CTE crisis in AFL and Australian Rules football exposes risks to players at all levels
Consensus Summary
Multiple news sources report a growing crisis in Australian Rules football due to the diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 33 former players, including 19 professionals and semi-professionals. The youngest case, Nick Lowden, died by suicide at 23 after being diagnosed with CTE, highlighting the disease’s devastating impact on young players. CTE, caused by repeated head impacts rather than just concussions, has been linked to depression, memory loss, and suicide in affected players. The AFL has faced criticism for its slow response, with experts like Michael Buckland and Ann McKee urging immediate action to reduce exposure, such as delaying tackle training until later ages. While the AFL has introduced concussion rule changes, it lacks a formal CTE policy and has not fully addressed coroners’ recommendations to partner with brain banks. Parents and community officials are increasingly unaware of CTE risks, and some are reconsidering allowing children to play contact sports. The crisis extends beyond the AFL to amateur and semi-professional levels, raising questions about the sport’s long-term safety and the league’s responsibility for player welfare.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- 33 Australian Rules footballers have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after death, including 19 professional and semi-professional players.
- Nick Lowden, 23, was the youngest Australian footballer diagnosed with CTE and died by suicide in 2023.
- CTE is caused by repeated head impacts, not just concussions, and can only be diagnosed post-mortem.
- The AFL has introduced over 30 rule changes to reduce concussions but has no formal CTE policy as of 2026.
- Former AFL players Danny Frawley and Shane Tuck were diagnosed with CTE after their deaths, with coroners recommending AFL establish partnerships with brain banks.
- Neuropathologist Michael Buckland states CTE is a 'disease of exposure' and reducing head impact exposure is key to prevention.
- The AFL’s concussion guidelines were previously led by Dr. Paul McCrory, who dismissed CTE concerns in 2016 and was later exposed as a plagiarist.
- The AFL plans to limit physical contact in training sessions starting in the 2027 pre-season, though details are unspecified.
- The youngest known CTE case in American football was 18-year-old Wyatt Bramwell, who died by suicide in 2019 after playing high school tackle football.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The FIFTHQTR Foundation, led by former Carlton star Ken Hunter, reported that many community footy officials and parents are unaware of the difference between CTE and concussion.
- Ann McKee, a world-leading CTE expert, proposed banning tackling until adulthood (age 18 or older) to reduce CTE risk.
- A class action lawsuit involving over 100 AFL players is being led by lawyer Michel Margalit, alleging players were not informed of long-term concussion risks.
- Two Victorian coroners recommended the AFL establish a formal partnership with brain banks in 2021, but the AFL has not acted on this.
- Reader comments on ABC’s article reveal some parents are avoiding AFL and rugby for their children due to CTE concerns, while others remain confident in current safety measures.
- Dr. Alan Pearce recommends delaying contact sports until age 14 to reduce CTE risk, citing Adam Goodes as an example of a late starter who excelled.
- Helmets for children in football codes do not protect against brain tissue movement during tackles, according to Dr. Pearce.
- Wyatt Bramwell’s family shared his video message about his struggles with depression and paranoia before his suicide, linked to CTE.
- The ABC Four Corners episode on Nick Lowden’s case documented the 'crushing' details of Shane Tuck’s final 24 hours in a coroner’s report.
- Peter Hanlon’s Age feature series highlighted the 'outrageously violent' 1986 Colac-Coragulac vs. South Warrnambool country grand final and its long-term mental health impacts.
- The AFL’s general manager of health and football operations, Laura Kane, stated the league lacks a CTE policy but claims it is committed to research, calling repeated head trauma 'extremely undesirable'.
- The AFL’s concussion study led by Dr. Paul McCrory was criticized for 'a lack of governance, stewardship, and coordination'.
- The article references a growing disconnect between AFL and country/suburban clubs, with many operating on a 'thin line'.
- The Guardian’s AFL email newsletter 'From the Pocket' is mentioned as the source of the full article.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The ABC states the AFL has not acted on coroners' recommendations to partner with brain banks since 2021, while the Guardian implies some recommendations are 'on track' without specifying which ones.
- The ABC reports that 19 of the 33 CTE-diagnosed players died by suicide, with 15 having CTE, while the Guardian does not provide a specific number of suicides linked to CTE.
- The Guardian suggests the AFL’s response to CTE is inadequate, while the ABC quotes AFL executive Laura Kane emphasizing the league’s commitment to player health and safety.
Source Articles
From the Pocket: Footy faces an existential threat in CTE. The AFL’s words are wholly inadequate
Want to get this in your inbox every Wednesday afternoon? Sign up for the AFL newsletter here Monday’s ABC Four Corners episode looked at the life and death of Nick Lowden , who at 23 was the youngest footballer to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE affects participants in collision and combat sports – having been first identified in boxers nearly a century ago – as well as soldiers and domestic violence victims. “Why am I like this?” Lowden asked his mother. “What’s w
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