Western Bulldogs premiership hero Liam Picken is set to take the AFL, his former club and the team doctors to court over a spate of concussions he suffered during his playing career.
Picken was forced to retire in early 2019 due to ongoing concussion symptoms sustained from a series of heavy knocks over the preceding two years, with many of the symptoms still persisting nearly four years later.
The 36-year old reportedly suffers from photophobia – discomfort in bright lights – and claims the Bulldogs and the club’s medical staff failed in their duty of care towards him by not revealing the full extent of his head injuries.
According to reports, Picken is claiming compensation for loss of earnings and ongoing medical tests from now until retirement.
Picken also claims he was given the all clear to return to playing and training despite suffering concussion throughout his career.
“From Liam’s perspective, he was never made aware of his failings of any cognitive assessment he ever underwent. Further to that, he did not necessarily understand the full extent of his injuries or his symptoms,” Picken’s legal counsel and principal lawyer at National Compensation Lawyers, Michael Tanner, told The Age.
“What he did was voice his concerns about his symptoms. The medical advice given to him at the time was [he was] still fit to play.”
Picken suffered a concussion in Round 3, 2017 against Fremantle, in a collision with Dockers defender Tom Sheridan.
However, while he was taken from the field, Picken claims he never underwent a SCAT 3 test to check for concussion, and returned to full training just five days later after completing a Digital Cognitive Assessment. The league has since extended its mandatory stand-down policy for any player who suffers a concussion to 12 days in early 2021.
Picken joins former Collingwood AFLW vice-captain Emma Grant in launching a civil case against the league over concussions; Grant is involved in a class action lawsuit run by Margalit Injury Lawyers after a concussion sustained in the 2020 pre-season forced her into premature retirement.
Liam Picken of the Bulldogs lies on the field concussed in a pre-season match in March, 2018. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
AFL unveils new $1m ‘Champion Club’ award
The AFL have announced a new $1 million prize will be awarded in 2023 to the most successful club across both AFL and AFLW competitions.
Previously, the team on top of the ladder at the end of the AFL home-and-away season was awarded the McClelland Trophy.
Now, in a similar vein to a previous iteration of the trophy, which was awarded to the club with best results across senior, reserves and Under 19 competitions, it will be won based on premiership points accrued in both the AFL and AFLW, with prizemoney to be distributed across the winning club and its players.
Given the different lengths of the two seasons, AFL wins will be worth four points and draws two, while AFLW wins will be worth eight points and draws four.
Had the award been on offer for the 2022 season, Melbourne would have been champions, having claimed the AFLW premiership while also finishing second on the ladder after the AFL home-and-away season, before crashing out of the finals in straight sets.
Don’t you just love it? Commentary icon to be inducted into Hall of Fame
Iconic Australian commentator Bruce McAvaney will be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame later this year, becoming the 11th member of its media category.
Over more than four decades on Seven, the 69-year old was one of the country’s most respected and acclaimed callers, becoming the voice of the network’s Olympic Games and athletics coverage.
But he was most famous for his calling of AFL matches for Seven, in particular his commentary partnership with fellow broadcasting doyen Dennis Cometti.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
McAvaney’s induction was announced by AFL chairman Richard Goyder at the league’s season launch on Thursday, while awarding the veteran caller life membership to the league.
“When we acknowledge a great career tonight by the magnificent Bruce McAvaney, who is receiving life membership, we should applaud him doubly as Bruce will also be going into the Hall of Fame later this year for his wonderful media career calling our greatest moments in our biggest games,” Goyder said.
“The other inductees we will keep a secret until June.”
McAvaney has also been inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame in 2022.
He retired from AFL commentary in late 2020, but remains heavily involved in Olympics and horse racing coverage on Seven.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
A fitted airbag & the rear of a AFL approved headgear might do the trick.
Cat
Roar Guru
A foam helmet would do nothing.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
True, Cat the technology we require is awhile off.
Damo
Guest
the (near) future will be AFL players having to sign disclaimers and waivers for concussion injuries of they want to play at the highest level.
Shane
Guest
The current head gear won't protect from concussion. If a player comes back from concussion he should wear a foam helmet liked a slimmed down bicycle helmet.
Cat
Roar Guru
Headgear does NOTHING to protect from concussion.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Can you remember when they wouldn’t allow Chris Grant on to the park (insurance wrangle) think it was a congenital neck injury?
berrlins
Roar Pro
If that's what it takes to protect players Chanon so be it. Our game is tough and entertaining enough without it's players risking their head senselessly. It's a contact sport but that doesn't mean we can't make it as safe as possible.
Rellum
Roar Guru
And so it begins
Chanon
Roar Rookie
It’s only a matter of time(clock is ticking) Berrlins that it will be mandatory that players wear AFL headgear.
berrlins
Roar Pro
As much as I love the Bulldogs I could absolutely see them and some of the other clubs failing in their duty of care towards him by not revealing the full extent of his head injuries. The NRL doesn't do alot right but having an independent doctor for concussion is maybe an example of them thinking ahead despite the opposition to it, the AFL should look at doing something similar to save clubs like my Doggies from themselves. Players go out on the field with the knowledge that they could easily get hurt, but they also play thinking that if they do get hurt the clubs will have their best interests at heart when taking care of them, it would seem the Dogs have really let Liam down in this regard and I hope he gets properly compensated.
Cat
Roar Guru
And who employed the doctors? And the bulldogs administrators who withheld info?
Steele
Roar Rookie
Cha Ching
Mat P
Guest
And then you have people like Nick Riewoldt claiming he would have taken the AFL to the supreme court if the 12 day concussion suspension would have lead to him missing a grand final. While not speaking to Picken's situation specifically, I feel these situations can find fault with both parties, albeit not necessarily from a legal standpoint; a team downplaying to obfuscating the severity of a head knock to fast track a good player back onto the field; and a player ignoring the symptoms his own body is exhibiting in desperation to get back onto the field.
Super
Roar Rookie
Sounds like the Bulldogs club doctors have let Liam down and if they didn't follow correct protocol they deserve to have the book thrown at them. If they did then the AFL should have the book thrown at them. Fingers crossed that Liam's symptoms get better over time and he gets to lead a normal, pain free life. The Bulldogs wouldn't have won the flag in 2016 without Picken - he was the player of that finals series.
Brian
Guest
So if Collingwood or Hawthorn win the Champion club award does that mean next year the Giants will get $15m in extra funding compared to this year's $14m. What an incentive
Brian
Guest
The players are actually employed by the AFL not by the clubs. Contracts are 3 way between player, club and AFL. AFL are responsible for workplace safety as the de facto employer here.
Cat
Roar Guru
Sounds like Liam has a good case against the dogs but fail to see how to AFL would be liable.