Former Demon Shaun Smith, who last year revealed his mental health struggles due to multiple concussions, has received an unpresented insurance payout of $1.02 million. The insurance company from which he took the policy accepted that Smith was "totally and permanently disabled" due to the head knocks he suffered as a player.
After the Farmer story broke, former Hawk premiership player and 1987 Brownlow Medalist John Platten spoke on SEN's breakfast show. He said the revelation about Farmer was "pretty scary". Platten said he suffered at least 40 concussions during his 18-year career which began in the SANFL. One of those concussions was suffered during the brutal 1989 Grand Final against Geelong. He was so badly concussed in that game, he remembers very little about it and, to this day, cannot remember receiving his premiership medal.
by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
In November, former Cat and Bomber John Barnes became the lead plaintiff in a potential class action suit against the AFL due to the number of concussions and the after effects he has suffered. Other plaintiffs in the class action suit include John Platten (Hawthorn), Shaun Smith (Melbourne), and a former Adelaide and Port Adelaide player who has yet to be named. A least another dozen players have agreed to be plaintiffs.
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