761 days: Brayshaw's "terrible existence" amid insurance farce

I’m not normally one to veer into the opinion space but I think this remains one of the great injustices in modern football, what is happening to Angus Brayshaw.

It has been 761 days since he announced his retirement and he is still battling to receive two insurance pay-outs which clearly should have been paid a long time ago.

One is from the AFLPA which is going through the various processes, it’s a policy all players sign for when they get drafted, that is reportedly seven figures.

The one I want to focus on is from Zurich which is Melbourne’s sponsor which adds more complexity and delicacy. They still haven’t paid him out yet – it’s a figure in the vicinity of one million - because of his wedding photos and another is his speech at the Brownlow in 2024.

They also didn’t trust Melbourne’s club doctor. Seven doctors have approved his insurance claim; the one that hasn’t was a Zurich hired doctor. He just can't get this money that is owed to him.

None of us believe that he faked his retirement or that he wanted to finish up playing, he was forced.

Zurich is making life impossible for him to move on. Now they’re forcing him to go through another process via the financial ombudsmen which will take another 12-18 months of back and forth before he can potentially receive this money.

Zurich itself is under the pump as well; it’s the insurer for executives and senior AFL staff. My understanding is more than six of the senior execs at the AFL have since moved on from Zurich and gone to other insurers, such is the frustration with the company. The Brayshaw saga is reflecting poorly on them.

Part of me thinks my thoughts are with Angus but also, let’s shine a light on this; what if something happened to Brayshaw? He can’t do anything during the day, he can’t play golf, he can’t go out, there’s been private investigators follow him to make sure he is not doing too much.

What a terrible existence for someone that gave so much to the game. He can’t comment publicly at the moment.

He still has the effects of concussion, he can’t work. He can’t play golf, I don’t even think he can play.

It’s been 761 days and it could go another 12-18 months unless someone intervenes. It’s a big issue behind the scenes. The whole thing is ridiculous.