Dozens of Former Australian Football Players Diagnosed with Brain Disease

Four Corners investigated the issue.

The topic is sports injuries.

The report was released on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 5:00 am.

Until now, only five Australian Football League (AFL) players were known to have the brain disease CTE.

In short, many players have been diagnosed with CTE.

Thirty-three Australian football players have been diagnosed with CTE, a brain disease.

Experts say the numbers are alarming and need to be addressed by the AFL.

The AFL says player health and safety are its top priority and will limit contact in training.

Thirty-three players, including 19 professionals, have been diagnosed with CTE, showing the scale of the AFL's brain trauma crisis.

The findings include high-profile players who died young.

Until now, only five AFL players were known to have CTE.

CTE is caused by repeated head hits and can only be diagnosed after death.

In life, CTE has been linked to depression, memory loss, and other symptoms.

Experts criticize the AFL for not doing enough to protect players from CTE.

Professor Alan Pearce says CTE is a preventable disease.

He believes the AFL has not done enough to address the issue.

Alan Pearce has been studying AFL players' brains for nearly two decades.

Nineteen of the brain donors died by suicide, and 15 had CTE.

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Associate Professor Michael Buckland says there is a link between CTE and suicide, but more research is needed.

He finds the latest CTE diagnoses in Australian football players alarming.

The risk of CTE is high for players who have many head impacts.

It's a problem that needs to be addressed urgently.

Frequent small head impacts can harm brain health later in life.

No one walks away from football unscathed.

Concussion is the second most common injury in the AFL.

The AFL has made rule changes to reduce head knocks, but more needs to be done.

A concussion alone does not cause CTE.

Repeated head impacts increase the risk of CTE.

Most head impacts do not show immediate symptoms but can still cause damage.

The AFL's response to player safety has focused on concussions, not CTE.

The concussion protocols do not protect against CTE.

CTE is caused by repeated small head impacts, not just concussions.

These small impacts add up over a player's career.

Matty Robbins played AFL professionally for over a decade.

He is feeling the effects of his career and believes he has CTE.

He started having memory loss at 42.

Matty Robbins takes a mark during a 2006 AFL game.

There is a need for risk awareness.

Dr. Pearce says the AFL has not educated players about CTE.

Players were not told about the long-term risks of head impacts.

Lawyer Michel Margalit agrees that players were not informed about the risks.

Players had little say in their safety during games.

It's hard for players to protect themselves during games.

Michel Margalit is overseeing a class action on behalf of over 100 AFL players.

Dr. Ann McKee says the evidence demands action to reduce the risk of CTE.

The scientific data shows a clear link between contact sports and CTE.

There is a huge danger to contact sports that involve head impacts.

Critics say the AFL does not focus enough on CTE.

The AFL needs to take accountability, not just avoid blame.

Two coroners recommended the AFL partner with brain banks to research CTE.

The coroners wanted the AFL to encourage players to donate their brains.

The recommendation followed inquests into the suicides of two players with CTE.

The AFL has not acted on the recommendation in five years.

The widow of one of the players criticizes the AFL for not acting.

She wants the AFL to take leadership and action on CTE.

Richmond and St Kilda are among the clubs with players diagnosed with CTE.

AFL executive Laura Kane says a partnership with a brain bank is being considered.

The AFL is committed to a long-term study on brain health.

The effect of head knocks on a player's brain can be seen over time.

The AFL only acknowledged the link between the game and CTE in 2023.

The AFL will introduce limited contact training from the 2027 pre-season.

The AFL does not have an official CTE policy but informs players of the risks.

The AFL educates players on the risks of concussions and CTE annually.

Laura Kane says the AFL is committed to researching the game's impact on players' brain health.

There may be conflicting priorities in the AFL.

The AFL has long said player health and safety are its top priority.

Despite promises, the AFL has not completed a long-term study on CTE.

The AFL announced a $25 million research study called the Brain Health Initiative.

The project is on track, with two clubs completing their pilot program.

The AFL will explore all avenues to reduce head trauma in games and training.

The league is under pressure to reduce players' exposure to hits and limit contact training.

The AFL is considering extending the season, which needs more evaluation.

The AFL Players Association says more time is needed to evaluate the impact of a longer season.

If you know more about this issue, please share.

The AFL Players Association is discussing the issue with its members.

Dr. Pearce says the AFL must take proactive steps to reduce the risk of CTE.

The AFL needs to implement changes to reduce the risk of CTE.

We can still have sports, but we need to reduce the risk of CTE.

Watch the full investigation into the AFL's brain trauma crisis.

The report was released on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 5:00 am.

The report was updated on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 10:28 am.

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