AFL Players & Mental Health: Facing Fears
- A recent collision between Port Adelaide's Darcy Byrne-Jones and Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has reignited the debate surrounding duty of care in the Australian Football League (AFL).The incident,...
- The AFL sought to tighten parameters around duty of care, but the tribunal overturned the suspension, acknowledging the difficulty players face in exercising duty of care in split-second...
- The incident highlights the risks associated with running back with the flight of the ball, a traditionally valorized act in Australian rules football.
AFL Duty of Care Debate Ignited by Byrne-jones, Pearce Collision
Updated May 28, 2025
A recent collision between Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones and Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has reignited the debate surrounding duty of care in the Australian Football League (AFL).The incident, which resulted in Pearce initially receiving a three-week suspension, has raised questions about player safety and the long-term effects of concussion.
The AFL sought to tighten parameters around duty of care, but the tribunal overturned the suspension, acknowledging the difficulty players face in exercising duty of care in split-second decisions. The incident occurred during a rainy match when Byrne-Jones ran back with the flight of the ball and collided with Pearce.
The incident highlights the risks associated with running back with the flight of the ball, a traditionally valorized act in Australian rules football. While Byrne-Jones was not deemed culpable, the act put both himself and pearce in a dangerous position. The focus is now shifting towards preventing such incidents by potentially changing rules to prioritize the player running at the ball.
Former Hawthorn forward Tim Boyle quoted Matt Maguire in The Age, saying, “You had to be brave. How you played was a reflection of who you were as a person. If you went hard for the ball and didn’t deviate you were a trustworthy, reliable person. If you didn’t,you felt that you weren’t.”
the discussion also comes in the wake of an interview with former Adelaide and Collingwood player Paul Seedsman,who described his ongoing concussion symptoms as similar to having a stroke. Seedsman’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the potential long-term consequences of head injuries in football.
The AFL’s concussion panel and tightening parameters around dangerous acts are aimed at saving players from themselves. This may require a shift in how the game is played, umpired, coached, and supported, potentially making the sport less gladiatorial.
What’s next
Future rule changes may prioritize the safety of players running towards the ball, potentially reducing the number of high-impact collisions and mitigating the risk of concussion in the AFL. This would require a significant shift in the culture of the sport.