Footy star leaves no dry eye in the house at the Brownlow Medal as he opens up on ‘deep void’ after shock retirement

Angus Brayshaw provided a thundering spectacle at the Brownlow Medal on Monday night as the recently retired Melbourne hero spoke about how he has adapted to life away from sport.

The 28-year-old was forced to retire from playing before the start of the 2024 season after suffering a series of concussions during his career.

In Melbourne, Brayshaw paid tribute to the retiring class of 2024 at the sport’s most prestigious awards ceremony, which saw players such as Dustin Martin and Tom Hawkins retire from the game after illustrious playing careers.

There are also players who, like Brayshaw, had to retire for medical reasons, including Nathan Murphy, Josh Carmichael and Aiden O’Driscoll.

“I am a retired AFL footballer and am here tonight on behalf of the retiring class of 2024,” Brayshaw said.

‘It’s been about 8 months since I medically retired and just over a year since I played my last game. I’m not going to lie, the absence of football has left a deep void.

‘Days that were planned down to the minute and filled with purpose need to be replaced and eventually will be.

‘Football is all-consuming, no matter how long your career is. No matter how well you prepare, the transition is difficult and there seems to be no easy way around it.’

Brayshaw also launched a fierce attack on Martin, whose future remains uncertain despite his retirement last month.

“Whether you’re Dustin Martin – who I checked out before I came here, and who’s still officially retired – he’s won every trophy you can win as a player,” Brayshaw said.

‘Or you’re a kid like Aiden O’Dirscoll, a young man who dreamed of doing what Dusty did – but sadly he was medically retired after suffering a concussion in his first pre-season. We, the retiring class of 2024, should be incredibly proud.

‘I hope we have brought pride and joy to our families, our friends, our loved ones, our teammates, our clubs and also to the many fans.

‘We have all achieved our dreams to varying degrees, which is a privilege that we should never lose sight of. It is equally important to look to the future – and the truth is, surprisingly, there is life after football, which is a relief.

‘Tom Hawkins played 359 games. He arrived as a kid and left the game with a few of his own. And while his career may seem like a lifetime, he, like the rest of us, will soon find out there is so much more to see and do.

‘Our playing careers are over and there are undoubtedly feelings of sadness, grief, uncertainty, anger and fear.

‘But as the play door closes on us, so many others stand ready for us as we make the transition from this rigid and structured existence into the great unknown.

“I sincerely hope that everyone in the 2024 retirement cohort finds something that gives them the same passion and purpose that I do by playing in the AFL.”