‘I am devastated’: Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw retires from AFL on medical advice following concussion issues

Melbourne ahead Angus Brayshaw has retired from AFL on medical recommendation, after his concussion in final yr’s qualifying remaining towards Collingwood.

Angus Brayshaw

Age: 28Drafted: Choose 3, 2014 by MelbourneVideo games: 167Objectives: 492015: Nominated for the AFL Rising Star award2018: Named in Below 22 AFL workforce 2021: Premiership participant – Melbourne

The 28-year-old Brayshaw was attempting to kick downfield towards the Magpies when Brayden Maynard leaped within the air to spoil and collided with the Demons participant, who was knocked out and brought off the bottom on a stretcher.

The membership introduced on Thursday that neurological testing and knowledgeable session had concluded that Brayshaw, a 2021 premiership participant, must be medically retired.

Brayshaw, who performed with a helmet, had a historical past of concussions. 

Brayshaw advised his teammates of the choice on Thursday morning.

“I’m actually happy with what I’ve achieved over the previous decade. I’ve been in a position to dwell out my childhood dream and whereas it has been minimize brief, I’m without end grateful to everybody who has been concerned.

“I need to particularly thank my teammates, my coaches and the workers on the Melbourne Soccer Membership, for all they’ve carried out for me over time.

“I additionally need to thank my household and my accomplice Danielle for his or her infinite help. To each member and fan, thanks to your unimaginable help over the journey.

Collingwood’s Maynard was despatched on to the AFL tribunal over the hit which ended Brayshaw’s season.

Nevertheless after a four-hour listening to, the tribunal cleared him of a tough conduct cost. He went on to play in Collingwood’s grand remaining win.

New AFL govt supervisor of soccer, Laura Kane, stated she was “not comfy” with the choice.

Earlier than the beginning of the 2024 season, the AFL introduced a change to the foundations, making it clear that gamers had a larger responsibility of care to keep away from making excessive contact with opponents whereas attempting to smother.

The brand new guidelines say that when a participant leaves the bottom attempting to smother, the participant’s act can be deemed at the least to be careless until they’ve taken all affordable steps to keep away from contact or minimise the pressure of contact.

The AFL launched an announcement, supporting Brayshaw’s determination.

“Angus’s well being and wellbeing is of the upmost significance and his determination, made in session together with his medical workforce, is yet another brave act that Angus constantly demonstrated all through his adorned profession throughout 167 video games,” the AFL stated.

“Angus’s contribution to footy on the sector is properly documented and we stay up for his continued contribution to our sport off the sector within the coming years.

“We want Angus, Danielle, and their households all the perfect, and applaud Angus’s management in making this determination for himself, his household and his membership.”

Brayshaw has a powerful household historical past in Australian guidelines soccer.

His grandfather Ian performed within the WAFL for Claremont and received a premiership.

His father Mark additionally performed for Claremont, and performed 32 AFL video games for North Melbourne within the early Nineteen Nineties.

Brayshaw’s two brothers, Andrew and Hamish, are additionally footballers.

Andrew has performed 123 AFL video games for Fremantle, whereas Hamish was AFL-listed for the West Coast Eagles and performed one sport — he now performs within the WAFL for East Perth.

The Dockers had been amongst these to place out messages of help for Brayshaw on social media within the wake of the announcement.