AFL Rd 17 - Port Adelaide v North Melbourne
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: A Sherrin football is pictured on Adelaide Oval from the southern end prior to the round 17 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval on July 15, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Former Melbourne and North Melbourne high-flyer Shaun Smith is set to receive a $1.4 million pay day.

According to the Herald Sun, Smith, 51, is set to earn the payout due to the severity of brain injuries that he suffered during the course of his 109 career games.

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As a result of the brain injuries, it was mentioned by MLC (his insurance company) that he has ‘total and permanent disablement’, and was able to receive the payment.

“This just proves that concussion is real – that we are not just making this stuff up.” Smith said.

“I’m only the tip of the iceberg.”

Player agent Peter Jess, who worked with Smith, says most past and present day players wouldn’t have been paid out due to the AFL being insured by AMP, and they do not recognise the CTE symptoms.

“This should be the game changer,” said Jess.

“It means you have independent medical experts who say that you can be totally and permanently disabled as a result of multiple concussions suffered while playing AFL football.

“But if Shaun was insured with AMP he would not have been paid a cent.”

With recent news that late greats Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer and Danny Frawley both suffered from CTE symptoms dating back from their playing days, this has become a bigger and much needed talking point.