Any news on Paddy Mac?

[MC Gusto]

Was wondering whether anyone had an update on the lad and whether he might get another crack? I know it won’t be with the saints but I feel for the guy and was wondering whether any of you were in the loop so to speak?

Cheers

[To the top]

Well 32 is still available

[skeptic]

I doubt it

It’s hard enough being a successful AFL forward for players that come in, have all the qualities and train hard...
Heck there has been many a bust of players that have come out of the gates and looked like a star in the making for a year or two

Why take a risk on someone considering all that with the added throw in of major and repeated concussion injuries that have essentially been untested on the field since he was cut.

Such a gamble

[Joffa Burns]

Haven’t had an update since Xmas, but I know some members of his GF family very well and a return to AFL ranks in 2021 is very unlikely.

At this point in time no club committing and only Swans mildly interested.

[saintbrat]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... a4e4193991
The late Shane Tuck has become the third AFL player to have been found to have suffered from a crippling neurological disorder linked to repeated head knocks at the time of their death.

An analysis of the former Richmond star’s brain showed he had severe stage 3, borderline stage 4 CTE – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – when he died last July aged 38.

CTE can only be diagnosed after death.

The Australian Sports Brain Bank confirmed the finding, saying it was the “worst case” they had “seen so far”.

“It was actually quite shocking, the degree of disease he had,” neuropathologist professor Michael Buckland told Nine media.

[desertsaint]

he's no nic nat, paddy mac.

[asiu]

he’s no poet that chap

[shanegrambeau]

I had a quick look at that condition known as CTE. (it maybe redundant info)
30 seconds of web research shows that;
- it is degenerative,
-may be associated with Altzeheimers and
-is associated with American football and boxing
-most of the studies have been based on sports people. (so biased)

I would say it is curtains for footy as we know it, if... if we believe the research. What other conclusion can we draw?

Either we do (believe) the research and re-jig the game, (radically) , or we don't, keep playing and use lawyers and player managers to 'game' the courts and the media - which backed up by sports media and stakeholders may be feasible.

What do you lot think?

How can the game go on?

[asiu]

how about a % of everyones wages
(across the industry)

cleaved off to a ... look after old footballers fund

[shanegrambeau]

how about a % of everyones wages
(across the industry)

cleaved off to a ... look after old footballers fund

Maybe they can re-jig the draft, and introduce a new category, Brain damaged....sorry...brain compromised recruit. BCR. So you would have regular, rookie and BCR and BCR players can only play in a designated circle, protected. A kind of non-contact zone on the field, 15 by 20 meters on a flank. You wear a special arm band and if you are even touched, you get a free kick.

[skeptic]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... a4e4193991
The late Shane Tuck has become the third AFL player to have been found to have suffered from a crippling neurological disorder linked to repeated head knocks at the time of their death.

An analysis of the former Richmond star’s brain showed he had severe stage 3, borderline stage 4 CTE – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – when he died last July aged 38.

CTE can only be diagnosed after death.

The Australian Sports Brain Bank confirmed the finding, saying it was the “worst case” they had “seen so far”.

“It was actually quite shocking, the degree of disease he had,” neuropathologist professor Michael Buckland told Nine media.

Is this what Chris Benoit had?

For those that don’t know who that is, it’s the ultimate horror show of professional wrestling. Almost killed the entire WWE. Google it if you want but it’s a horrible story

[Enrico_Misso]

how about a % of everyones wages
(across the industry)

cleaved off to a ... look after old footballers fund

Maybe they can re-jig the draft, and introduce a new category, Brain damaged....sorry...brain compromised recruit. BCR. So you would have regular, rookie and BCR and BCR players can only play in a designated circle, protected. A kind of non-contact zone on the field, 15 by 20 meters on a flank. You wear a special arm band and if you are even touched, you get a free kick.

Already happened ...

Craig Bradley

Don't touch him!

[shanegrambeau]

how about a % of everyones wages
(across the industry)

cleaved off to a ... look after old footballers fund

Maybe they can re-jig the draft, and introduce a new category, Brain damaged....sorry...brain compromised recruit. BCR. So you would have regular, rookie and BCR and BCR players can only play in a designated circle, protected. A kind of non-contact zone on the field, 15 by 20 meters on a flank. You wear a special arm band and if you are even touched, you get a free kick.

Already happened ...

Craig Bradley

Don't touch him!

Ha!
They foresaw this after all!

Gotta give the AFL credit for that.

[Saintmike65]

As much as it would be great to see Paddy playing again, surely in the interest of his health and well being he should forget about playing the game at any level.

[minneapolis]

The Shane Tuck news must put an end to any idea to return to football, Shirley!

[Sanctorum]

The only story that I saw a month or so ago was that Sydney were looking at giving Paddy a run in their reserves team, but nothing confirmed.

You'd think that the story about Shane Tuck's post-mortem finding would trigger blokes like Paddy to look for a better future away from contact sport.

