The widow of St Kilda legend Danny Frawley has urged the AFL to “get it done” and encourage players to donate their brains to research into the effects of concussion.
Frawley, who died in 2019, was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a post-mortem. It was recently confirmed that former North Queensland coach Paul Green also had CTE when he died.
In 2021, a Victorian coroner recommended AFL players be encouraged to donate their brains to science in order for researchers to better understand CTE.
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Speaking to Nine’s Today, Anita Frawley pleaded with the AFL to get a move on.
“In fairness to the AFL they’ve had so many things on their plate, but it is time, it is well and truly overdue, that they get onto it,” she explained.
“Get involved with the Australian Sports Brain Bank, they’re the best in the business.
“They’re the ones I dealt with, they’re the ones I know Amanda Green (Paul Green’s wife) has dealt with. (Associate Professor) Michael Buckland is brilliant at what he does.
“Enough, move on and get it done. It’s as simple as that.”
Frawley was concussed approximately 20 times during his 240 games for the Saints. He played from 1984-1995, an era when it was considered a badge of honour to play on after being hit.
“The impacts changed his personality,” Anita Frawley said.
“He was a complete fitness freak, he just became this guy that I couldn’t get off the couch. His mood changed, impulsivity, just forgetfulness.
“He was up at the farm with me, we started this farm for him, because I felt there was something going on with his brain.
“He was supposed to be at an All-Australian meeting with (AFL boss) Gil McLachlan.
“Gil rang and said, ‘Where are you mate?’ He made up some excuse to Gil and he hung up the phone and he was devastated.
“He said, ‘What is going on with my brain?’
“Knowing Danny for so many years, he would never have missed an All-Australian meeting, it was so important to him.
“He knew there was something wrong with his brain, and so did I.”
It’s memories like that that drive Anita Frawley to keep the pressure on the AFL for change.
“I ask myself every day, why am I doing this to myself? It’s like anyone who’s had something like what I’ve had happen to my family,” she said.
“It’s purely because I don’t want to see others go through it.
“I watched the interview the other day with Amanda Green and it just broke my heart, knowing what her kids and her family are going through and what the next 12 months looks like for them.
“That’s the motivation.
“The past players are in that limbo place. The fear they must have, do they have CTE? We need that research, we need to look after our past players who gave so much to this great game.”
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