The study, titled Life after the game – Injury profile of past elite Australian Football players, was carried out by five academics and also showed that 73 per cent of the players surveyed suffered a concussion at least once during their career.
The study reported a high incidence of multiple concussions.The abstract of the study referred to research into ex-players mental and physical health – including disease prevalence – education, employment, lifestyle behaviours, and their ongoing relationship with the game. It suggested that further investigation could improve the quality of life of retired footballers.
While this seems to provide compelling data about the effects of football, what I suspect it doesn’t do is provide a contrast with other professions – for example, what are the long term effects on the health of athletes competing in gymnastics, diving, soccer (where heading the ball is part of the game). Even more importantly, what are the long term effects on the health of people working in the mining industry, or the building industry, or in the military (e.g., fighter pilots/SAS), or paramedics … ?
So yes, AFL football is dangerous – but seriously, David Parkin, is it more a “more difficult game” than ice-hockey, (Irish) hurling, downhill skiing, motocross? And do the players have a choice in how they play the game or what game they play? I think so.