Choose. Absolutely this is the key to this current issue.Great summary. It raises the basic conundrum facing contact sports and those who “choose” to participate in them.
When you go in for a surgery, you sign a waiver that you know and understand the risks involved but are proceeding of your own accord and as such, waive your right to legal action. Likewise if you choose to jump out of a plane, or other activities with risks.
Can the AFL not draft up some sort of ironclad waiver they have all current and future listed players sign, stating they know and understand the risks of playing this contact sport and are choosing with a sound mind, to still play? Players can then chose not to sign that and go play in other competitions or not at all. But play in the AFL and you’ll need to sign this. Then problem solved, surely?
Let’s not be under any false illusions, litigation is all that they care about. Not player welfare. So have them sign something and leave the game alone!
It’s a contact sport. Head knocks among other injuries, are not only possible but are inevitable. The players know this.
Issue is you have players of the past who didn’t earn the big bucks, trying to get some easy money now. Like everything else in life, litigation is ruining our game!






