Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt says he would donate his brain to science to aid research into Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition associated with multiple blows to the head.
NRL legend Peter Sterling said yesterday that he would donate his brain following his death after research found that two middle-aged professionals who had played over 150 games of top-grade football were suffering from CTE.
Concussions have been taken more seriously by the AFL and its clubs in the last couple of years, but Riewoldt is still concerned about the alarming “epidemic” of the injury, particularly at the Saints.
“I think that’s probably a philosophical decision to have with your family and with your kids but yeah I think I would,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Koby Stevens last year had to walk away from the game, we know Paddy (McCartin) ... that’s such a sad story, Billy Longer, Lewis Pierce as well - he can’t get back to playing,” he said.
“Seventy-four players last year were concussed in games, so there’s obviously the injuries that occur at training as well so that number is continuing to rise.”
Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon agreed, admitting that although concussion didn’t negatively affect his career, he would still donate his brain.
“Concussion was never a big issue for me, but I would, 100 per cent I would,” he said.
The NFL is world leaders in this issue, with the league approving $US502 million ($AUD676.63 million) in claims to ex-players as part of its concussion settlement.
