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The Latest Breaking News from Alan Pearce

‘Accident waiting to happen’: player’s death raises alarm over risk of concrete cricket pitches in Australian rules football

Concrete-based cricket pitches, like that on which Nathan Fitzgerald received fatal blows to the head, are ‘totally unsafe’, concussion advocate says

The Guardian - AU · Jul 7

Footy plans farewell for player lost in ground tragedy

A beloved school teacher who died after suffering critical head injuries during a reserves Australian rules game will be farewelled by his local club.

AAP · Jul 6

The NRL has just taken a giant step forward with brain injury prevention. Other leagues must follow

In a significant development in the battle against brain injury in sport, teams from the National Rugby League (NRL) and the National Rugby League for Women (NRLW) are now required to restrict the amount of body contact during training sessions.

The Conversation · Apr 21

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Yes, cricket is a contact sport. We have safety gear – but we need to do more

Early on Thursday, a seventeen-year-old cricketer died in hospital after being injured in a training session in Melbourne days earlier.

The Conversation · Oct 30, 2025

I’ve seen the brain damage contact sports can cause – we all need to take concussion and CTE more seriously

Concussion in sport continues to make headlines, whether it be class actions, young men flocking to the highly violent “RunIt” activity or debate about whether Australian rules football should remove the “bump” once and for all.

The Conversation · Jul 3, 2025

Run It Straight: neuroscientist fears ‘supercharging’ of backyard lark into social-media fuelled collision contest

Academic also raises concerns the trend could reflect ‘deeper social and cultural pressures tied to masculinity’

The Guardian - AU · Jun 6, 2025

Training sessions a ‘blind spot’ in concussion fight, say rugby league players

Rugby league players have declared the training field to be the next battleground with the NRL in a bid to protect brain health

The Guardian - AU · Dec 17, 2024

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Why a portrait of a former NRL great could spark greater concussion awareness in Australia

A new portrait of NRL legend Wally Lewis conveys a striking message about the consequences of brain trauma in sport.

The Conversation · Oct 7, 2024

Charges for loo roll, none for caviar: strange quirks of the UK’s VAT rules

The tax often goes unnoticed by shoppers. But what is charged, and on what, throws up curious anomalies

The Guardian - UK · Feb 26, 2024

New study highlights the brain trauma risks for young athletes

The Boston University CTE Center today reported the results of the largest-ever study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in young athletes.

The Conversation · Aug 29, 2023

Australian researchers confirm world’s first case of dementia linked to repetitive brain trauma in a female athlete

Researchers at the Australian Sports Brain Bank have today reported the world’s first diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a female athlete.

The Conversation · Jul 3, 2023

Wearing headgear for sport does not protect against concussion, Australian experts warn

Scientists to tell Senate inquiry that protective headwear does not stop the brain from moving inside the skull which causes concussion

The Guardian - AU · Apr 25, 2023

As legendary Ablett sues over brain damage, the calls grow to prevent concussion in sport

Australian sporting legends are taking a stand, but more awareness around brain injuries is necessary to move forward on CTE.

The New Daily · Apr 18, 2023

Concussion experts call for tougher AFL penalties after Kysaiah Pickett’s high bump

Leading concussion experts have called for stiffer sanction, arguing the Melbourne player should have been banned for at least four matches

The Guardian - AU · Mar 20, 2023

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ABC News · Mar 18, 2023

Concussion risk hits home for ABC broadcaster Mark Foreman who suffered bleed on the brain playing football

With multiple class actions by former AFL stars throwing a spotlight on concussion risks, ABC radio producer and former amateur footballer Mark Foreman knows the risks aren't limited to the top flight.

ABC News · Dec 3, 2022

Australian sport needs a complete re-think when it comes to concussions and CTE, researchers warn

A series of neurological tests led specialists to conclude that repeated head knocks affected how the otherwise healthy 30-year-old went about her everyday life.

The Guardian - AU · Nov 30, 2022

Concussion and head trauma in contact sports to be examined by parliamentary inquiry

Lidia Thorpe’s proposal receives unanimous support, with the Greens senator saying ‘sports organisations need to be transparent about evidence’

The Guardian - AU · Oct 29, 2022

‘I can’t trust anybody in this system’: AFL review into concussion study leaves players and experts disappointed

Scientists question the panel’s finding that Paul McCrory’s plagiarism did not contribute to his reputation as a world expert

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ABC News · Oct 25, 2022

Former AFL player Shaun Smith unimpressed by league response to concussion researcher's plagiarism

Former Demons and Kangaroos star Shaun Smith received a payout over repeated concussions during his career, so he was naturally invested in the AFL's research into concussion. Finding out some of it was plagiarised leaves him feeling like "it was a complete waste of time".

The Guardian - AU · Sep 22, 2022

New plagiarism claims against sport concussion guru Paul McCrory

Exclusive: Expert who has downplayed link between concussion and traumatic brain injury is accused of 10 more cases of plagiarism

ABC News · Aug 25, 2022

Landmark brain study stalls due to AFL's lack of support, researcher says

A million-dollar study hopes to lead to a diagnostic for brain diseases including Alzheimer's and CTE, but researchers say it's now at an impasse due to a lack of support from the AFL.

ABC News · Jul 30, 2022

Tackling in kids' sport defended despite new report warning of long-term risks

Researchers are calling for junior sport modifications after linking head impacts to a degenerative brain disease. But sporting bodies say teaching kids to tackle safely is key.

ABC News · Jul 28, 2022

Repetitive head impacts in sport cause degenerative brain disease CTE, study finds

Repetitive head impacts cause the degenerative brain disease CTE, according to a new study that will fuel calls for changes to tackling rules as well as age restrictions for contact sports.

ABC News · Jun 1, 2022

Kim Klomp was a legendary Australian Rules football player in South Australia. Now he's living with a serious brain injury

Kim Klomp competed in one of the nation's top football leagues in the 1980s and 1990s but, after he retired, he began suffering from depression and suspected something was wrong with his brain.

The Guardian - AU · Apr 28, 2022

New investigation into allegations of plagiarism against concussion expert Paul McCrory

British Journal of Sports Medicine says it is investigating a body of work published by McCrory, its former editor-in-chief

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