Former Geelong and Essendon ruckman John Barnes has attacked the AFL over its attitude towards concussion.
Barnes is heading up a class action against the AFL where over 100 former players have joined in the fight to improve concussion policy.
The 49-year-old has suffered memory loss and epileptic seizures as a result of head knocks he sustained during his 202-game career.
“I’m 100 per cent sure that the AFL are sh---ing themselves,” Barnes told SEN’s Time On.
“They know the avalanche is coming, they’re holding on and I don’t know what they’re holding on for. They need to come out and make a statement.
“It’s duty of care, it’s the compensation fund that every football is entitled to, which they don’t get.
“It won’t be long until I can’t work at all and the AFL is not going to give a stuff about that and they think we are going away, but we’re not.
“The fight’s real, the fight’s huge and they know they are on a hiding to nothing. That’s the greatest thing about it, I want to see them sit up there and say sorry and watch them all go back into their little rat holes like they do.
“They won’t admit it, I know they won’t, but at least we’ll get some justice … not just for me but for the next footballers that come through.”
Paddy McCartin was recently delisted by St Kilda after it was agreed he would sit out the 2020 season to help overcome his concussion symptoms.
McCartin has suffered eight head knocks in his 35-game AFL career. The forward hopes to return to football in 2021.
Listen to John Barnes’ chat on SEN’s Time On in the player below