- Barry Mitchell has opened up about a health problem he suffered from last week
- The ex-Swan Star was diagnosed with a brain tumor almost ten years ago
- He is also the father of Collingwood star and Brownlow winner Tom Mitchell
Footy great Barry Mitchell has opened up to 100 golfers about the health episode he suffered last Monday.
The former Sydney, Carlton and Collingwood star, who had a cancerous tumor removed from his brain about a decade ago, had suffered a seizure during a charity golf event.
The former wandering midfielder made 170 appearances for the Bloods, scoring 214 goals, before joining the Magpies and Blues.
The 58-year-old, who is also the father of Collingwood star and Brownlow medalist Tom Mitchell, retired in 1996 before coaching at Hawthorn and Freemantle.
The footy great was unfortunately admitted to hospital and has since undergone MRI scans, EEG scans and a lumbar puncture following the attack.
“My attack was apparently shocking, it lasted two minutes,” Mitchell told the Herald Sun.
Former Sydney star Barry Mitchell suffered a seizure in front of 100 golfers last week
Mitchell wants the AFL to take more action when it comes to supporting players with concussion and other issues they experience after their playing career.
The 58-year-old has suffered from memory loss and several other problems which he claims are a result of his football career.
He was diagnosed after having symptoms of lethargy and irritability, but neither he nor doctors can determine whether football caused the cancer.
“I played a lot of footy; I took my share. “I played how you should play, but I didn’t think I would end up here, not at the age of 58,” he said.
Concussion has become a hugely important talking point in recent years, with the AFL tightening its concussion rules earlier this year.
Several young football stars have also had to hang up their boots this season, including West Coast midfielder Luke Edwards, 22, after a series of serious head injuries.
“I see CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) as a byproduct of our game, and it’s a great game and no one who played it would take anything back, but I don’t think the sport is set up for us if we become incapacitated. .
“At the moment it’s like we have to sue the AFL to get a result, and I don’t think that’s right.”
Barry Mitchell called on the AFL and fans to do more for former players to support them when it comes to concussion and brain injuries
Mitchell wants the AFL to do more to support and protect its players when it comes to concussion. He also called on fans to support greats of the past and present through the hardships they have faced post-retirement.
“I would like an independent concussion council or group – with AFL people on it, doctors, concussion experts, people with CTE symptoms and parents.”
“Brain trauma is real,” he added.
“I don’t think any of us understood what it would do when we started this game. And we review the behavior of all these people, and they’re good fodder for the newspaper, but I don’t think there’s a lot of understanding or tolerance for people who could potentially get hurt.”
Mitchell advocated that players were given a ‘badge of honour’ for the way they played, but added that not much attention was paid to them for their welfare later in life.
Rather chillingly, Mitchell claimed that 16 of the 24 starting line-ups for the Swans in 1986 had a problem related to a neurological problem such as cancer or drug and alcohol abuse.
He called on the AFL, fans and people within the game to help improve the care of ex-pros.