Former AFL player Aiden O’Driscoll slams league over concussion aftercare
Ex-Western Bulldogs rookie Aiden O’Driscoll says the AFL denied his $600,000 severe-injury claim and gave him minimal support after a career-ending concussion.
Former Western Bulldogs draftee Aiden O’Driscoll detailed his struggle after a 2024 training accident that caused eight micro-bleeds and a skull fracture, ending his AFL career. His application for a $600,000 severe-injury payout was turned down by the AFL and its players’ association, leaving him without the promised assistance. O’Driscoll used Instagram to reveal two years of intense psychological strain, noting it took six weeks for the league to arrange a psychologist and that he has battled depression, nausea, dizziness, and memory loss.
He called the AFL’s handling of his case “nothing but a joke” and urged the organisation to better support injured players. His comments arrive as the sport faces heightened scrutiny over concussion protocols, highlighted by Geelong’s recent retirement of defender Jake Kolodjashnij amid a controversial concussion-waiver scandal.
Why it matters
The story highlights gaps in player welfare and concussion management within a major professional sport.
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