Angus Brayshaw has told his Melbourne teammates that he is retiring from the game.
Brayshaw, 28, delivered the news to the Demons playing group and staff at AAMI Park this morning, prematurely ending a career stalked by concussion.
He had been concussed several times through his 10 years at Melbourne, including the controversial, rule-changing incident in last year’s qualifying final against Collingwood.
Brayshaw was on the receiving end of a collision with Brayden Maynard at the MCG that ended his season and prompted the AFL to tighten its guidelines around attempted smothers.
Brayshaw missed half of 2016 and most of 2017 due to concussion symptoms and wore a helmet since.
He had undergone brain scans and consulted neurologists over summer in a bid to continue his career.
Those tests came after his brother Hamish suggested last September that Angus had a decision to make on his playing future.
Brayshaw retires after 167 games and a premiership in 2021.
He was drafted with Pick 3 in 2014 and finished third in the Brownlow Medal in 2018.
Angus Brayshaw has this morning told his Melbourne teammates he is retiring from the game. Only 28, Brayshaw has been stalked by concussion throughout his career, including the controversial - and rule-changing - incident in last year’s qualifying final. The midfielder had…
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) February 22, 2024
The Melbourne Football Club has since confirmed the retirement of Brayshaw.
Their statement read:
“Melbourne AFL Premiership player Angus Brayshaw has been medically retired effective immediately.
“The decision follows extensive neurological testing and expert consultation, which concluded that the 28-year-old should be medically retired as a result of the concussion he sustained in the 2023 AFL Qualifying Final against Collingwood.
“Brayshaw, who has been at the Club for nine years and is much loved by all the players, coaches and staff, informed his teammates and AFL Football Department of the decision on Thursday morning.”
