Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

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Paul captained the Socceroos throughout the 1990s, earning 84 caps and playing 345 National Soccer League games for clubs including Croydon, Green Gully, Brunswick and South Melbourne. He led Australia from 1990 to 1996, including at the Olympics and through two World Cup qualifying campaigns, and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
More recently, Paul has bravely spoken publicly about his diagnosis of probable CTE, linked to repeated head impacts throughout his career, using his experience to advocate for better brain health protections in football.
 
01:40 - Paul's Journey into football
04:05 - Football at Barnsley
06:00 – How Paul and Val Met
08:30 – Diagnosis of Probable CTE
11:30 – Process of Diagnosis
19:40 – Perspective of a Diagnosis and Day to Day life
24:30 – Impact on Work
27:20 – Paul’s Epilepsy 
30:30 – Advocacy, Training with Probable CTE
39:25 – Pauls Favourite Footballing Moments
43:00 – Old National Soccer League/ NLS Day’s
44:50 – Val’s Favourite Moments 
47:07 – Find Paul/ Support 
49:10 – Dad Joke’s
                                                        
 
Paul Wade Life Skills: www.paulwade.com.au
Epilepsy Action Australia / Paul Wade: www.epilepsy.org.au
Dr Rowena Mobbs: www.rowena.mobbs.com.au
ConneCTErs Australia: www.connecters.org.au
Twitter: @first concussion
Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast
Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion  
Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

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Dr Channon is a Principal Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Studies at the University of Brighton, UK. His work covers sociology of sport, in particular martial arts and combat sports, examining topics such as gender and sexuality in participation, the role of martial arts in physical education curricula and media portrayals of professional fighters. Dr Channon has authored over 43 publications serves as an editor for the journal of Martial Arts Studies and Special Advisory Board Member, International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development. 
 
01:25 - Journey into Sociology, and Martial Arts
06:10 – What is Edgework/ Consent
12:00 – Fighting and Violence Paradox 
25:10 - Protecting fighters in unregulated combat sports 
36:54 – Mixed Fighting/ Sparing 
46:10 - Sexualisation of the fighter's body 
51:00 – Where to Find Dr Alex Channon and Support His Work

Dr Alex Channon
https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=wVLoke8AAAAJ&citation_for_view=wVLoke8AAAAJ:e5wmG9Sq2KIC
 
Additional Resources for further viewing and context
Lecture 1 – violence/consent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdhWnqo3naQ (starts around 12 mins), 
 
Lecture 2 – risk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddx9VYR0sEo,
 
Lecture 3 – gender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWnymS6_gEQ.

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Dr. Arena is a neurosurgeon at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in the intersection of clinical neurosurgery, neurotrauma, and neurodegenerative disease. He has authored more than 54 publications in these fields.
Before medicine, he was an accomplished football player at Johns Hopkins University, where he played linebacker in every game of his college career, helped lead the Blue Jays to a 28–6 record, and served as team captain in 2013. Academically, he maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA as a neuroscience major and was named the 2013 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and Capital One Academic All-America Player of the Year for Division III football.
 
 
02:20 - Journey from football into medicine, neurosurgery. 
05:10 - What is CTE and TES/ Probable CTE 
14:48 - Lead author on “Performance of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome criteria in identifying individuals with chronic traumatic encephalopathy”
23:40 – Where to Research Wise
27:23 – Nocebo Effect
31:00 – Where too Find Assistant Professor John Arena
 
Assistant Professor John Arena:
-       Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rBLzm34AAAAJ&hl=en
-       Performance of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome criteria in identifying individuals with chronic traumatic encephalopathy: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04392-9
 
Twitter: @first concussion
Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast
Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion  
Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

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This episode picks up where our last one left off, brief update new developments in the Geelong concussion waiver case. But the real focus is bigger than one club: we're unpacking what "they accept the risk" actually means, why professional sport gets treated as a calling rather than a job, and what that costs players when it comes to consent, tax structures, and basic workplace protection. We'll hold both sides of that argument up fairly, and test it against how any other Australian workplace would be judged for doing the same thing.
 
