It was inevitable, in light of the growing evidence that there is a link between repetitive concussion and permanent brain injury, that we would hear more from former players and their families about the awful price of playing football.
Still, the story of Greg Williams was a terrible shock.
Williams was one of the greatest, toughest, and most controversial players of all time. He was also the sort of ruthless person few people could warm to.
Last night, however, in a setting that could have proved demeaning and exploitative, he showed a type of courage that moved some to tears.
On the Channel Seven programme Sunday Night, Williams was asked by Peter FitzSimons what he could remember about his honeymoon.
With his adoring wife sitting next to him and with that direct and confronting stare he gave to his taggers – except this time he’s on the verge of crying – Williams replies, “I can’t remember my honeymoon.”
Williams can’t remember because he’s almost certainly suffering brain damage, more specifically the degenerative condition known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) which leads to dementia.
CTE is a result of repeated concussions and Williams – with his slow foot speed and short stature – was a major recipient of these throughout his career.
Williams’ wife also confirmed that besides the memory loss there are signs of increased aggression which is also associated with the condition.
He is a Team of the Century player, Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee and Carlton premiership player. In a palatial home financed by his lucrative career he has a framed picture of the Team of the Century, which he said he purchased because he couldn’t remember being selected.
He was only half-joking because he admits to not remembering much of his time as a player.
This was an extraordinarily courageous and generous act by Williams, to go on television and be shown forgetting the middle names of his own children and being told by a doctor that his brain is exhibiting symptoms usually associated with Parkinson’s or stroke.
And the same goes for former NRL prop Shaun Valentine, who also appeared on the programme.
Indications that the game can have a devastating long-term impact on the cognitive function of some of its players have always been there but sometimes it’s the misfortunes of the superstars that can highlight sad reality.
In a previous article I mentioned the over importance placed on the body in contact sports. Physical strength is of no consequence when your head hits something hard.
This was solemnly highlighted last night when FitzSimons “interviewed” a 69-year-old former NFL player, John Hilton, who proudly flexed his still firm muscles. Unfortunately he has the cognitive function of a pre-school child, almost certainly a result of CTE.
The condition which has been found in a large number of deceased NFL players by the pioneering Boston University study centre can only be diagnosed post-mortem.
Undoubtedly if Hilton was examined his brain would show the condition’s calling card – the build up of the dark brown coloured tau protein.
Melbourne’s Deakin University is involved in the study of the effects of brain trauma on living patients. The University’s Alan Pearce was the doctor who tested Williams and Valentine. Pearce had previously tested five former AFL players, all of who showed signs of brain damage.
What are the implications for the future of the sport and the other football codes?
The soft helmets used by some footballers are useless as they do not prevent the brain from slapping up against the inside of the skull, the cause of concussion.
Concussion guidelines have been implemented, however Alan Pearce says after one serious concussion you shouldn’t play again and the head of the Boston unit believes children shouldn’t be exposed to sports that cause repetitive brain trauma until after puberty.
As a player the worst thing for your performance, while playing, is to think about the organ you’re doing your thinking with.
When asked by FitzSimons how proud he is of his Team of the Century selection, Williams says, “This is one of the biggest things for me.”
Clearly something bigger but awful is happening to him now.
I wonder if FitzSimons contemplated asking him if he now regrets ever playing the game?
Martin
Guest
It is inevitable that some sort of head gear, perhaps something similar to a bicycle helmet, will come into the game in the future. So, why not sooner rather than later?
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
From what I've seen, the purely accidental 'clash of heads' is the most dangerous outcome from a collision in both Aussie Rules & League. No malice, just a determination not to be seen as shirking the issue. Sometimes it's so-called 'friendly fire'. A bit like someone belting you across the temple with a wooden chopping board at times.
Bondy
Guest
Your going to lose more and more to association, the other codes would be overtly concerned also,i'd suggest a pick up of 15%.
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Good point Pogo. Also there's no question that collisions not directly involving the head can impact on the brain. From personal experience, just tackling or being tackled at speed can cause some wooziness and a mild but lingering headache.
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Thanks Ian and Basil for those links: Interesting to read: "A reduced neuropsychological performance was found after minor head impacts in soccer, even in allegedly asymptomatic players." And: "Astle's was not the first case of a footballer's illness or death (particularly in the form of Alzheimer's or dementia type symptoms) being connected to heading old fashioned footballs, a notable example being the former Tottenham Hotspur captain Danny Blanchflower who died of Alzheimer's disease in December 1993." A verdict of death by industrial injury was recorded.
Basil C
Guest
This was the football player Jef Astle who died of a brain disorder alegedly caused by heading the wet old style balls... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Astle
Basil C
Guest
Of course the Age is hopping into the AFL on this issue. Why isnt its sister paper doing the same with NRL???
