What football is doing to player's brains

There’s a growing awareness about the damage hard core contact sports is doing to our players, and in today's briefing we go deep on what football is doing to player’s brains and what should be done about it. 

 

In Australia five players have been diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This is a brain disease caused by repeated knocks to the head. It doesn’t cause immediate symptoms and is degenerative so it happens over time affecting the thoughts, moods and behaviours of those who have it. 

 

In September this year Former AFL player Shaun Smith received an historic 1.4million dollar insurance payout that acknowledged the permanent damage caused by repetitive concussions while playing. Shaun joins the Briefing along with player agent Peter Jess and Associate Professor Michael Buckland who set up the Australian Sports Brain Bank to research CTE.

 

In today's headlines:

• Scott Morrison says alleged war crimes will be dealt with seriously
• South Australia records no new Covid-19 cases
• Australia fires back at China’s list of “grievances”
• Australians making more money but not as happy, survey finds

 

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