 
03:44 – New Developments
08:44 – The Debate on Player Accepting the Risk 
14:27 – Vocation vs Job Perspective in Sport
20:29 – Taxation and Financial Structures in Professional Sports
23:20 – Workers Compensation and Athlete Protections
28:10 – Taxation and Risk
32:53 - Comparative Analysis of Workplace Safety and Sports
38:51 – Conclusion
 
 
REFERENCE LIST
1. “Geelong to face significant financial sanction over concussion waiver.” SEN, 8 August 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/08/08/afl-2026-afl-ceo-andrew-dillon-speaks-on-geelongs-secret-concussion-waiver-with-jake-kolodjashnij
2. “Timeline becomes clearer as Geelong Cats prepare response to AFL's please explain over Jake Kolodjashnij concussion waiver.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1582383/timeline-becomes-clearer-as-geelong-cats-prepare-response-to-afls-please-explain-over-jake-kolodjashnij-concussion-waiver
3. “Geelong ‘welcomes’ AFL please explain as captain responds to concussion waiver debacle.” Yahoo Sport Australia / Zero Hanger. https://au.sports.yahoo.com/geelong-welcomes-afl-please-explain-013608927.html ; https://www.zerohanger.com/geelong-cats-patrick-dangerfield-captain-responds-to-concussion-waiver-debacle-backs-in-ceo-181057/
4. “Cats board hold crisis meeting over concussion deal.” AAP, via Inverell Times / Moree Champion. https://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/9327256/cats-board-hold-crisis-meeting-over-concussion-deal/
5. “Cats board meets to discuss concussion controversy.” K ROCK 95.5. https://www.krock.com.au/national/geelong-cats/cats-board-meets-to-discuss-concussion-controversy/
6. “AFL delivers fresh concussion saga statement.” Zero Hanger, 11 August 2026 (Andrew Dillon's 'club obligations' memo; Craig Drummond's full statement). https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-delivers-fresh-concussion-saga-statement-181096/
7. Nichol, Matt. “Not-for-profit organisations and the tax status of professional sport: Revisiting the exemption status of the Australian Football League and its clubs.” CQUniversity. https://acquire.cqu.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Not-for-profit_organisations_and_the_tax_status_of_professional_sport_Revisiting_the_exemption_status_of_the_Australian_Football_League_and_its_clubs/28755494
8. Nichol, Matt. “Australia's major sports codes are considered not-for-profits – is it time for them to pay up?” The Conversation / CQUniversity. https://theconversation.com/australias-major-sports-codes-are-considered-not-for-profits-is-it-time-for-them-to-pay-up-250914
9. “Sporting organisations.” Australian Taxation Office (confirms sporting tax-exemption category distinct from registered charity status). https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/not-for-profit-organisations/your-organisation/does-your-not-for-profit-need-to-pay-income-tax/types-of-income-tax-exempt-organisations/sporting-organisations
10. Windholz, Eric. “Why sports stars get less support than other injured workers – and how we can fix it.” Monash Lens / The Conversation. https://lens.monash.edu/why-sports-stars-get-less-support-than-other-injured-workers-and-how-we-can-fix-it/ ; https://theconversation.com/why-sports-stars-get-less-support-than-other-injured-workers-and-how-we-can-fix-it-200702
11. “Injured sports stars are not entitled to workers' compensation. How we can fix the problem.” SmartCompany (Eric Windholz). https://www.smartcompany.com.au/people-human-resources/injured-sports-stars-not-entitled-workers-compensation/
12. Windholz, Eric. “Professional athletes and injury insurance: A better way forward.” Sport, Business and Management, 2025. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1037969X251337131
13. “The future of injury insurance and workers' compensation in Australian sport.” Monash University Faculty of Law. https://www.monash.edu/law/news/articles/2021/the-future-of-injury-insurance-and-workers-compensation-in-australian-sport
14. “WHS and pro athletes: the next frontier in regulation.” Citation Group. https://citationgroup.com.au/resources/whs-and-the-professional-athlete-the-final-frontier-for-workplace-regulation/
15. “Chapter 4: Coverage and eligibility for benefits” and “Table 4.4: Treatment of sportspersons and sporting injuries.” Safe Work Australia. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/book/comparison-wc-arrangements-29ed/chapter-4 ; https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/book/comparison-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-2021-28th-edition/chapter-4-coverage-and-eligibility-benefits/table-44-treatment-sportspersons-and-sporting-injuries
16. Riewoldt, Nick. “What happens during AFL contract negotiations?” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/16111020/nick-riewoldt-happens-afl-contract-negotiations
17. Riewoldt, Nick. “My experiences with concussion.” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/15180632/my-experiences-concussion
18. “Don't knock concussion protocols: Riewoldt.” AFL Players' Association. https://www.aflplayers.com.au/news-feed/stories/dont-knock-concussion-protocols-riewoldt

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NOTE: This episode reports on matters covered in the media and public statements; it does not allege guilt or wrongdoing by any individual or organisation named. Information is current as of recording and may have changed since.
A factual look at the AFL's 2026 concussion-waiver case involving Geelong and Jake Kolodjashnij: what the reporting shows happened, how the AFL and AFLPA responded, and what it raises about consent, governance, and accountability in professional sport.

