MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Daniel Venables of the Eagles is congratulated by his teammates after kicking a goal during the round two AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the West Coast Eagles at Etihad Stadium on April 1, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Former Eagles premiership player Daniel Venables has opened up on his journey with concussion after his short career was ended in 2019 following a heavy head knock.

Venables was forced to retire, after just 21 career games, at the end of 2021, a full two years after the incident following medical panel's decision he should avoid contact sport.

The Western Jets product was knocked out and suffered brain bleeds during West Coast's Round 9 clash against Melbourne when he was brutally collected by the hip of former Demon forward Tim Smith as he went back with the flight in a marking contest.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Daniel Venables of the Eagles marks the ball against Bailey Fritsch of the Demons during the round 22 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne Demons at Optus Stadium on August 19, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Speaking on Nine's Today, the ex-Eagle recalled how the incident forced his retirement and continues to affect his life as he faces the long-term complications from the trauma.

"I was knocked unconscious, so I went into the rooms and [later] went home that night where my head felt like it was going to explode," Venables recollected.

"The next morning I went and had some scans and that's when I found out I had seven bleeds on the brain"

"I guess my life changed in an instant straight after that."

The now 23-year-old had just been a part of the 2018 West Coast premiership team at 19-years-old before his career came to a devastating end.

"I was on top of the world and then I had this accident and I didn't really know, and no one really knew what the ramifications of it were," Venables continued.

"That's probably the hardest bit, the unknown of head trauma and concussion"

"I don't really have any clear path of the future of what's going to happen and how to get my symptoms better."

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Dom Sheed and Daniel Venables of the Eagles celebrates winning as the Magpies look dejected during the 2018 AFL Grand Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the West Coast Eagles at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 29, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Venables said he continues to suffer from chronic head pain amongst other complications three years on.

In the wake of several discussions about head injuries in the AFL, Venables has called for further changes in the AFL system regarding concussion protocols and how head injuries are perceived.

Currently, the AFL has a 12-day minimum concussion period in which a player can not take to the field.

"I feel there's a lot more work to do, to be honest," Venables explained.

"There's so much research that's coming out and so many new ways of approaching things."

"I think it's more of a cultural change as well and knowing when you do get a little knock, it's alright to stand up (for yourself), and I feel that in the past has been hard."

Venables and his family recently knocked back a compensation payout from the AFLPA, with the figure not close to what had been expected.