Head knocks | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Head knocks

I’m 63 years old and have had too many friends that played footy at all sorts of levels that have suffered so terribly from the head knocks they received back in the day. Some haven’t made it this far – and I’m sure their deteriorated mental states were a contributing factor.

To see people living with this damage (severe headaches, personality changes, bad temper (fury) for no reason, lacking memories and the ability to form new ones, depression) – sometimes from their mid-30’s onwards has changed my mind about footy. I have come close over the last 15 years to quitting it altogether.

The thing that irks me the most on this forum is the savage criticism of those players that don’t ’put their head over the ball’, ‘go back with the flight’ or generally don’t ‘go when it’s their turn’. All euphemisms for the same thing – for young people to put their short- and long-term health at risk for our *smile*’ entertainment.

I understand that you can tell me that if I don’t like it then I can always walk away. But I grew up in Richmond in the 60’s and 70’s and belong to an extended family that lives and breaths footy at all levels. It’s part of my life. I only ever played at school – and I was hopeless at it. OK at basketball (one of the rare breed of good basketballers with a footy background). Looking back I consider myself lucky – even though when I was playing basketball a lot of my peers considered it a girls game. At least I have been spared the mental damage my footy peers have subsequently experienced.

I have to believe that there is a version of this game out there somewhere in the future where young people can play it without sacrificing their futures. I don’t really know what it looks like. I have devised rules in my head which I believe could facilitate the advent of that game - and still have no real idea if they would work. I have argued them with friends and family - becoming a footy pariah to some in the process ("for God's sake don't mention footy to uncle Damo"). But it would need to fundamentally change – and it would put at risk everything that a lot of people love about it. I just have to hope that people much smarter than me can get it done.
 
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I see G Abeltt Snr is lining up to join the concussion pay-out line. This guy was a massive campaigner during his career so claiming head knocks resulted in a number of his issues since is complete bollocks. Hope he doesn't get a cent.
 
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King Kong said:
I see G Abeltt Snr is lining up to join the concussion pay-out line. This guy was a massive campaigner during his career so claiming head knocks resulted in a number of his issues since is complete bollocks. Hope he doesn't get a cent.
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Players are coming out now.
Schulz is the latest..
I still remember Hamill destroying him on the concrete ground (Telstra Dome) with a face first, both arms pinned tackle to the ground.
If Hamill did that today, they would boot him from the game. It's a disgrace.
I'm surprised Michael Pickering or Michael Mitchell, & Peter Czesaki haven't turned up.
Pickering was Kod similar to Prestia by Geoff Miles.
And Mitchell was destroyed by Mick Martin in a tackle in a pre season game that forced him to retire.
The AFL needs to stamp it out. It's bullshitt.
2 weeks for Pickett It's a joke.
 
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When I see the manifestly inadequate sentences handed out by the MRP I say bring it on, the AFL deserves a wake up call.
 
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I reckon the bump is well & truly dead sadly. Rough tackles next on the agenda.
We're heading towards a non contact sport in the wake of these concussion lawsuits...
Footy will change rapidly as we know it.
 
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Here is the latest.
Does this mean Dees will be outfitted with wet lettuce leaves to hit opponents.
BTW, I do not in any way, condone head high tackles or head bumps.


'I think it is dead': Goodwin orders Dees to avoid bump​


Melbourne players won't be bumping opponents in wake of banned Pickett's hit on Bailey Smith
 
graystar1 said:
Here is the latest.
Does this mean Dees will be outfitted with wet lettuce leaves to hit opponents.
BTW, I do not in any way, condone head high tackles or head bumps.


'I think it is dead': Goodwin orders Dees to avoid bump​


Melbourne players won't be bumping opponents in wake of banned Pickett's hit on Bailey Smith
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Goodwin is going to tell his players not to leap shoulder first into opponents heads after they kick the ball? what is the game coming to??
 
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How about all the kids who have suffered concussion in local and regional areas
Would they also not be entitled to recompense?
How long before some wise person gets onto this?
 
graystar1 said:
How about all the kids who have suffered concussion in local and regional areas
Would they also not be entitled to recompense?
How long before some wise person gets onto this?
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Did not include all the interstate teams that could be affected as well.
Won't be long before some savvy person decides to start a class action for those kids and families affected by concussion.
Where will all this end I wonder.
 
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graystar1 said:
Did not include all the interstate teams that could be affected as well.
Won't be long before some savvy person decides to start a class action for those kids and families affected by concussion.
Where will all this end I wonder.
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We're all worried that it might drastically change, if not end, contact sport as we know it, but you can't get blood out of a stone so I can't see local leagues copping the same level of litigation. However it might mean parents guide their children into non contact sports and effectively kill them off over time through lack of participation.
 
BT Tiger said:
We're all worried that it might drastically change, if not end, contact sport as we know it, but you can't get blood out of a stone so I can't see local leagues copping the same level of litigation. However it might mean parents guide their children into non contact sports and effectively kill them off over time through lack of participation.
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Well thought out BTT.
I see on the news this morning that one club in NSW the Penrith Giants are struggling to field a team.
Maybe that has something to do with it but not sure as I did not listen intently.
 
graystar1 said:
Here is the latest.
Does this mean Dees will be outfitted with wet lettuce leaves to hit opponents.
BTW, I do not in any way, condone head high tackles or head bumps.


'I think it is dead': Goodwin orders Dees to avoid bump​


Melbourne players won't be bumping opponents in wake of banned Pickett's hit on Bailey Smith
Click to expand...
good.
 
Franklin should have been given 3. He gets away with this way too often.
 
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There is a bigger principle at stake in all of this. We have people’s lives being destroyed on a wide scale for the sake of entertainment. Some are paid millions and live normal lives after footy. Some however have long or short careers then suffer intolerable misery along with their loved ones.
Two things need to happen:
1. The adjudicators of the game must stamp out the wilful acts of violence.
2. A total rethink of the way we spend the revenue from the game that provides assistance to players’ families who are in crisis.
It is obscene that we pay out stupid amounts to officials, coaches and players then blithely dismiss those who are left in the wake of the one or two week penalties.
 
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The Lynch tribunal situation sees concussion catapult to the top by far as the biggest threat to the future of our sport.
Can only guess the AFL is terrified about the data coming out & pending lawsuits to make such a decision.
 
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