Shane Tuck

In mid-March, Melbourne law firm Margalit Injury Lawyers filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of over 60 former players, seeking compensation for the concussions they suffered during their careers and the resultant post-concussion issues they have suffered since. The players include former premiership player Max Rooke (Geelong), Shaun Smith (Melbourne), Liam Picken (Western Bulldogs) and Darren Jarman (Adelaide and Hawthorn). The widow of the late Shane Tuck has also signed on in the suit. Smith previously won a million dollar plus insurance payout due the concussions he suffered.

Outside the court, the firm's leading lawyer Michel Margalit said the firm was seeking about AUD$ 2 million (US$1.35 million) plus medical expenses per player. Margalit said it could cost the AFL close to 1 billion $AUD (US$666 million).She said it was not about "bringing down the AFL", but getting the compensation for the players, Rooke played 135 games for the Cats 2001-2010 and is the lead plaintiff. He, like many of the others sustained permanent and life-altering injuries as a result of concussion-related injuries and because of the AFL’s negligence. Margalit said, “Their careers are finished and years later they find these concussion-related injuries creeping in and affecting their ability to work, their ability to have a happy family life."

The Australian Sports Brain Bank has revealed the late Shane Tuck had a severe case of CTE, making him the third AFL player - after Graham "Polly Farmer and Danny Frawey - to have suffered from the crippling neurological disorder. The former Richmond star died in July last year at the age of 38 after a lengthy battle with mental health issues. Tuck’s family agreed to donate his brain to the Brain Bank and it was revealed he had stage three CTE.  Neuropathologist  Michael Buckland said, “It’s the worst case I’ve seen so far.

It was announced on July 20 that former Richmond player Shane Tuck passed away at the age of 38. The cause of death was not announced, but it has been reported that he struggled with depression for many years, including his playing career. A former Hawthorn great, who wished to remain anonymous, said those close to Shane as well as both Hawthorn and Richmond knew of his struggle with mental illness.

Tuck, son of former Hawthorn great Michael Tuck, and nephew of Gary Ablett Sr., was originally drafted by Hawthorn as a rookie in 2000,

Brook “Boris” Kilpatrick reporting for AFANA

This is what footy is all about. An Elimination Final between traditional rivals Carlton and Richmond on a beautiful sunny day in front of over 95,000 rabid footy fans. For the Tigers, it was about being back where they so desperately wanted to be after 12 years in the football wilderness. For Carlton, it was a chance - due to an unprecedented slice of luck when Essendon were stripped of their premiership points to vacate a spot in the Finals for the Blues - to restore lost faith under a new regime.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Ex-Richmond skipper Chris Newman plays his 230th game in Round 18. This will put him equal with Trevor Barker (StK) for most games without a Finals appearance. They are followed by Geoff Cunningham (224 games for StK), Gary Hardeman (219 games, MELB) and Steven Smith (203 games, MELB).

Other milestones being clebrated in Round 18 include:

200 games: Justin Koschitzke (StK)
150 games: Matt Maguire (BRIS)
100 games: David Mackay ADE)

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

2400 games: Collingwood played their 2400th match for premiership points in Round Four, joining the then-VFL as a founding member of the competition in 1897. Collingwood is the first club to reach this mark, with an overall record of 1463 wins through Round Four, 911 losses and 26 draws

Brook "Boris" Kilpatrick reporting for AFANA from Australia

A massive crowd poured into the MCG for the Round One blockbuster between a Richmond team desperate to break their Carlton hoodoo and a Blues team confident of a stellar season under new coach Mick Malthouse. With eight wins on the trot against the Tigers, the bookmakers once again gave Carlton the edge to continue their run and inflict more pain on the Tiger faithful.

Brook “Boris” Kilpatrick reporting for AFANA from Australia

Round 22's “Clash of the Sash” was also shaping up as Essendon’s last chance to take a stand and show the football world they were worthy of playing Finals footy. For Richmond, it was once again about rebuilding a franchise and taking it back to the glory days of the 70s, when the Tigers and playing Finals were synonymous.

Brook “Boris” Kilpatrick reporting for AFANA

Sunday's Round 17 clash between the in-form North Melbourne Kangaroos and the struggling Richmond Tigers was touted as the Tigers' last chance to gain a Finals berth. Realistically, that chance probably passed the Tigers by a week earlier at the hands of the Gold Coast Suns, but there was no doubting the importance of this game to both teams. The Kangaroos could stake their claim to a Top Eight finish with a victory, while Richmond desperately needed to restore some lost credibility after an abysmal performance in Cairns. They welcomed back exiled young gun Dustin Martin while the Kangaroos would be missing one of their rising stars in Jack Ziebell, outed for four weeks by the increasingly confusing Match Review Panel.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

100 games as captain: Jonathan Brown (BRIS) joins Michael Voss (210 games 1997-2006) and Roger Merrett (125 games 1990-96) as the only men to have captained the Brisbane Lions/Brisbane Bears in 100 or more games. Brown was appointed captain in 2007 after Voss retired as a player. Merrett's last year as captain was also the last year of the Brisbane Bears. At the end of 1996, the merger with the Fitzroy Lions was finalized and the Bears became the Brisbane Lions starting in 1997.