Former AFL ruckman John Barnes says the league has its head in the sand over concussions, as the now 49-year-old — who has epilepsy and memory loss — joins a planned class action seeking compensation.
Barnes said the AFL had its head in the sand on the issue and he was happy to take the organisation to court.
"It's getting pretty close to the numbers that we want; it could be happening pretty quickly, could be four weeks' time to lodge it — we are ready to go," Barnes said."It's my life, I'll do what I want to — well within certain bounds — but what's the alternative? I kinda like what I am doing. [The] consequence of that sometimes is you get hit on the head," said NRL prop James Graham, who plays for the St George Illawarra Dragons.
"Just go and play Oztag if you don't fancy playing league anymore, but I wouldn't get paid and probably wouldn't have as much fun anymore," the 33 year-old Englishman said.Neuroscientist Alan Pearce said he wasn't surprised former footballers were presenting with epilepsy. "There's evidence to show the risk of a number of different conditions including epilepsy can occur as a result of a history of head trauma and concussions," said Mr Pearce, an associate professor at La Trobe University.
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