Basil C
Guest
There was a West bromwich Albion striker who sued the FA in the 80s after he was diagnosed witha brain disorder. Cant remember his name (too many headers) but the old balls they used when they got wet were like cement. Obviously the new balls are better.
Pogo
Guest
It's not always necessary for a person to be knocked cold to sustain a brain injury. Repeated knocks to the head can be just as bad as one big hit, there is a bit of data from fly weight - featherweight boxers where complete kos are less common but repeated blows to the head are pretty much mandatory.
Dingo
Guest
How many times has Brown been knocked out or copped a heavy blow to the scone? or needed reconstructive surgery? Other players from the AFL and NRL have been concussed on multiple occassions and long term they might have problems.
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
''I reckon Jonathan Brown and other, might need to be very careful.'' What you mean?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Bondy, Actually, yeah, association football does have a problem. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19349829 Now, does association football has a big a problem as, say, gridiron ? I'd say no. As big as australian rules or rugby league ? I'd also say no. But enough to keep an eye on it, and have mandatory substitution and time off after concussions ? Heck yes.
Fred
Guest
You literally twist everything into a negative remark about soccer. Im stating that soccer was the FIRST sport to recognise the problem. Something the sport should be commended about. Head trauma is a serious topic for discussion in ALL sports. I even read a report today that suggested Cheer-Leading also needs to address it. I dont think it matters in what direct you get hit from. If the brain makes contact with the side of the skull then some amount of damage will occur.
Bondy
Guest
Its amazing you guys have virtually come here today and concluded "Soccer" problem " Soccer". That was a fairly heavy interview last night,most of you guys have come here and said heading a soccer ball is dangerous for major head trauma. I didn't realise or understand but he was right wasn't he Williams you can get hit 360 degrees in afl ,it must be the only football code that that happens would that be right ?,maybe gailec football . Finally I dont think toughness equates to being great in relation to safety.
Lroy
Guest
Shirt front is the same thing as a "shoulder charge"... pretty much illegal now in the AFL.
Fred
Guest
Hopefully we can say the violence has gone soft. But that we can equally say that the game has become more entertaining than ever (if that is even possible).
Fred
Guest
2004 Dissertation excerpt Don Brady, PhD, PsyD, NCSP, Licensed Psychologist: Although soccer is perceived as a relatively safe sport (Janda et al., 1995; Jordan et al., 1996), a review of soccer-related literature cautions that its participants are at risk of experiencing serious injury (e.g., concussion) (Barnes et al., 1998; Baroff, 1998; Brady, D., 1999; Tysvaer, 1991). In 1988, the safety and related risk aspect of soccer participation was also raised by the American Academy of Pediatrics; it was their position that soccer should be viewed as a contact or collision sport. The Academy’s policy statement also reported that similar concussion rates existed for football and soccer (Dyment et al., 1988). Concussion rates for college ice hockey and football, along with men’s and women’s soccer, were found to be comparable to previously documented concussion occurrences when the rate of concussions per thousand athletic exposures was analyzed. The following rates of concussions were found for each sport: ice hockey (.27); football (.25); men’s soccer (.25) and women’s soccer (.24) (Kelly& Rosenberg, 1998). From the website .. http://theconcussionblog.com/2012/06/19/concussions-not-just-male-not-just-football/#more-6218 Also look at: http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6912840/soccer-big-concussion-problem-anything-being-done-protect-players
Basil C
Guest
All of this is true but how many also overdid alcohol and drugs (illicit and PED). Its easy for a doctor to come out and say "shock headlines" and some in the medical fraternaity may disagree but hundreds of footballers have had no problems so perhaps it is more complex. But obviously well worth a study...Like the ACC report lets not overreact....
Dingo
Guest
Good article and I also watched the program last night. That was really sad to watch these men and their wives trying to come to terms with the reality of their problems. I don't recall Williams being concussed that often, he probably did, but back then it was more about being able to get back out on the ground than too much concern for the players welfare. Valentine is only in his mid thirties but he has suffered terrible damage. That phone call he made to his wife after the test, when he said he'd hope for a better result was very sad. The former NFL player, trying to count from 10 to zero, 10. 9. 8. 7.6.5....2....7...3....5.......... How many players have got this and no one, outside of their own families are aware of it? I reckon Jonathan Brown and other, might need to be very careful. Rugby League needs to make more of an effort to protect the head at all costs, those huge jarring hits, that the supporters of the game love to see, could be doing serious long term damage.
Brewski
Guest
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Australian_rules_football_slang This might help for the uneducated in Australian football.