04:00 - Introduction to Episode 
06:30 - What is Said to Allegedly Happen
13:45 - Geelong’s Own Clubs Doctors 
20:10 – The Money Question
24:00 – Is there Double Standards with Hollands Case and Port Adelaide?
29:35 – Risk to the Player 
35:10 - Consent in Professional Sport
40:16 – 2001 CISG/ Jordan Lewis Concussion 
44:50 – Athletes Can Not See Past Next Week
  
REFERENCE LIST
1. Clark, Jay. Report via CODE Sports (video), summarised in “Shock concussion report as club's ‘secret deal’ with player sets ‘dangerous example’,” AFL Daily / NewsBeep, 2026. https://www.newsbeep.com/au/844998/
2. “AFL club had secret concussion deal with player: report.” AAP, syndicated via Newcastle Herald. https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9325028/afl-club-had-secret-concussion-deal-with-player-report/
3. Edmund, Sam. “Revealed: Victorian giants named in secret concussion deal.” SEN, August 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/08/05/afl-news-concussion-bombshell-secret-deal-afl-aflpa
4. “AFL and AFLPA release statement: Victorian club at centre of secret concussion deal revealed.” Zero Hanger, 2026. https://www.zerohanger.com/victorian-club-at-centre-of-concussion-deal-revealed-180859/
5. “Geelong avoids sanction over player concussion deal.” AAP wire report. https://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/9325028/geelong-avoids-sanction-over-player-concussion-deal/
6. “Geelong Cats receive please explain letter from AFL over concussion deal.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1578601/geelong-cats-receive-please-explain-letter-from-afl-over-concussion-deal
7. “Cat identifies himself as concussion waiver player.” AAP, via Moree Champion. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326238/cat-identifies-himself-as-concussion-waiver-player/
8. “Geelong's Jake Kolodjashnij outs himself as player who signed AFL concussion waiver.” Guardian Australia via AOL. https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/geelong-jake-kolodjashnij-outs-himself-091217000.html
9. “Top-six hunting Cats coach kept out of concussion case.” AAP, via Moree Champion / Inverell Times. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326222/top-six-hunting-cats-coach-kept-out-of-concussion-case/
10. “I apologise for the mistakes made: AFL Chair Craig Drummond sorry for Jake Kolodjashnij affair while he was president of Geelong Cats.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1578906/i-apologise-for-the-mistakes-made-afl-chair-craig-drummond-sorry-for-jake-kolodjashnij-affair-while-he-was-president-of-geelong-cats
11. “AFL chairman, CEO break silence on Cats concussion saga.” AAP, via Moree Champion / Inverell Times / Katherine Times. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326329/afl-chairman-ceo-break-silence-on-cats-concussion-saga/
12. “Caroline Wilson grills Andrew Dillon over Geelong concussion saga.” 3AW. https://www.3aw.com.au/caroline-wilson-grills-andrew-dillon-over-geelong-concussion-saga/
13. “AFL CEO Andrew Dillon speaks on Geelong-concussion-deal saga, potential punishments.” Zero Hanger. https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-ceo-andrew-dillon-speaks-on-geelong-concussion-deal-saga-potential-punishments-180967
14. “AFL club Geelong under scrutiny over alleged concussion deal with player.” AOL / PA Media. https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/afl-club-geelong-under-scrutiny-063851000.html
15. Rooke v Australian Football League & Geelong Football Club, Third Party Notice, Supreme Court of Victoria, filed 18 September 2025 (Geelong's claim against twelve named former club doctors: Hugh Seward, Peter Larkins, Andrew Irwin, Chris Bradshaw, Geoff Allen, Drew Slimmon, David Long, James McLaren, Peter Ryan, Gregory Lindquist, Jeanne McGivern, Kendall Brooks). https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/Rooke%20-%20Third%20Party%20Notice%20%5BRedacted%5D.pdf
16. “Australian Court Dismisses, In Part, Concussion Claim Against AFL.” Sports Litigation Alert. https://sportslitigationalert.com/australian-court-dismisses-in-part-concussion-claim-against-afl/
17. “2023 Geelong Football Club season.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Geelong_Football_Club_season
18. “Jake Kolodjashnij.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Kolodjashnij
19. “Kade Kolodjashnij.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kade_Kolodjashnij
20. “Clubs to get cap relief for medically retired players.” AFL.com.au, June 2024. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1153880/clubs-to-get-cap-relief-for-medically-retired-players
