Pain, glory, concussion: former AFL players and their families speak out about league inaction

They are men who lived on the field, playing the game which helped to define them. But for some former AFL players, those moments of pain and glory have been washed away with such severe memory loss that they can no longer recall their most celebrated achievements, nor other significant details from their lives.

Many are suffering in silence; some say they are too scared of the potential repercussions. Afraid of losing their jobs, or swallowing their pride, or of having to fight toget the help they need from a governing body they allege is doing “everything it can to deny, deny, deny” that football has a concussion problem.

Others say they have already lost their families – ripped apart by their broken brains and all the hurt that can entail.

Some are simply too sick to speak for themselves, in full-time care with degenerative diseases which will likely – based on the evidence to date – later be linked to a chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) diagnosis.

Guardian Australia has spoken to six former players and their families as part of an investigation into the AFL’s response to concerns surrounding concussion in the sport.

The majority are reluctant to publicly discuss the long-term effects of their repeated brain injuries sustained on the pitch. Almost all, though, say they have received little to no support from the sport’s governing body or, to a lesser extent, the AFL Player’s Association (AFPLA) , both of whom have a duty of care to protect their athletes.

One says he has spent months chasing the AFL for brain scan results from studies they were involved in and follow-up care, whileanother family member has faced repeated “deflection” about funding. One former player says he has received “next to none” from