Former West Coast All-Australian Brad Sheppard is suing the Eagles, the AFL and two doctors for medical negligence.
The defender has been left with long-term concussion symptoms following his retirement in 2021, when he was forced to hang up the boots early due to the ongoing effects of heavy head knocks.
In 2023, Sheppard was forced to quit his job at a Toyota car dealership in Broome due to being too unwell to sit inside and at a computer, as he still battles concussion symptoms.
According to WA Today, the former best clubman has hired a legal team that specialises in personal injury and medical negligence to begin a case in WA's Supreme Court.
Sheppard suffered two significant concussions which caused the defender to retire early. The former Eagle alleges he experienced serious losses due to neglect and breach of contract by who he is suing, which includes doctors Gerard Taylor and Alex Strahan, along with West Coast and the AFL as defendants.
Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson commented on Sheppard's retirement back in December 2021 saying he "didn't get to fulfil his full career."
“There was plenty of games left in Brad. He had a little bit of an indifferent year with his body this year and obviously a few concussions. But he still had plenty of good footy left," said Simpson.
"That's the sad part about it, he didn't get to fulfil his full career. But he did achieve a lot and played over 200 games. The way we look at him, he's a premiership player."
Sheppard played 216 games for the Eagles from 2010 to 2021, debuting in Round 7 of the 2010 season. The 33-year-old was known for his gutsy and courageous efforts in defence.
Sheppard was part of the All-Australian team in 2020, received the Chris Mainwaring Medal (Best Clubman) in 2020 and won the Glendinning-Allan Medal in 2019. The former Eagle player was unlucky to miss out on playing in West Coast's 2018 premiership win due to tearing his hamstring.
Sheppard suing this former club, doctors and AFL, brings to light the topic of debate regarding whether the game doing enough when it comes to concussions for senior players both during and after their playing careers.
Currently, all AFL and AFLW players require a minimum of 12 days to recover from concussion.