Legal action against AFL grows with 10 more clubs named as defendants
Updated ,first published
Eight new players have joined the multimillion-dollar concussion class action led by former Geelong star Max Rooke against the AFL, alleging they have had their lives impacted by serious head knocks.
Margalit Injury Lawyers on Wednesday lodged a new writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria naming the AFL and 10 additional clubs as defendants.
It is alleged the players have suffered permanent, life-altering injuries as a result of concussions, and due to the negligence of the AFL and the clubs.
Margalit Injury Lawyers managing principal Michel Margalit said she had written to each of the clubs concerned to advise them they had been named as defendants in the new writ.
The former players named as plaintiffs in the document are ruckman Jack Fitzpatrick (Hawthorn and Melbourne 2010-2015), midfielder Gary Frangalas (Richmond 1986-1989), defender Michael Richardson (Collingwood and Essendon 1983-1986), forward Ian Fairley (North Melbourne 1983-1996), Rod MacPherson (Footscray 1982-1986), Dylan Roberton (Fremantle 2010-2012) and Brendan Littler (St Kilda 1986). Also named as a plaintiff is midfielder Nick Stevens (Port Adelaide and Carlton 1998-2009), who was jailed for three months in 2016 for assaulting a former partner.
The eight new names will join Rooke as lead plaintiffs in the class action.
“I feel duty bound to support and represent players who, like me, are suffering concussion-related effects as a result of their AFL careers,” Fitzpatrick said.
More than 100 former players have now come forward to join the class action.
“The medical evidence is tragically clear. The players’ concussion occurred while playing Aussie rules and those concussions have gone on to cause them serious, lifelong physical and psychological harm and it has had a devastating impact on their lives and the lives of their loved ones” Margalit said.
“They dedicated their lives to the game. Years later, their footy career is a distant memory, and they find themselves injured and without the means to care for those injuries. It’s heart-breaking, and they need to be adequately cared for.”
The AFL was contacted for comment.
More to come.
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.