Footy legend Dermott Brereton reveals the surprising reason he REFUSED to sue the AFL in $1billion concussion case despite being a ‘prime candidate’ for brain injuries after punishing career
- Brereton was one of footy’s hardest players during career
- Was asked to join landmark concussion case against AFL
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Hawthorn icon Dermott Brereton refused to join a concussion class action against the AFL because he believes the game has been so good to him that he doesn’t feel he deserves another payday from the sport.
The five-time flag winner with the Hawks was known as one of the hardest players in the league during his 211-game career, in which he showed little regard for his physical safety – even playing almost all of the 1989 grand final with broken ribs and a ruptured kidney.
When he was contacted recently by one of the forces behind the concussion class action headlined by former Geelong star Max Rooke, the 58-year-old turned down the offer despite being told he would be an ideal addition to the case.
Brereton – who played almost all of the 1989 grand final with broken ribs and a ruptured kidney (pictured) – was famously tough on his body during his legendary career
The Hawks icon (pictured at Shane Warne’s memorial service last year) was told he’d be a prime candidate for the class action – but turned down the opportunity
‘He said, “You’d be a prime candidate for traumatic head injury given the amount of times you got whacked”,’ Brereton recalled on SEN Radio.
‘I basically said, “Footy’s been pretty good to me, I don’t want to turn around and make a second helping from it”.
‘That’s the only way I know of it [joining the legal action] and I politely declined that invitation.’
Geelong Hall of Fame player Rooke is the figurehead of a landmark class action against the AFL that includes other injured players who are seeking up to $1billion in compensation for the effects of concussions.
The action, lodged by Margalit Injury Lawyers in Victoria’s Supreme Court, is on behalf of all professional AFL players who sustained concussion-related injuries while playing or training between 1985 and March 14 this year.
More than 60 former players and family members of deceased players have signed on.
‘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,’ managing principal Michel Margalit said outside court in Melbourne.
The footy legend (pictured in Shanghai) believes the game has been so good to him that he doesn’t want to chase another payday
The landmark $1billion concussion case against the AFL is being fronted by ex-Geelong star Max Rooke, who has detailed the shocking toll head knocks have taken on him
She confirmed the firm is seeking about $2million per player plus medical expenses – and more footballers could potentially follow.
‘The whole class action could cost the AFL close to $1billion,’ Ms Margalit said.
A second concussion class action involving Crows legend Darren Jarman, ex-Demon Shaun Smith and the family of late star Shane Tuck is also being launched against the AFL.
Griffins Lawyers – who have been working on that case for eight years – said as many as 300 players could join the action.
Rooke recently revealed that he self-harmed and had uncontrollable spasms due after suffering at least 20 concussions during his career.
He told the Herald Sun the spasms used to ‘hit my legs straight away and begin to creep up my body’.
‘I had memory loss and mental blanks like I hadn’t encountered before. I began to cause self-harm, which hadn’t come up before,’ he said.
‘I feel exhausted, slightly angry and very irritated … I get close to tears and my head becomes foggy.’
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