The AFL Players’ have launched a major new initiative, the AFL Players’ Trust, which will assist players who are facing hardship due to injury or illness, and provide real and valuable assistance to its former members.
AFL Players General Manager of Player Development Brett Johnson made the announcement in front of over 100 AFL past players and industry guests who had gathered at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the launch this morning.
Johnson announced former player Peter Bell as the inaugural Chairman of the Trust, who will be joined by industry leaders including Mike Sheahan, Gerald Healy, Ian Dicker, Paul Henderson, Gareth Andrews, Bill Kelty and Dr Andrew Daff.
“We’ve assembled an exceptional advisory team to ensure players have access to medical and like services so their lives are not disadvantaged due to injuries or illness caused or related to playing football,” said Johnson.
Download the AFL Players’ Trust Booklet
AFL Players President Luke Ball said Trust was a great recognition of the contribution players from previous generations have made to the game as well as reinforcing the Association’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of players as a collective.
“Players put their bodies on the line each week and will pay the cost for the rest of their lives,” said Ball.
“Past player research shows that 64% of past players remain affected in their current daily life from a previous AFL injury, with 60% of these requiring medical treatment.
“This is about creating a trust that will look after each other, and in particular the past players who have built the game we have today.”
Acting AFL Players’ CEO Ian Prendergast said the Trust was one of the most pivotal achievements of the most recent CBA negotiations, and said the fact players that players had chosen to divert a portion of funds to this important initiative was testament to their desire to leave a legacy that provides benefits to those that have gone before them.
“Players want to look after each other. They know the figures and the reality is that the average career only last six years and after players are out of this bubble they are left to build their own lives away from football,” said Prendergast.
“Most players do fine – and the AFLPA is working hard with clubs to make sure that players balance football with life, and get the education and training they need, however we know there will always be some players that need further help and we want to make sure no one gets forgotten.”
However Prendergast was quick to point out that the Trust was about assistance, not compensation.
“There will probably be people who wonder why highly-paid footballers can’t look after themselves in retirement, but what we need to remember is this program will benefit footballers who retired decades ago, when the game was low paid,” said Prendergast.
“The guys who worked all day and jumped on a train to get to training. It was these guys who set the foundation for the benefits today’s players have in place.”
Prendergast said the career of an AFL player was particularly unique and many of the challenges faced by past players would not be felt until many years after their playing days are over.
“Players don’t get Workers Compensation, yet they are the only profession where injuries are report every week in the paper,” said Prendergast.
“The real effects happen later, as the body ages and many players are left dealing with chronic and medical conditions. We see this Trust as a way for current, past and future players to not only look after their own retirement but also help those past players in need to get back in control of their lives.
“As an industry we face a challenge, from the AFLPA, the clubs and the players themselves, have a responsibility to develop not just great footballers, but also great people.”
For further information on the Players Trust please visit www.aflplayers.com.au.