And whilst I don't believe Tuck's health report will have much impact on the way the game is played, other than stricter enforcement of the AFL's laws on contact with a player's head, I do expect that there will be many more players who have suffered numerous concussions to retire from the game prematurely in the coming years.

[Scollop]

I had a quick look at that condition known as CTE. (it maybe redundant info)
30 seconds of web research shows that;
- it is degenerative,
-may be associated with Altzeheimers and
-is associated with American football and boxing
-most of the studies have been based on sports people. (so biased)

I would say it is curtains for footy as we know it, if... if we believe the research. What other conclusion can we draw?

Either we do (believe) the research and re-jig the game, (radically) , or we don't, keep playing and use lawyers and player managers to 'game' the courts and the media - which backed up by sports media and stakeholders may be feasible.

What do you lot think?

How can the game go on?

I’m having trouble taking this post seriously. You make statements and draw conclusions prematurely and then you ask questions which I reckon you could probably answer if you gave it some thought.

There are certainly many dangerous sports and if you broaden the discussion to motor sports or surfing or any sport where collisions occur at high speed, you’re looking at a huge range of potentially life threatening injuries and accidents where people become totally and permanently disabled.

We know for example that there is a slim chance that athletes in contact sports can become paraplegics or even quadriplegics as we’ve seen in AFL and in the rugby codes. I think even with soccer there have been isolated rare occurrences of neck or spinal injuries.

AFL has adapted and evolved. So have other sports. Many people reckon they don’t ‘recognise’ the game, or they say ‘the game doesn’t look the same’ as it was last century. The concussion protocols and the rule changes aimed at reducing the chances of head knocks or injuries to the brain have been a focus for the last 15-20 years. It’s either that or just stop the sport completely! What would people prefer?

The AFL and other industry bodies will change existing rules to reduce the chances of severe injuries, but you can’t eliminate the risk completely. Those who choose the profession know most of the risks and they know their sporting careers have a limited lifespan. That’s why they get paid so well don’t they? The sporting codes are trying to keep up with the science and once they are aware of new information they can only try and educate people within the industry so that all participants can make informed decisions.

Part of the reasons that there is a higher rate of pay and higher reward for those talented enough to become world champs in boxing or to play at the highest level in in NFL (or AFL) is the risk factors regarding a severe injury that can impact lives permanently.

There are also hazardous occupations ( not just sport) where the risks are already known and as long as you are made aware of those risks, and as long as the people who oversee the industry make every effort to reduce the risks, then people can decide for themselves if they want to participate.

[shanegrambeau]

Double and messed up

[shanegrambeau]

I had a quick look at that condition known as CTE. (it maybe redundant info)
30 seconds of web research shows that;
- it is degenerative,
-may be associated with Altzeheimers and
-is associated with American football and boxing
-most of the studies have been based on sports people. (so biased)

I would say it is curtains for footy as we know it, if... if we believe the research. What other conclusion can we draw?

Either we do (believe) the research and re-jig the game, (radically) , or we don't, keep playing and use lawyers and player managers to 'game' the courts and the media - which backed up by sports media and stakeholders may be feasible.

What do you lot think?

How can the game go on?

I’m having trouble taking this post seriously. You make statements and draw conclusions prematurely and then you ask questions which I reckon you could probably answer if you gave it some thought.

There are certainly many dangerous sports and if you broaden the discussion to motor sports or surfing or any sport where collisions occur at high speed, you’re looking at a huge range of potentially life threatening injuries and accidents where people become totally and permanently disabled.

We know for example that there is a slim chance that athletes in contact sports can become paraplegics or even quadriplegics as we’ve seen in AFL and in the rugby codes. I think even with soccer there have been isolated rare occurrences of neck or spinal injuries.

AFL has adapted and evolved. So have other sports. Many people reckon they don’t ‘recognise’ the game, or they say ‘the game doesn’t look the same’ as it was last century. The concussion protocols and the rule changes aimed at reducing the chances of head knocks or injuries to the brain have been a focus for the last 15-20 years. It’s either that or just stop the sport completely! What would people prefer?

The AFL and other industry bodies will change existing rules to reduce the chances of severe injuries, but you can’t eliminate the risk completely. Those who choose the profession know most of the risks and they know their sporting careers have a limited lifespan. That’s why they get paid so well don’t they? The sporting codes are trying to keep up with the science and once they are aware of new information they can only try and educate people within the industry so that all participants can make informed decisions.

Part of the reasons that there is a higher rate of pay and higher reward for those talented enough to become world champs in boxing or to play at the highest level in in NFL (or AFL) is the risk factors regarding a severe injury that can impact lives permanently.

There are also hazardous occupations ( not just sport) where the risks are already known and as long as you are made aware of those risks, and as long as the people who oversee the industry make every effort to reduce the risks, then people can decide for themselves if they want to participate.

I’ll have a crack at it. No pun intended.
It is the biggest threat to the game to come from ‘within’ in my lifetime. And I’m 57.

This could kill footy in three way.

