Player Watch Nathan Murphy (Retired 2024)
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AFL commissioned a study of helmets 5 years ago and found no clear recomendation:
AFL to trial new helmets in bid to make headway in fight against concussion
Helmets being worn in football codes are less effective than those used more than 15 years ago, according to a researcher.
Should helmets be used in AFL?
The intense public interest in protective headgear following recent cases of high-profile AFL players sustaining concussion and other head or face injuries, is understandable. Unfortunately we have limited…
theconversation.com
Another concern with helmets is the notion of “risk compensation” - where footballers engage in more dangerous activities because of the belief that protective equipment may make them more invincible, in effect potentially increasing their risk of injury.
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sr36
TheBrownDog
The grills in cricket probably do reduce concussion too, as they would absorb a heap of the rotational force with balls that would smack the chin and get the head rotating faster. Fair bit of absorption in the normal part of the helmet too. Footy style helmets and the nature of footy head knocks however...
It's seriously not worth venturing there now.
The Royal Sampler
Floreat Pica, Bitch!
Stands to reason that if mouthguards reduce the risk of concussion, grilles on helmets may too. Prevents the translation of force from jaw to the cranium.
I’ve not made any claims as to protection - the current design is probably the issue, given we know helmet protection works in other sports.View attachment 1663296
AFL commissioned a study of helmets 5 years ago and found no clear recomendation:
AFL to trial new helmets in bid to make headway in fight against concussion
Helmets being worn in football codes are less effective than those used more than 15 years ago, according to a researcher.www.theage.com.au
There are a number of reasons why footballers resist wearing a helmet: it isn’t mandatory, cost, discomfort, weight, bulk, aesthetics, impeding temperature regulation, vision or hearing, or it may become “target” for the opposition players.Should helmets be used in AFL?
The intense public interest in protective headgear following recent cases of high-profile AFL players sustaining concussion and other head or face injuries, is understandable. Unfortunately we have limited…
Another concern with helmets is the notion of “risk compensation” - where footballers engage in more dangerous activities because of the belief that protective equipment may make them more invincible, in effect potentially increasing their risk of injury.
My point in responding to your earlier post, was that the downsides you listed, for those wishing to wear a helmet, are not substantive or no one would use them.
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Or you could just leave it to the doctors to decide
Even they can’t offer 100% guarantee - if McCartin was my brother I’d be telling him to quit, because 10 concussions is a huge toll on the brain, with potentially grave effects in 20 years time.
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But they also know a lot more than you do lol
sr36
TheBrownDog
Ultimately, the head knocks in the two sports aren't comparable. Much easier to reduce impact from the force of something with the mass of a cricket ball than the mass of the ground or a 90kg player. That's before you get into the nature of the helmets that the sports enable.
The Royal Sampler
Floreat Pica, Bitch!
And the fact that blows coming from a cricket ball come from a reasonably predictable direction to a near-static target. The velocity is scary though.
Quite pathetic that you didn’t take the time to do your research first.
What Murphy did was normal agitation defenders put on forwards all th3 time. Caminti reacted terribly. To write it off as “ going a bit harder” shows lack of understanding of the game.
Apology notwithstanding.
Unless they have formal studies that have followed players who’ve previously had multiple concussions, and know the effects after 20 years then it’s all guess work.
That said - the anecdotal evidence is not good hence the class action against the AFL.
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sr36
TheBrownDog
The speed is terrifying. I never felt fear on a footy field, but by international standards, even medium pace is bloody scary.
Appalling media spin. It’s ok to whack a guy who’s had concussion in the past because they are softer targets?
Yet I would rather an educated guess than your uneducated death
sr36
TheBrownDog
Exactly. And forecasting the difference between 10 and 11 is even more guess work. We don't even know whether the blokes who are more easily concussed are more susceptible to CTE. Yet you're calling for someone to quit something he loves. Based on this lack of knowledge.
On his face?
I added to this post - and answered this question. Read my post above # 2594 - it’s a very sobering interview with Murphy. If it doesn’t cause alarm bells then I don’t know what I can say to you.
Fat Jesus
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A little harsh mate. He apologised.
The game is littered with educated guesses by experts in this field, that have cost players dearly, and hence the class action against the AFL.
You don’t stuff around with brain injury - it’s not a knee, hand, hip or shoulder.
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sr36
TheBrownDog
Of course it causes alarm bells. But the reality is we don't know whether Murphy or McCartin is at greater risk of CTE than blokes like Adams who have had a lot of head knocks, but not necessarily as many serious concussions. Probably a heap of traumatic impacts to the brain though that he's played through by passing "concussion tests" which are akin to old fashioned drink driving tests.
Only because Murphy was quite obviously concussed.
There must be a limit - because logically it’s a dose response relationship ie the more concussions the more damage.
(Of course there are exceptions just like the 90 year old smoker who didn’t get lung cancer. But that’s not a reason not to take action.)
So it’s up to the AFL ( in collaboration with experts) to find that limit.
Id say for most people 10 concussions sounds well beyond the limit, and in such cases, they’d be advising a family member to retire.
