CTE killed Shane Tuck — Why is the AFL still ignoring the warnings?

Shane Tuck was tormented by the voices in his head. Now his family reveal the heartbreak of the deadly disease that took his life – and ask why the AFL is not doing more to protect footballers.

Shane took his life in July 2020. A 2023 coronial inquiry into his death made a raft of safety recommendations to the AFL – including two major initiatives: restricting contact in training, and introducing independent doctors – in an effort to mitigate brain injuries including CTE, but 18 months on the league is yet to implement either of these key measures.

“I thought Shane’s legacy would be worthy of something, because he had gone through so much and we had fought so hard,” says his sister, Renee Tuck. “Instead these key recommendations made by the coroner, John Cain Jr – restricting contact in training and introducing independent doctors – have not yet happened.”

The AFL is facing a class action by more than 100 former players who claim to have an acquired brain injury as a result of the AFL’s failure in past years to implement basic concussion protocols, as well as calls for it to be prosecuted for workplace manslaughter over the deaths of at least four players who suffered traumatic brain injuries.

The AFL has said there is “no higher priority” than the health and safety of players. It also has previously said it is continuing to research and measure contact in training as it “considers” implementing the coroner’s recommendation.

While it has already agreed to the coroner’s instruction and introduced concussion spotters – “empowered to mandate that a player be removed from the game” – the game has still been marred by several controversial decisions not to remove players quickly.

Concussed Geelong player ­Jeremy Cameron waved away the club doctor last season and played on. The game was not stopped after Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz suffered a hit last month and collapsed in the arms of ­trainers.

Shane’s father, Michael Tuck – one of the game’s greatest players – says he would like to see even more safety measures in light of his son’s death. He would also like a longer rest time for players suffering head trauma, with some sports-focused neurologists recommending a four-week break.



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