AFL Concussion Class Action Swells as More Ex-Players Join Legal Fight
The burgeoning class action lawsuit against the Australian Football League (AFL) over alleged brain damage from concussions has seen a significant increase in plaintiffs, with eight more former footballers now joining the multimillion-dollar legal challenge. This brings the total number of players involved to well over 100, all of whom claim to have suffered debilitating neurological conditions as a result of their careers in the sport.
Margalit Injury Lawyers, the firm spearheading the action, has formally lodged a new writ with the Supreme Court of Victoria. This latest filing names the AFL alongside an additional ten clubs as defendants in what is shaping up to be a landmark legal battle. The newly added clubs include Carlton, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Melbourne, Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon, North Melbourne, and Footscray.
The class action was initially launched by Margalit Injury Lawyers three years ago. Last year, the AFL and the Geelong Football Club made a concerted effort to have the case “declassed,” which would have effectively broken it into individual lawsuits, placing a greater burden on each player to pursue their own legal proceedings. However, this bid was ultimately unsuccessful, paving the way for trial dates to be confirmed in the near future. Justice Andrew Keogh has tentatively suggested May 31, 2027, as a potential trial commencement date.
The lead plaintiff in this significant case is Max Rooke, a dual premiership defender for Geelong. Rooke, who played 135 games for the Cats, asserts that he sustained life-altering injuries directly attributable to concussions and head impacts experienced during his playing days. The court documents detail that Rooke suffered between 20 and 30 concussions throughout his career, including training sessions, and was rendered unconscious on at least two separate occasions.
The recently filed writ introduces a slate of new plaintiffs, adding further weight to the legal action. Among them are Ian Fairley, a premiership player for North Melbourne; Nick Stevens, former vice-captain of Carlton; and Michael Richardson, who amassed an impressive 302 games across stints with Collingwood and Essendon.
The Devastating Impact of Concussion
Michel Margalit, the lawyer representing these former athletes, has highlighted the severe and varied neurological impairments her clients are enduring. These include suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head trauma that can currently only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem. Other conditions cited are traumatic brain injury (TBI) and dementia.
Ms. Margalit also detailed the profound psychological toll the injuries have taken, with some players experiencing “devastating” consequences such as severe depression and suicidal ideation.
“The players’ concussions occurred while playing Aussie Rules, and those concussions have gone on to cause them serious, lifelong physical and psychological harm,” Ms. Margalit stated in a release. “It has had a devastating impact on their lives and the lives of their loved ones. They dedicated their lives to the game. Years later, their footy career is a distant memory, and they find themselves injured and without the means to care for those injuries. It’s heart-breaking, and they need to be adequately cared for.”
The former players are seeking substantial damages to cover a range of losses, including pain and suffering, economic losses incurred due to their injuries, and medical expenses. They are also seeking interest and legal costs associated with the protracted legal proceedings.
A Call for Fair Resolution
“Financial compensation can never fix the damage that concussion has caused, but it will be an important step forward in recognition of the damage caused to them,” Ms. Margalit emphasised. She extended an invitation to AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon to engage in discussions aimed at achieving a fair financial outcome for these former players, who have contributed so much to the sport, rather than prolonging their suffering.
The AFL has declined to comment on the matter, citing that it is currently before the courts.
The devastating link between Australian Rules Football and brain trauma has been tragically underscored by cases where CTE has been diagnosed post-mortem in former players, including St Kilda legend Danny Frawley and Richmond’s Shane Tuck. Both individuals tragically died by suicide.
Earlier this year, reports emerged about former AFL footballer Troy Selwood, who also died by suicide. In his will, Selwood expressed a wish to donate his brain for scientific research into the impact of concussion in sport. Selwood, who played 75 games for the Brisbane Lions, made this poignant request in November 2021, four years prior to his passing.
The scope of the current class action encompasses incidents occurring from January 1985 up to March 14, 2023. The lawsuit initially commenced with just over 60 former players alleging long-term injury stemming from concussions sustained during their playing careers.
In a contrasting financial report, the AFL announced an underlying operating surplus of $67.9 million in 2025. This financial strength stands in stark contrast to the personal hardship faced by many former players embroiled in the concussion litigation.
A comparable class action filed by former NFL players in the United States resulted in an initial payout exceeding $US1 billion ($1.44 billion), highlighting the potential scale of compensation in such cases.
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