Concussion Claims Crow

Adelaide wingman Paul Seedsman has announced his retirement after 132 AFL games spread across 13 seasons. Seedsman, 31, has been on the inactive list for the past two seasons due to ongoing concussion symptoms. He suffered a bad head knock during the 2022 preseason training. He played 83 games for the Crows after 49 games at Collingwood. His decision to retire follows a recommendation from an independent AFL medical concussion panel that he no longer participate in contact sport. 

Seedsman said while he was disappointed his AFL career had come to an end, it was in the best interest of his health and wellbeing. 

Seedsman said, “It’s always hard letting go of something you still want to do, and every part of me still wants to play. But I’ve had time to digest that I can’t and I’m comfortable with that ... I’ve been able to get back to enjoying watching footy again, and that’s what has also made this difficult because I see the club going in a strong direction, I’d love to help them get to the next stage, but now I will enjoy watching them for years to come.”

Seedsman said his fondest memories at the Crows were during the 2017 finals series and in Round 1, 2021, “I never thought I would play AFL footy after only playing school footy, I didn’t play rep footy or anything like that, so if you had of tapped me on the shoulder back then and said I’d play 100-odd games absolutely I would have taken that. There are things I could go back and change but ... I've just loved it, and my time in Adelaide I look at very fondly. The prelim in 2017 against Geelong was unbelievable. And the game against Geelong in Round 1 of 2021, I’ve never played in a game where the team got a standing ovation at quarter and half-time, the way we shocked even our own fans that day and how much they appreciated the effort.”

Seedsman said his battle with concussion was ongoing and he was unable to do simple things such as exercise or concentrate on day to day tasks without experiencing symptoms. He said he appreciated the support of his family and friends as well as teammates, coaches and medical staff at the club, "My wife Alice, my family and friends and also the club, Ces the doc (Marc Cesana), my teammates and the fans - there’s been nothing but kind wishes and care from Crows supporters and even online people reaching out, that means a lot, so a big thank you to every one of them."

Senior Coach Matthew Nicks said he was proud of the football Seedsman had produced at Adelaide and also the way he had handled the challenges of the past two years, “Understandably it’s been a very difficult and at times frustrating period for Paul and his family ... But the way he has conducted himself speaks to the class of the person and footballer he is. Paul came to us after nearly 50 games with Collingwood and took his game to a new level ... and in 2021 not only was he one of our best players but he was recognized as one of the best in the competition on the wing. While we are disappointed for him that he did not get to add to his games tally ... we are all immensely proud of what he was able to achieve and grateful for the role he has played in helping guide our young group forward ... ".

Source: Reece Homfray, Adelaide Media Release