Past #13. Leigh Adams - coached SthCroydon to '17 flag - 18-19 COburg VFL coach

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NORTH Melbourne midfielder Leigh Adams has been forced into retirement after a lengthy battle with concussion.

The Herald Sun can reveal Adams told teammates on Friday that his football career was over after being encouraged by doctors to cease playing all contact sport.

Adams, 27, has suffered five concussions in the past year and was warned that further knocks to the head could leave the courageous Roo at risk of suffering serious long-term damage, including short and long-term memory loss.

The 104-gamer suffered his most recent concussion in a VFL game in June after former teammate Levi Greenwood clipped him in the back of the head.

Adams has since been weighing up his future in consultation with neurological specialists but is believed to be at peace with the decision.

Importantly, he has received a clean bill of health, but did not want to jeopardise his health and family life with further head injuries.

Adams battled depression after his fourth concussion sustained during the pre-season and wanted to have one more crack at extending his career before he was struck down again mid-season.

Adams has received the full support of the club, who have offered the 104-gamer a coaching role working with the midfielders and small forwards for the rest of the season.

The goalkicking midfielder won enormous respect at Arden St for his courageous and hard working playing style.

He played a key midfield role for the Roos while many of their young midfielders developed, finishing top five in the Roos’ best and fairest in 2010 and 2011.
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It is a very sad day. Thank you Patch for giving your all. Massive respect and best of everything for you and yours in the future.

A true Shinboner.
 

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Sad news but health and safety come first. You will be missed, for a long time he was the team barometer, when patch fired up, we won.
 
At his best he was one of those players you just loved to have on your team. Would compete all day, and could always back him in for a good run.

Health and family are way more important then footy, and im glad he has put them first. I pray there arent any issues down the track for him.

Thanks for everything Patch. Gave his all for the club. Best wishes for the future.
 
Fond memories of him tearing up the G in the wet against the Tigers back in 2010; he was only 22 at that point and looked like a huge part of our promising young core. From debuting in what I believe was our win in Kardinia Park that launched Geelong's dynasty, with his first possession being a goal assist to Boomer Harvey, everything to that point made me believe we had found a great footballer who was going to become a huge part of our rise up the ladder.

He's had a very unfortunate career since then, and one ruined by three extremely dirty acts; the Beau Waters bump that had him severely concussed, Conca lining him up and concussing him behind the play in the freakin' NAB Cup and of course Judd's chicken wing. He never did properly recover from Judd's filthy action, which is a shame because who knows where he'd be if had a better run with injury. Although he was still able to get 100+ games out of himself and he'll forever be synonymous with this era of North Melbourne footy.

Congratulations Patch on a good career, thanks for everything.
 
Incidents like these always remind you of how fast or game has become and how the health of our players should always come first. After all it is only a game. All the best for the future Patch.
 

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Loved him, 2-3 years ago was one of our most important players. Good luck and I'm glad a) he's at peace with the decision and b) the club have offered him a role for the year. Let's hope he has an awesome retirement and can pump out a few boys since he made the 100 games for our great club. Always a shinboner!
 
Given his manic attack on the footy he was always going to be at risk of more concussions each time he played. I wish all the players displayed the same ferocity. Good little player.
 
Skarrz said:
Loved him, 2-3 years ago was one of our most important players. Good luck and I'm glad a) he's at peace with the decision and b) the club have offered him a role for the year. Let's hope he has an awesome retirement and can pump out a few boys since he made the 100 games for our great club. Always a shinboner!
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Where did you read this?
 
One of my favourites and full credit to courageously hang them up rather than waste his and the clubs time like many would.

Best of luck Patch.
 
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