AFL legend Dermott Brereton has implored league chief executive Andrew Dillon to ensure the competition is still around in 15 years.

With concussion injuries on the rise in the sport, Brereton feels Dillon is facing a crisis that could impact the AFL’s existence.

The AFL has brought in several rule changes and initiatives over the years to combat the risk of head injuries, including introducing concussion protocol and strict penalties for making contact with an opponent’s head.

“He has to make sure we still have a sport in 15 years’ time. This head injury syndrome we have, he has to make sure we have a sport in 15 years, we could be talking about unheard of numbers in payouts for concussions,” Brereton said on SEN.

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“I don’t know the solution. It’s for greater minds than mine.”

Four players – Andrew Brayshaw, Nathan Murphy, Josh Carmichael and Aiden O’Driscoll – were forced to retire from Australian Rules prematurely because of concussion.

When does the 2025 AFL season start?

The 2025 AFL season will begin on Thursday, March 6 with a blockbuster between premiers Brisbane and Geelong at the Gabba.

This match will be the first of four in the ‘Opening Round’, which sees the AFL teams in the eastern seaboard states host the first games of the season.

Details of Round 1 are yet to be released but it’s likely that the traditional ‘season opener’ between Carlton and Richmond will be on Thursday, March 13 at the MCG.