More than 100 former players have come forward to join a class action, with eight former AFL players joining a landmark class action against the league and 10 clubs, claiming they were negligently exposed to concussion-related injuries. The expansion signals a growing willingness among past players to pursue compensation for what they argue are permanent, life-altering consequences of head trauma sustained during their careers.
North Melbourne premiership player Ian Fairley is among the eight players listed as lead plaintiffs in the new writ filed in the Victorian Supreme Court. Other plaintiffs include former Carlton vice captain Nick Stevens and 302-gamer Michael Richardson, who played for Collingwood and Essendon.
The case, first launched by ex-Geelong player Max Rooke who has been leading the case against the AFL and his former club since 2023, represents a significant institutional challenge to Australian football's established practices around head injury management. St Kilda, Melbourne, Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon, North Melbourne, Footscray, Carlton, Fremantle and Port Adelaide have each been listed as defendants in the new writ, alongside the AFL.
The court documents allege the former players suffered permanent and life-altering injuries as a result of concussions sustained during their time in the league. The plaintiffs claim the clubs and the AFL failed to take reasonable care to prevent exposing the players to risk of permanent concussion-related injuries. The class action states that some players have suffered long-term injuries including various neurological impairments, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and dementia, along with various psychological issues, including depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation.
From an institutional accountability perspective, the case raises serious questions about duty of care and historical practices. At a Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, it was confirmed the AFL and Geelong were continuing to fight the allegations in the Rooke-led class action. The parties were still in the early phases of document disclosure but Justice Andrew Keogh flagged the court could accommodate a trial starting in late May 2027.
The AFL has pointed to recent policy changes as evidence of its commitment to player safety. In 2023, when the minimum 12-day protocol operated in both the AFL and AFLW, 29% of AFL players missed more than one match following a concussion and 24% AFLW players missed more than one match following a concussion. The AFL says it has made at least 30 changes to on-field rules in recent years to make the sport safer. However, critics contend these measures, though welcome, do not address the historical absence of adequate protections that allegedly harmed current plaintiffs.
The scope of the litigation remains expanding. More than 100 former players have come forward to join the broader class action and there were further investigations into the remaining AFL clubs that were yet to be named in the lawsuit, indicating the case may ultimately encompass additional clubs and players. The financial implications are substantial; according to reports, players are seeking up to $1billion in damages, collectively.
Michel Margalit, managing principal of Margalit Injury Lawyers, said the players who have signed on to be lead plaintiffs were providing a "brave show of support" to Rooke. The broader pattern matches international precedent. The NFL reached a major concussion settlement that paid out over $1 billion to former players, setting a benchmark for what institutional responsibility can demand when the long-term consequences of repeated head trauma become undeniable.