The Australian Football League faces a significant legal development as the concussion class action against Geelong takes an unexpected turn, potentially reshaping how medical professionals approach club roles.
Club Doctors Dragged Into Legal Battle
Geelong Football Club has officially named twelve doctors who served the club between 1985 and 2023 in a third-party notice, including current chief medical officer David Long, who joined the Cats in 2021. This legal maneuver allows the club to seek compensation from these medical professionals should the class action result in financial payouts to affected players.
The lawsuit, led by two-time premiership hero Max Rooke, has gathered nearly 100 former players claiming damages for concussion-related injuries sustained during their careers. The case has been described as potentially worth billions of dollars and targets both the AFL and individual clubs.
Medical Community Sounds Alarm
Renowned sports medicine expert Dr Peter Brukner, who has held senior medical positions with Collingwood, Melbourne, the Socceroos, Liverpool FC, and the Australian cricket team, issued a stark warning to fellow practitioners about working within the AFL system.
"Why would you put yourself out there?" Dr Brukner questioned. "Why would you bother, getting paid bugger all to go through this if anything goes wrong?"
He highlighted that medical indemnity insurance costs would increase "greatly" for doctors found liable in AFL concussion incidents, creating a significant deterrent for qualified professionals considering club roles.
Broader Implications for Sports Medicine
Dr Brukner expressed concern that the legal developments would discourage medical professionals from taking positions with AFL clubs, regardless of the final outcomes. "It's going to stop people putting their hands up for these roles ... that's a real concern and another reason why doctors would be reluctant to take on a job like this."
He emphasized the personal toll of legal proceedings, noting that "even if they're found to be not responsible, it's still an enormously stressful process to go through, spending your time with lawyers and in depositions and in court ... it's not why we practise medicine."
Meanwhile, Michel Margalit, the managing principal representing Rooke and the other players, maintained that their focus remains on securing "long overdue help and compensation" for injured footballers. She stated that "the seriousness of their injuries and need for care cannot be overstated," highlighting the human cost behind the legal proceedings.
This case represents one of the most significant legal challenges in Australian sports history, with potential ramifications for how clubs manage player welfare and medical supervision across all contact sports.
