Gary Ablett Senior sues Geelong, Hawks and AFL

[Strange Cat]

The AFL need to work on some sort of a fund that can be used generally for retrospective cases. These guys earnt a good living out of footy, but only now is the league really raking in the dough. Not sure how claims would work and level of evidence etc, but to have all these players coming up and suing is very inefficient and will just make lawyers rich.

This

The fact that past players who have reached out to the AFL to have medical assistance and payment for brain scan and being refused is sign enough for me that they need to be more proactive towards past players

 

[cfc to aufc]

something that's been known about for decades

And herein is the Crux of the issue to argue ignorance from 20 - 30 years ago will not stand up in court any person without a medical degree would know Knocks to the Head would not be good for the brain

 

[Turbocat]

I have no issue taking care of the guys who helped build the game to where it is now.... even if senior who would have been one of the highest paid at times...probably looks at what kids get paid now in a game where even tackles to the ground are considered too dangerous and look. at what they had to endure.

I do feel there is an element of opportunism to this ... how many players at lower levels will never have the chance to get some comp.

I also ask what was the knowledge back when senior played compared to what we know now. Knowledge has changed so much even in the last 5 to 10 years.

and I do wonder ... does this only apply to the organisations. What of players who acted obvious beyond the law? I remember Bardsley being on the end of a senior forearm... what Of Locket and his charge at the Saans player.... that had zero to do with the clubs and the afl/vfl. Guys over the years were damaged by reckless acts.... Greening and alike.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

It's not the "pariahs in the legal system" who are responsible for these issues, it's the piranhas in the clubs, leagues and media who ignored the consequences of brain damage resulting from contact sports, something that's been known about for decades

However the thing which surprises me - is you have got alot of players in their mid 70s approaching 80 years of age - who played int he very rough 1960s - none of them seem to have put their hand up ( and reached for the big bucket of money ) saying that concussion has stuffed their life

 

[catstragic]

If you think the AFL is worried about this issue how do you reckon the various Boxing authorities are going.......massive can of worms being uncorked right now

 

[catstragic]

However the thing which surprises me - is you have got alot of players in their mid 70s approaching 80 years of age - who played int he very rough 1960s - none of them seem to have put their hand up ( and reached for the big bucket of money ) saying that concussion has stuffed their life

Seems like it kicks in pretty early(see Mark Hunt as an example), the ones still active were the ones who dodged the bullet. Hope Selwood is OK v glad he finally pulled the pin.

 

[AM]

It's not the "pariahs in the legal system" who are responsible for these issues, it's the piranhas in the clubs, leagues and media who ignored the consequences of brain damage resulting from contact sports, something that's been known about for decades

Yep! But just the same there are piranhas in the law who'll be quite happy to jump aboard what they perceive as a gravy train.

 

[FredLeDeux]

However the thing which surprises me - is you have got alot of players in their mid 70s approaching 80 years of age - who played int he very rough 1960s - none of them seem to have put their hand up ( and reached for the big bucket of money ) saying that concussion has stuffed their life

As far as we know.

 

[CharacterFirst]

I am glad GAS is holding the Hawks responsible.

I reckon it's all their fault anyway.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Yep! But just the same there are piranhas in the law who'll be quite happy to jump aboard what they perceive as a gravy train.

Of course, and we've no doubt both come across more than a few of them; but the point is that they're taking advantage of the issue, they're not the ones responsible for it.

 

[jim boy]

However the thing which surprises me - is you have got alot of players in their mid 70s approaching 80 years of age - who played int he very rough 1960s - none of them seem to have put their hand up ( and reached for the big bucket of money ) saying that concussion has stuffed their life

Knowledge was probably very poor in the sixties and seventies. Not a case of clubs"knew or should have known". But it was unfortunately an issue looking back with hindsight. Polly Farmer being the obvious example

 

[Whit3y]

We all have a right to be safe in your work environment.

Good luck Gary. I know the family of Shane Tuck

Shane Tuck

Age

43

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189cm

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92kg

Pos.

Mid

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Last 5

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23.4

5star

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11.4

4star

HB

12.0

5star

M

4.5

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.0

5star

No current season stats available

D

14.8

4star

K

9.2

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.4

4star

is on your side..

 

[JackFlash]

He dished it out too if I can remember correctly. Every player who has played the game could have a case, perhaps the game is reaching an end?

 

[Partridge]

I am glad GAS is holding the Hawks responsible.

I reckon it's all their fault anyway.

In all seriousness I don't know how Hawthorn can be held responsible for anything.

He last played for them in 1982. That's a full 41 years ago. He was fine to play 13 seasons at Geelong after leaving them. And he only played 6 games for them. Unless there was a concussion he suffered for them that Geelong knew about all along, which I very much doubt.

 

[Cataholic]

I have no issue taking care of the guys who helped build the game to where it is now.... even if senior who would have been one of the highest paid at times...probably looks at what kids get paid now in a game where even tackles to the ground are considered too dangerous and look. at what they had to endure.

I do feel there is an element of opportunism to this ... how many players at lower levels will never have the chance to get some comp.

