Australian News Today

Former West Coast Eagle sues AFL for ‘medical negligence’ following concussion retirement

Former West Coast Eagle sues AFL for ‘medical negligence’ following concussion retirement

Retired footballer Brad Sheppard is suing his former club, the West Coast Eagles, the AFL as well as two doctors over claims of “medical negligence.”

In a writ filed in the Western Australian Supreme Court, Sheppard alleges injuries suffered during his career “resulted from the negligence” of the AFL and the Eagles.

Two AFL doctors are also listed as defendants in relation to “medical treatment” he received while playing for West Coast.

Sheppard is seeking damages and costs from the defendants.

Sheppard, who played 216 games for the Eagles, was forced to retire from football in 2021 following several concussions across his career.

In 2023, he told the ABC a concussion suffered against Fremantle in his final year “shook me for six months.”

“The first two months I couldn’t even get my heart rate up over 100 without having head spins, and my concentration levels just weren’t there, my ability to focus on anything. I was just constantly tired.”

He now lives in Broome, in WA’s north.

Brad Sheppard is suing his former club, the West Coast Eagles, for medical negligence.(AAP: Joel Carrett)

Sheppard’s writ follows the retirement this week of Collingwood’s Josh Carmichael for medical reasons, while another Magpies player, Nathan Murphy, retired in April.

Melbourne premiership player Angus Brayshaw and Western Bulldogs player Aiden O’Driscoll also retired this year due to concussion.

Sports content to make you think… or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.

Loading