Dozens of former Australian Rules footballers diagnosed with CTE | Ex-Dog fears he’ll have deme…

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Dozens of former Australian Rules footballers diagnosed with CTE

Until now there have only been five AFL players diagnosed with CTE. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)

Thirty-three Australian Rules footballers have been diagnosed with CTE, a degenerative brain disease.

Global neuroscience experts say the statistics are alarming and need to be urgently addressed by the AFL.

The AFL says the health and safety of its players are its top priority and is set to limit physical contact in training sessions at the start of the 2027 pre-season.

Thirty-three Australian Rules players, including 19 professional and semi-professional footballers, have been diagnosed with the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), exposing the scale of the AFL's brain trauma crisis.

Ex-Dog fears he’ll have dementia, but the AFL still hasn’t called

Former Bulldog and Cat Matthew Robbins has been left heartbroken by the game he loves and even as he battles life-changing concussion symptons, the league hasn’t called. SUBSCRIBE TO READ NOW.

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They didn't know what footy was doing to their boy. 'Now it's too late'

Nick (second from right) was picked for the state representative team Vic Country. (Supplied)

Growing up, Nick Lowden always had a footy in hand. He relished the rough and tumble of a hard-fought game. Like many kids, he dreamt of making it big.

His parents, Kerry and Tony, could see their boy was talented, a team player and that the AFL was within reach. 

What they couldn't see, what no-one could, was what the sport he loved was doing to his brain. The knocks, bumps, hits and collisions were adding up.

Nick Lowden died at 23. He is the youngest Aussie rules player to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

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