Former West Coast defender Brad Sheppard is launching a lawsuit against the AFL and his former club following persistent issues relating to concussion.
Sheppard, who retired at the age of just 30 in 2021, is suing the league, the Eagles and a pair of club doctors — Gerard Taylor and Alex Strahan — for medical negligence.
Now 33 years of age, Sheppard played 216 AFL games but unluckily missed out on West Coast’s 2018 premiership triumph after injuring his hamstring in the qualifying final.
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A writ from Sheppard was recently filed claiming “damages, interest and costs arising from personal injuries suffered by the plaintiff during his employment with the Australian Football League and the West Coast Eagles Football Club from 25 November 2009 onwards”.
It also reads “such accident, injuries, loss and damage having resulted from the negligence and/or breach of contract and/or breach of statutory duty” of each of the four defendants. The case is set to be heard in Western Australia’s Supreme Court.
Dr Strahan is no longer employed by the Eagles, having departed at the end of last year after serving more than 12 years at the club.
Late in the 2021 home-and-away season, Sheppard was concussed in a game against Fremantle, ultimately putting an end to his playing career.
Last year, he told the ABC of his struggles following that fateful collision: “That shook me for six months.
“There’s definitely a few symptoms that I’m wary about and have to deal with,” he said.
“Hopefully time heals, and I’ve been doing a lot of rehab and brain training to sort of help me fast track that.”
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Awareness of traumatic head injuries has never been higher across the professional sports landscape, with Sheppard’s action the latest of former AFL players who have moved to hold the league accountable.
Western Bulldogs flag-winner Liam Picken recently launched legal action separate to a class action led by two-time Geelong premiership player Max Rooke.
Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw, Collingwood’s Nathan Murphy, Western Bulldogs draftee Aiden O’Driscoll and — as recently as Wednesday — Magpies forward Josh Carmichael retired this year due to persistent concussive effects.