Former Bulldog Liam Picken launches legal action against AFL, club, doctors after concussions

Former Bulldog Liam Picken launches legal action against AFL, club, doctors after concussions.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/v...dpuSH42tBdGXe8


Premiership player Liam Picken has launched civil action against the AFL, Western Bulldogs and club doctors after he says he was returned to the field despite suffering on-field concussions.

Lawyers for Picken claim throughout his time with the Bulldogs, the 36-year-old repeatedly returned irregular cognitive test results, but was never made aware of these or sent for specialist management.

This isn't going to be pretty given what's been alleged by the Picken camp.

Terrible Liam is still suffering serious symptoms. Still young and with a lovely young family. Some serious allegations for our club and our esteemed club doctors.

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Originally Posted by jeemak

This isn't going to be pretty given what's been alleged by the Picken camp.

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Agree. Could have seen it coming from a mile away tbh. I reckon he has a case to be paid attention to - I’m not a lawyer.

It's going to be a huge issue for the AFL and it's not right that someone like Picken is still feeling the effects.

Obvious statement, if he has a case then he deserves fair compensation.

You’d like to think the club would not have done the specific things alleged. I guess we will have our right of reply and see where it lands.

More importantly, got to just feel for the human cost Liam is paying for giving us years of amazing memories.

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Originally Posted by bulldogtragic

Obvious statement, if he has a case then he deserves fair compensation.

You’d like to think the club would not have done the specific things alleged. I guess we will have our right of reply and see where it lands.

More importantly, got to just feel for the human cost Liam is paying for giving us years of amazing memories.

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Spot on, we've come a long way with concussion protocols in the last few years but there would be a number of players with ongoing symptoms and challenges. I'm not sure how this gets resolved but I hope the AFL has some plans on how to look after the players.

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

Spot on, we've come a long way with concussion protocols in the last few years but there would be a number of players with ongoing symptoms and challenges. I'm not sure how this gets resolved but I hope the AFL has some plans on how to look after the players.

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I suspect the answer is a huge amount of money. How much the AFEL end up on the hook for could be interesting. A club under a series of lawsuits might find their viability threatened.

It’s a tough spot for the club. If the club feels they’ve done nothing wrong they need to fight this to the end as hard as they can. Which is hard for everyone when it’s a club hero especially. For fans, it’s like watching your parents go through a horrible divorce.

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Originally Posted by bulldogtragic

I suspect the answer is a huge amount of money. How much the AFEL end up on the hook for could be interesting. A club under a series of lawsuits might find their viability threatened.

It’s a tough spot for the club. If the club feels they’ve done nothing wrong they need to fight this to the end as hard as they can. Which is hard for everyone when it’s a club hero especially. For fans, it’s like watching your parents go through a horrible divorce.

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You would hope that the medico's worked within the guidelines at the time and that we have documented records of our decisions.
Player welfare is the priority.

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

You would hope that the medico's worked within the guidelines at the time and that we have documented records of our decisions.
Player welfare is the priority.

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That's the issue. What were the guidelines? It only seems like a few years ago it was still just walk it off and go back out on the ground. I can guarantee there would be countless doctors overruled because a player just wants to get back out there. Picken would have been one of those. If a Dr says no and you say yes why is it the Docs fault?

Liam deserves compensation IF it was deemed the rules at the time weren't adhered to or appropriate.

However, there has to be some personal responsibility; he was hardly a safety first kind of player.

I get we laud that in our game and all - sheesh though he was a mad man.

Tough situation for fans. Feel for him.

Marcus Adams in a similar situation I read.

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Originally Posted by G-Mo77

That's the issue. What were the guidelines? It only seems like a few years ago it was still just walk it off and go back out on the ground. I can guarantee there would be countless doctors overruled because a player just wants to get back out there. Picken would have been one of those. If a Dr says no and you say yes why is it the Docs fault?

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It's a good point, I played (very badly) in the 90s and copped a few concussions (yes, yes it explains a few things), we'd just sit on the bench.
I was seeing double one day, played out the game then went to the hospital. Played better ;)

This is about one thing, money. This is Pandora's box for the AFL. It has the potential to bring the game to its knees.

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Originally Posted by Grantysghost

It's a good point, I played (very badly) in the 90s and copped a few concussions (yes, yes it explains a few things), we'd just sit on the bench.
I was seeing double one day, played out the game then went to the hospital. Played better ;)

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I took a few as well, only once I stopped playing and it was because my vision was messed up. Mind you we didn't really have Doctors in the bush league. They'd just say you probably shouldn't go back on and everyone would say I'm fine and be back out there 5 - 10 minutes later.

I'm not sure where I sit with this to be honest. If Liam didn't play the way he did he wouldn't have been an AFL footballer, now he's suing them and the club he played for because of the way he played?

I hope the club did the right things by Liam but if not he deserves compensation. Huge precedent for the future if the case goes ahead.