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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Melissa Davey, Stephanie Convery and Emma Kemp

The AFL, the concussion doctor and the groundbreaking brain study that never appeared

AFL Paul McCrory John Barnes Guardian Australia Nick Brown Alan Pearce Christopher Hopkins CISG Rowena University of Melbourne
Former Essendon and Geelong AFL player John Barnes has memory loss, mood swings and seizures that he associates with numerous concussions incurred whilst playing the sport at the highest level.
Former Essendon and Geelong AFL player John Barnes has memory loss, mood swings and seizures that he believes may be linked to numerous concussions incurred while playing the sport at the highest level. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/The Guardian

The study was touted as groundbreaking, a “first” for the AFL.

The league was to embark on a multimillion-dollar research project involving the world-renowned Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and the AFL Players’ Association to examine the long-term effects of concussions on the brains of football players. It was an issue the league was under increasing pressure to address.

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