1) slow natural death accompanied by awareness. Every concussion is followed by massive coverage by starving press, fewer kids play. As we use America as a reference 2008-2019. Number of kids playing their ‘footy’ 2.5 million to 1.9 million.
2) Legislation, enough is enough, go the way of animal circuses..local areas ban footy, or make various suburban parks unavailable for ‘contact sports’ the way they do for dogs not on a leash. ‘This is a Contact Free sports Reserve’ signs go up. Someone complains when they see a couple kids playing kick to kick and going for pack marks,...not because they give a damn about the kids’ skulls, they just don’t wNt those kids playing there. Enough for a local councilor to get on his or soap box and make a rule.
3) The rules make it unrecognizable. Only 2 players can contest a mark. Only four players can with stand twenty meters of a ball up. Like Covid rules, 5 people at your mums birthday, 4 people at a bbq etc.

Vs

1) Cultural continuity ...it’s ‘our game’ and it’s ‘our right’ to play it. Like guns in the US. Will help for spectators but not number playing
2) Good ‘glovework’ by stakeholders...well timed and weighted counter punches, judiciously thrown by AFL, Clubs, Fox sports etc., . Will work sometimes, but not a gimme...players association can easily kill the game. Ask coal miners or mining townsfolk in 1984 UK.
3) it becomes a media circus...like boxing now in the states. Few box, billions watch the Vegas fight on TV..like a Roman slaves vs the lions spectacle

On to the highlighted points,

YES, I am dangling out the rhetoric. But I wanted to hear what others think.
YES, AFL will adapt
WELL, I’m not sure individual sports get the same chopping block as organized traditional team sports
NO! I think adults can choose, but it is parents that make the call? NO?

[asiu]

mums allowing their kids to play the sport
is probably where its at

[Schillaci]

AFL has come a long way and player welfare is something that is taken extremely seriously. The concussion rules and protocols that are in place are all that is needed I reckon. Though I would add that some regulations for those players who have had multiple cases of concussion through playing the game need to have a cap placed on them (perhaps 5 or lower if they present with extreme symptoms) and then they'd have to hang up the boots for their own benefit. Paddy should never play again. I've read the book "Concussion" and have seen the movie starring Will Smith which I feel does justice to the book. I hope that Paddy hasn't got CTE already but you have to wonder.

[Impatient Sainter]

AFL has come a long way and player welfare is something that is taken extremely seriously. The concussion rules and protocols that are in place are all that is needed I reckon. Though I would add that some regulations for those players who have had multiple cases of concussion through playing the game need to have a cap placed on them (perhaps 5 or lower if they present with extreme symptoms) and then they'd have to hang up the boots for their own benefit. Paddy should never play again. I've read the book "Concussion" and have seen the movie starring Will Smith which I feel does justice to the book. I hope that Paddy hasn't got CTE already but you have to wonder.

Totally agree. There needs to be a scientific/medical limit placed on players suffering concussion before they are deregistered for their own long term welfare. I also hope Paddy sees sense and gives the game away.

Footy is a great game while you are young and playing but the long term affects are not worth it. I had two reco's on one knee during my playing days, which in my 50's developed into osteoarthritis. Now at 56 I have just undergone a full knee replacement. Ask me now if the game was worth it I would say - definitely not! There is not too many senior players that get through a career without going under the knife for one reason or another.

[shanegrambeau]

AFL has come a long way and player welfare is something that is taken extremely seriously. The concussion rules and protocols that are in place are all that is needed I reckon. Though I would add that some regulations for those players who have had multiple cases of concussion through playing the game need to have a cap placed on them (perhaps 5 or lower if they present with extreme symptoms) and then they'd have to hang up the boots for their own benefit. Paddy should never play again. I've read the book "Concussion" and have seen the movie starring Will Smith which I feel does justice to the book. I hope that Paddy hasn't got CTE already but you have to wonder.

Totally agree. There needs to be a scientific/medical limit placed on players suffering concussion before they are deregistered for their own long term welfare. I also hope Paddy sees sense and gives the game away.

Footy is a great game while you are young and playing but the long term affects are not worth it. I had two reco's on one knee during my playing days, which in my 50's developed into osteoarthritis. Now at 56 I have just undergone a full knee replacement. Ask me now if the game was worth it I would say - definitely not! There is not too many senior players that get through a career without going under the knife for one reason or another.

Well, are you saying;

a) AFL has come a long way - alas, to no avail, because it will never be worth having osteoarthitis in your 50s?
b) AFL has come along way - thank goodness, because it is now worth having osteoarthitis in your 50s?

[The Billings Method]

mums allowing their kids to play the sport
is probably where its at

That will ultimately decide the issue. It's why soccer is gaining in popularity in the US and A and here in Oz. It is perceived as a "safer" game.

Not sure that's the case with all the heading that goes on at training and otherwise, but just at the minute it is the mothers' game of choice.

[B.M]

There are plenty of kids playing AFL

Mt Eliza I think have 400 juniors!

Apparently it is growing very fast with junior participation in Qld