21. “AFL grants club relief for concussed, medically retired players.” Zero Hanger, June 2024. https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-grants-club-relief-for-concussed-medically-retired-players-152023/
22. “AFL bans new Blue for illicit drugs policy breach.” AFL.com.au, Nov 2023. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1064667/afl-bans-new-carlton-blues-recruit-elijah-hollands-for-illicit-drugs-policy-breach
23. “Hollands victim of mental health episode, not substance related.” SEN, April 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/04/17/afl-2026-carlton-elijah-hollands-vision-collingwood-game-concerning-footage
24. “Carlton cop big fine from AFL for Hollands mishandling.” ESPN, May 2026. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/48682566/afl-news-carlton-elijah-hollands
25. “Blues speak after copping hefty fine for Hollands affair.” AFL.com.au, May 2026. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1513236/afl-announces-outcome-of-investigation-into-elijah-hollands-for-carlton-blues-against-collingwood-magpies
26. “Power hit with huge AFL fine over concussion error.” ESPN. https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/38130230/afl-port-adelaide
27. “Nigel Lappin.” Wikipedia; “Lions get Lappin up for '03 Grand Final despite broken ribs.” AFL.com.au. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Lappin ; https://www.afl.com.au/news/89240/lions-get-lappin-up-for-03-grand-final-despite-broken-ribs
28. “2004 AFL Grand Final.” Grokipedia. https://grokipedia.com/page/2004_AFL_Grand_Final
29. “Trent Croad.” Wikipedia; “Injury forces Croad into retirement.” Hawthorn FC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Croad ; https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/759776/injury-forces-croad-into-retirement
30. “Bulldogs veteran plays down broken back.” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/17690413/bulldogs-veteran-plays-broken-back
31. “Bulldog defender played finals series with a broken back.” AFL.com.au, 2016. https://www.afl.com.au/news/59655/bulldog-defender-played-finals-series-with-a-broken-back
32. “Bulldogs' bionic man retires after remarkable 15-year career.” AFL.com.au, 2019. https://www.afl.com.au/news/133337/bulldogs-bionic-man-dale-morris-retires-after-remarkable-career
33. “‘Would like to know why’: AFL questioned over failed intervention during major concussion.” Zero Hanger, 2026. https://www.zerohanger.com/would-like-to-know-why-afl-questioned-over-failed-intervention-during-major-concussion-179113
34. “Timeline of how the AFL has addressed concussion.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/concussion/timeline
35. “Ex-AFL player challenges league over concussion compensation.” Insurance Business Australia. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/workers-compensation/exafl-player-challenges-league-over-concussion-compensation-574064.aspx
36. “Former Western Bulldog Aiden O'Driscoll not giving up on AFL dream.” The Nightly, 2025. https://thenightly.com.au/sport/afl/former-western-bulldog-aiden-odriscoll-not-giving-up-on-afl-dream-seeks-second-opinion-on-medical-retirement-c-18273634
37. “Duties and Loyalties of AFL Club Doctors: A Hopeless Conflict of Interest.” Polaris Lawyers. https://www.polarislawyers.com.au/legal-compass/duties-and-loyalties-of-afl-club-doctors-a-hopeless-conflict-of-interest
38. “Why the AFL Is Its Own Worst Enemy When It Comes to Concussions, Tribunals and Player Safety.” Melbourne Sports Law Association. https://www.melbournesla.com/sports-law-forum/q7spsuhe52wr7fajn5qlvlxpl1xrn8
39. “AFL rules out using neutral doctors during games.” ESPN. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/40135833/afl-rules-neutral-independent-doctors-jeremy-cameron-concussion
40. “'Additional safeguard': AFL makes concussion changes.” ESPN. https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/48107582/afl-concussion-changes-lawsuit-arc-doctors
41. “Concussion sufferers launch class action against AFL.” ESPN. https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/35854961/afl-sued-former-players-class-action-concussion
42. Deubert, Christopher R., and I. Glenn Cohen. “Club Doctors.” Football Players Health Study, Harvard Law School. https://footballplayershealth.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/07_Ch2_Club_Docs.pdf
43. “Goldman's dilemma.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldman's_dilemma
44. Connor, J., et al. “Would they dope? Revisiting the Goldman dilemma.” British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.n