m still studying but have only gotten back into it a few days ago.
“I’m able to concentrate a bit more now but still find it difficult.
“I think the club handled it to the best of their knowledge as they sat me out and monitored me until I was taken home so my aunty could take me to hospital.
“But I do think clubs would benefit from proper training on how to handle a player with a head injury.
“I am grateful that I can still be involved at Surfers Paradise and coach the girls instead.”
Originally from Frankston in country Victoria, the diehard Richmond Tigers supporter isn’t giving up on her hopes of being part of the AFLW one day.
“It would be nice to get there in some sort of way, whether it be coaching or something,” Doherty said.
“I am studying personal training, so who knows if that could lead me to something to do with it.
“I love the game, I am so thankful for the Demons in giving me the opportunity to help coach this season.”