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AFL and NRL Respond to Brain Injury Risks with Insurance Cuts and Training Limits

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Brain Injury Crisis: AFL and NRL Introduce Major Policy Changes

Two of Australia's major football codes are implementing significant policy changes in response to rising concerns about brain injuries, particularly Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The actions involve the removal of insurance coverage for head trauma in the AFL and the introduction of new contact training restrictions in the NRL.

AFL: Insurance Coverage and Compensation

Removal of Insurance Benefits

Zurich Insurance has announced that it will cease providing Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) and death benefits for brain injuries in the AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) superannuation fund, effective May 1.

The change removes coverage for traumatic head injury, concussion, CTE, post-concussion syndrome, and any neurological impairment related to brain injury.

The insurer cited "widespread uncertainty" regarding CTE and the long-term effects of concussion as the reason for the decision.

Currently, AFL players are entitled to up to $1.1 million in death and TPD cover through their superannuation. From May 1, TPD cover will decrease by $650,000, and death cover will fall by $350,000. The policy change applies to over 500 players. Zurich was the sole insurer to submit an offering during a recent tender process, reflecting broader industry concerns about insuring AFL players.

The AFLPA superannuation fund trustee, AMP, accepted Zurich's proposal over other market offerings. An AMP spokesperson stated that no insurer was willing to offer group coverage for head trauma.

Severe Injury Benefit

The AFL and AFLPA established the Severe Injury Benefit (SIB) fund in May 2025 to support players with significant cognitive or bodily impairment resulting from playing football. The fund provides up to $600,000 for permanently injured players unable to work full-time.

The application of the SIB was tested in the case of Aiden O'Driscoll, 18, a Western Bulldogs player drafted in November 2023. In January 2024, O'Driscoll sustained a skull fracture, seizure, and multiple brain bleeds from a head-on-head collision during a practice match. An AFL medical panel recommended he not return to contact sport, and he was medically retired in April 2024.

O'Driscoll received a career-ending injury payment of over $150,000. However, his application for a payout from the SIB was rejected. The basis for the rejection was that he failed to demonstrate a permanent impairment of cognitive function that would reduce his future earning capacity by at least 40%. Player agent Peter Jess stated that O'Driscoll would appeal the decision.

Class Action and Government Response

More than 100 former players have joined a multimillion-dollar concussion class action against the AFL, claiming brain damage from the sport. Former Melbourne Demons player Angus Brayshaw, who retired due to concussion issues, has a high-profile claim against Zurich Insurance.

Michel Margalit, the principal lawyer leading the class action, stated that the current financial support system for injured footballers is "eroding" and inadequate. She noted that professional athletes are typically excluded from workers' compensation due to assumptions of alternative insurance arrangements, a situation that Zurich's decision now challenges.

Margalit has called on state and federal governments to consider removing this exclusion for professional sportspeople, referencing a 2023 Senate Inquiry into Concussions and Repeated Head Trauma in Contact Sport.

Several former AFL players, including Shane Tuck, Danny Frawley, Adam Hunter, and Heather Anderson, have received post-mortem diagnoses of CTE.

St Kilda CEO on Ross Lyon Incident

St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena stated that an issue involving coach Ross Lyon's comment to Indigenous players has been resolved internally. Dilena said he learned of the incident on Monday night. Lyon had offered to reconsider his position after a comment at training upset Indigenous players. Dilena described it as an "innocent oversight" and said players and Lyon resolved the matter.

NRL and NRLW: Contact Training Restrictions

The National Rugby League (NRL) and National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) have implemented new guidelines limiting the amount of contact in training sessions. The rules apply to both in-season and pre-season training.

In-Season Limits

The guidelines apply to all 17 NRL and 12 NRLW clubs and are based on the number of days between matches:

  • NRL (seven-day turnaround): No more than 100 minutes of contact training per week.
  • NRLW (seven-day turnaround): No more than 85 minutes of contact training per week.
  • Both leagues (five- or six-day turnaround): No more than 40 or 50 minutes of contact training.
  • All contact training includes wrestling.

Pre-Season Limits

The pre-season guidelines set the following limits:

  • NRL clubs: No more than 200 minutes of contact per week post-Christmas, and no more than 100 minutes per week pre-Christmas.
  • NRLW clubs: No more than 115 minutes of contact per week, with no more than 35 minutes designated as high-intensity.

Additional rules include:

  • Avoiding high-intensity contact training on consecutive days.
  • Scheduling no more than three consecutive days of contact training without a recovery day.
  • A "graded introduction protocol" where the first five days of pre-season involve no physical contact.

Implementation and Monitoring

The NRL stated the rules are intended to be iterative, with data from the 2026 season informing rules for 2027. Clubs are required to log all contact training sessions and film every contact session for analysis of concussion risks.

Previously, there were no set limits on contact training, with intensity determined by head coaches. NRL sources indicated that contact in training has increased over the last two decades.

Context and Related Actions

Sports neuroscientists and neurologists had previously called for Australia's major leagues to restrict contact in training. The NRL's decision follows similar measures implemented by World Rugby (2021) and the US National Football League (NFL) (2011).

A 2023 coronial inquiry into the death of former AFL player Shane Tuck, who had CTE, recommended that the AFL implement such restrictions. AFL football executive Laura Kane stated there is no correlation between the amount of contact training and team ladder positions for the past two seasons. As of the report, the AFL has not formally reduced contact in training but has been tracking contact training data.

Statements

Adam Reynolds (NRL veteran halfback): "Players are the main product of the game and you want to protect those assets as much as possible. There's accidents that are a part of any sport, not just rugby league."

Sean Evans (JCU Saints club president): Expressed support for the changes, citing observations of CTE effects on former players.

Alan Pearce (Swinburne Adjunct Professor, Australian Sports Brain Bank): Called the changes a "good start" but said more should be done, suggesting alignment with rugby union's 15-minute weekly full contact limit.

Russell (JCU Saints referee and parent): Noted head injury concerns are present for parents and emphasized enforcing the Safe Play Code for under-16s.

Luke Keary (former Roosters captain, 2023): "We should have had less contact five years ago."

Pendlebury Rested

Collingwood will rest Scott Pendlebury for Thursday night's match against Hawthorn. Pendlebury has 431 games and will tie Brent Harvey's record of 432 when he next plays. Coach Craig McRae said Pendlebury requested the rest. The club is considering commercial and performance factors for his record-breaking game, expected against Geelong in round 10. Darcy Moore will return from a hamstring injury.