I also ask what was the knowledge back when senior played compared to what we know now. Knowledge has changed so much even in the last 5 to 10 years.

and I do wonder ... does this only apply to the organisations. What of players who acted obvious beyond the law? I remember Bardsley being on the end of a senior forearm... what Of Locket and his charge at the Saans player.... that had zero to do with the clubs and the afl/vfl. Guys over the years were damaged by reckless acts.... Greening and alike.

Yep, O'Dea's hit on Greening had nothing to do with the VFL / AFL, and nor did the hits from Lockett, Matthews & Co, but no doubt someone will carry on about it being their fault because they allowed those players on the ground in the first instance.

There's a bit of personal responsibility to be considered too. The players themselves have some collective responsibility for creating the onfield culture that nurtured the violence that was common place a la O'Dea, Rhys Jones, Leigh Matthews etc.

 

[Cataholic]

In all seriousness I don't know how Hawthorn can be held responsible for anything.

He last played for them in 1982. That's a full 41 years ago. He was fine to play 13 seasons at Geelong after leaving them. And he only played 6 games for them. Unless there was a concussion he suffered for them that Geelong knew about all along, which I very much doubt.

Casting the net as wide as possible I think.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

He dished it out too if I can remember correctly. Every player who has played the game could have a case, perhaps the game is reaching an end?

Thats it - he hit Don Pyke with a ferocious elbow in the 92 GF - it half knocked Don Pyke out

What Riccuto did to Dean Kemp - ( who ended up wearing a helmet and suffers from headaches ) that is the hardest and most frightening hit to a players head that ive ever seen - the rules - (and what were the rules ) were different back then of course

Now where does this legal stuff start and finish - and the only reason Pyke wouldnt sue Ablett or Kemp wouldnt sue Riccuto - is because the AFL Net Tangible Assets would absolutely dwarf any players assets - so the AFL is seen as fair game - and thats who they go after

 

[Commando]

Aren’t the players suing for medical expenses because they have no access to Workcover?

Or have I misunderstood the whole thing?

 

[kittypurry]

Not seeking to make a comment on the specifics of this case.

But the world in which we live has become absolutely expert in judging past events by either today's 'standards' or today's 'insights'. And the inability to see how unfair and irrational it is to do so is now almost ubiquitous, it would seem.

It's apparently so much more satisfying to be outraged than to be objective.

Sorry, but this is a load of complete nonsense.

Gary Ablett Snr. is not looking for people to judge "past events by either today's 'standards' or today's 'insights.'

The man needs cash due to head injuries he sustained while playing for the Hawks and our Cats.

His lawyers have stated that he has significant medical and care needs, but there are no funds available through the AFL Players Association to help him.

This has nothing to do with "it's apparently so much more satisfying to be outraged than to be objective."

You've turned it into some strange political thing. It's not political. It's not emotional.

It's just a cold hard fact that men like Gary Ablett Snr. who sustained head injuries while playing footy for us deserve to have their medical needs met, and to have those medical needs met, they need money.

I hope he wins and I thank him for his year of service to our great footy club.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

I saw a report by Ch 10 earlier tonight. They were talking about other pending actions by past players. The last two clips they showed were featuring Max Rooke

Max Rooke

Age

43

Ht

189cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.8

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.8

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.8

4star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

12.0

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

4.6

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.2

3star

in the 2009 Grand Final.

What's that about?

 

[Pavlovs Cat]

Unpopular opinion but i believe he is jumping on the concussion litigation bandwagon. Why not join the ongoing class action? Why sue Hawthorn? And you can expect those "idiotic" lawyers to raise his drug use whether we like or not. Did Gaz take up boxing after his career? If so a pretty strange move for someone with concussion.

And for all the ear messages he got, and the hefty bumps deliverd, can any one of uf old Catters ever recall a time where Gary got Jelly Legs like Doug Hawkins did in the 92 Qualifying final?

Im not saying the club doesnt have a duty of care to past players, or that concussion is not a serious issue, but this particular claim appears to be the height of opportumism in my view.

 

[Cataholic]

I saw a report by Ch 10 earlier tonight. They were talking about other pending actions by past players. The last two clips they showed were featuring Max Rooke in the 2009 Grand Final.

What's that about?

He's part of a group action I believe

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

He's part of a group action I believe

Sh*t, I didn't know that! I'm still flabbergasted that AFL players don't get WorkCover workers' compensation.

Playing through the pain, athletes want access to WorkCover

A national athletes' alliance pushes for professional sportsmen and women to gain access to WorkCover to pay for operations and treatment of injuries sustained while playing.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Cataholic]

Sh*t, I didn't know that! I'm still flabbergasted that AFL players don't get WorkCover workers' compensation.

Playing through the pain, athletes want access to WorkCover

A national athletes' alliance pushes for professional sportsmen and women to gain access to WorkCover to pay for operations and treatment of injuries sustained while playing.

www.abc.net.au

He's leading the action. About 90 players involved I think.

 

[CharacterFirst]

In all seriousness I don't know how Hawthorn can be held responsible for anything.

He last played for them in 1982. That's a full 41 years ago. He was fine to play 13 seasons at Geelong after leaving them. And he only played 6 games for them. Unless there was a concussion he suffered for them that Geelong knew about all along, which I very much doubt.

Yeah.

That's kinda the point of the joke.