sad news for Melbourne demons: he has just leave the team

Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw retires immediately

The AFL world has been shocked by the news Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw has retired immediately before the AFL season.

Melbourne premiership star Angus Brayshaw says he’s “devastated” after being immediately forced into retirement.

Brayshaw told teammates on Thursday morning he had made the decision after medical experts determined it was unsafe for him to continue playing following multiple head injuries.

The 28-year-old is walking away with five more seasons still to run on his multimillion-dollar contract, which expired at the end of the 2028 season, having played 167 games for the club.

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He had undergone brain scans and consulted neurologists over summer in a bid to continue his career.

However, just two weeks before the club’s season begins with a blockbuster against the Swans in Sydney on March 7, Brayshaw has been forced to accept that his career is over.

“I am devastated that I can no longer play the game that I love, but I respect the verdict of the medical professionals, and the importance of putting my health before my career,” Brayshaw said.

“I am really proud of what I have achieved over the past decade. I have been able to live out my childhood dream and while it’s been cut short, I am forever grateful to everyone who has been involved.

“I want to especially thank my teammates, my coaches and the staff at the Melbourne Football Club, for all they have done for me over the years. I also want to thank my family and my partner Danielle for their endless support. To every member and fan, thank you for your incredible support over the journey.

“Concussion is a massive issue facing our game. I hope from this, a terrible result for me personally, can come some positive outcomes for the future of player safety.”

NCA NewsWire reports Brayshaw returned to training following the latest concussion of his career in Melbourne’s qualifying final against Collingwood last September, but recent neuropsychological testing led to medical experts advising the Demons midfielder to retire, the Demons said in a club statement.

“That process allowed Brayshaw to return in a controlled training program, but recent neuropsychological testing brought that recovery program to a halt,” the statement read.

“A recent highly specialised scan result revealed microscopic changes in the brain that had developed since the concussion.

“It was based on these comes about that Brayshaw has been therapeutically retired.”

The club explanation went on to depict Brayshaw as “much cherished by all the players, coaches and staff”.

He was thumped oblivious in a first-quarter collision with Brayden Maynard in September, but the club said within the days that taken after there were positive signs.

Brayshaw missed half of his moment season in 2016 and the larger part of 2017 after enduring four concussions over 12 months and has played wearing a protective cap since that period.

His collision with Maynard became one of the foremost questionable minutes of the 2023 season after the Jaybird was cleared by a legal tribunal and was free to play the rest of the finals arrangement.

The association affirmed prior this month there will be a unused run the show elucidation for the 2024 season as a result of Maynard’s covering endeavor.

That bump, in which Maynard cleared out the ground to undertake to cover a kick as it were to collide with Brayshaw, will presently result in a suspension beneath the stricter translation ticked off by the AFL Commission in a offered to “make the diversion safer”.

When it comes to covers, players who choose to take off the ground and make “reasonably predictable tall contact with an adversary that’s at slightest moo impact” will be considered to be careless at a least, bringing suspension into play.

Evil spirits coach Simon Goodwin, AFL official common chief of football Laura Kane and Devils CEO Gary Sprightly have too discharged articulations.

“As a coach, I am fantastically glad to have seen the affect Gus has had on this Club, for a number of years,” Goodwin said.

“Gus’ capacity to realize what most players can as it were dream of, securing a Prevalence emblem and being portion of something extraordinary, stands as a confirmation to his uncommon aptitudes and devotion.

“He has not as it were exceeded expectations on the field but has played a pivotal part in forming the measures and ethos of the Club. The legacy he clears out is something he ought to be colossally pleased of.

“When I think of Angus Brayshaw, strength, authority, selflessness and tip top football capacity all come to intellect. Over all else in spite of the fact that, he is fair a awesome human being.

“Gus will continuously be a Melbourne individual, and has our full bolster for this another chapter of his life.”

Saucy expressed gratitude toward Brayshaw for his “unwavering devotion, mettle and dedication” in an passionate explanation.

“Today could be a extreme day for Angus and everybody included given his adore for the Club and the diversion and how much he implies to our people,” Sprightly said.

“Currently, our add up to center is going into supporting Angus, his fiancé Danielle and the broader Brayshaw family after this devasting news.

“From the day Angus arrived at the Club, he has had a gigantic impact. He was a genius player that was instrumental in our 2021 Prevalence victory.

“He has been a regarded, powerful pioneer of the player gather, whereas at the same time being a much-loved identity who brought chuckling and fun to his partners and the staff every day.

“As things settle down taking after the declaration, we are going conversation to Angus to investigate keeping him included within the program in anything part is fitting.

“On sake of everybody at the Club, and our individuals and supporters, I would like to thank Angus for his unflinching devotion, boldness and devotion to the Club.”

Kane said:
“The AFL underpins the choice by Angus Brayshaw to resign from the amusement nowadays.

Angus’ health and prosperity is of the highest significance and his choice, made in meeting with his restorative group, is one more bold act that Angus reliably illustrated all through his enhanced career over 167 diversions.

“Angus’ commitment to footy on the field is well reported and we see forward to his proceeded commitment to our game off the field within the coming a long time.

“We wish Angus, Danielle, and their families all the very best, and applaud Angus’ leadership in making this decision for himself, his family and his club.”