AFL players will no longer have head trauma included in their superannuation plan, with insurance giant Zurich saying "they cannot continue to support this high level of claims".
This information comes from a leaked email which was reportedly sent to hundreds of AFL players.
"We've considered Zurich's proposal and have assessed a variety of other options," the email said.
"Of the options we looked at, the changes we're communicating in this letter were considered by the trustee, acting in the best financial interests of members of the plan, to be most appropriate when compared to the alternatives.
"There have been a significantly higher-than-expected number of claims being paid over the last 5 years.
"The insurer has informed us that they cannot continue to support this high level of claims, when compared with the insurance charges they've received."
Alongside the changes to head trauma coverage, players have been informed that the levels of coverage for all injuries will drop, including career ending injuries.
This news comes alongside information that Angus Brayshaw has been unable to receive his insurance payout following his retirement due to repeated head trauma. Brayshaw had his claim approved by seven doctors before having it denied by a Zurich appointed doctor.
Change to insurance contracts will come into play May 1st 2026.
Zurich has long been associated with the AFL as a sponsor of Melbourne Football Club since 2018. They extended their sponsorship to Melbourne's AFLW team in 2020 and currently provide insurance for over half the AFL players across the league.
