A much-loved Collingwood duo have been dealt a devastating blow in their bid for a concussion reparation, after the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) sided in favour of an insurance giant with their most recent claim.
Herald Sun Chief Football Writer Jay Clark reported on Tuesday that Paul Seedsman and premiership Pie Nathan Murphy have lost their latest concussion compensation payout battle against Zurich, unless they submit for more medical testing.
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Clark revealed the AFCA’s decision has cost the pair hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the final judgement made on their ability to perform basic daily activities, and whether they were forced to retire from AFL.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, Herald Sun colleague Jon Ralph expanded on the brutal setback for both players.
“In the case of Nathan Murphy, he had to basically put his life on hold for years, and basically not work to prove he was the subject of significant trauma — and then hopefully get some sort of payout, maybe half a million dollars,” Ralph explained.
“Or, he could take up a footy role at Collingwood. It was just an extraordinary choice, (and) he chose football. But, there’s got to be a better way.”
Seedsman played 49 games for the Magpies between 2012 and 2015, before going on to play another 83 at Adelaide before being forced into retirement. He was the Anzac Day Medallist in 2015.
Murphy’s final-ever AFL game was the 2023 Grand Final, which his side won against Brisbane by four points in a September thriller. The then-23-year-old was concussed late in the first quarter of the clash, and didn’t return to the field after testing.
Former rival and Melbourne premiership hero Angus Brayshaw is still awaiting a verdict on his insurance submission, as one of a number of AFL players who have retired due to concussion concerns in recent years.
“The trauma insurance is so hard to actually ascertain. In the case of these blokes, if you’ve read about Seedsman and Murphy, they are absolutely devastated. Their lives are absolutely broken,” Ralph continued.
“Because they’re trying to put their lives together again, and not just sit in bed for five years, they’re going and trying to work. In the case of Nathan Murphy, it’s working a couple of days a week at Collingwood.
“They’re being punished though, because the insurers are putting private detectives around people in some cases. In the case of Angus Brayshaw, he’s unable to even play golf. He’s unable to work, but can’t even get out there and try to get some stress relief. They’ve also used photos of his wedding to basically disprove his allegations there as well.”
Clark’s report notes that Seedsman is unwilling to undergo more testing, due to the heavy toll the elongated process has taken on him since retiring.
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