Concussion crisis
AFL to query Carlton on late withdrawal of Harry McKay after head knock drama
After being reprimanded for their delay in assessing McKay for a head knock last week, the AFL will ensure Carlton followed protocols before declaring him a late out against Port Adelaide.
- by Anna Harrington
Latest
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024
Blues hit by another injury; Giant reprimanded over tribunal rant; Carlton breached concussion protocols
Carlton will be forced into at least three changes after an important midfielder was ruled out, while the AFL reprimanded a star Giant for a scathing assessment of the league’s crackdown on dangerous tackles.
- by Andrew Wu, Jon Pierik and Vince Rugari
Opinion
AFL 2024
Why the AFL should stop Harry McKay from playing this Friday night
The fact that the Blues forward has been cleared to play this week, despite such visible signs of a head injury, underscores a shocking inconsistency in the AFL’s concussion guidelines.
- by Kane Cornes
Updated
AFL 2024
‘He got the care he needed’: Voss says Blues followed concussion protocols with McKay
McKay kicked two goals after an apparent head knock in his team’s win over North Melbourne, and the Blues now have a quick turnaround to their next match on Friday night.
- by Roy Ward
New hit: Contact sport, CTE link to Parkinson’s-style disease
New research from Boston University links repeated head knocks to physical and mental deterioration.
- by Greg Baum
‘My brain was smashed’: Knocked unconscious for nine minutes, this ex-Socceroo is living a nightmare
Almost 30 years later, Warren Spink has still not recovered from the traumatic head injury he suffered playing for Australia against Japan in 1996.
- by Vince Rugari
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024
Simpson not coaching but will say goodbye to fans; Swans to appeal Heeney decision
West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson has decided against a farewell game as coach; Sydney will challenge the tribunal decision to uphold Isaac Heeney’s one-match ban at an appeals board hearing on Thursday, while Collingwood forward Josh Carmichael has retired at just 24.
- by Amelia Nordio, Peter Ryan, Jonathan Drennan and Danny Russell
The moment that changed ex-Socceroo's life
Former Socceroos striker Warren Spink talks about the 1996 friendly against Japan, which left him with permanent brain damage.
‘Too much to lose’: Wally Lewis urges Reece Walsh not to rush back from concussion
The Queensland legend and rugby league Immortal revealed his probable CTE diagnosis last year. Now he is urging the Maroons fullback to follow the experts’ advice.
- by Christian Nicolussi
Opinion
State of Origin
Ashley Klein made the right call in sending off Joseph Suaalii
The rules of the game are clear, but fans have every right to be confused about where the Origin boundaries exist.
- by Andrew Webster
Eels’ Matterson in limbo with headaches and dizzy spells as Simonsson suffers ACL injury
The Eels back-rower hasn’t played since leaving the field in a loss to the Broncos three weeks ago.
- by Michael Chammas