Bailey McInnes was a highly talented young footballer before a series of consecutive concussions took the dream of getting drafted away from him.
(Photo: Ben Searcy)
Health data has shown that concussions are very common and serious for juniors, with concussion rates exponentially increasing.
Young football prodigy, Bailey McInnes was a natural talent. The potential of being drafted to the AFL was well and truly on the cards.
However, suffering three brutal head knocks playing junior football within a few months put a halt to his football career, which would force Bailey to hang up the boots for good.
Bailey had his first concussion playing for his local team, Athelstone Raggies in South Australia.
Outlining the events that unfolded, Bailey said he initially felt a bit dazed and dizzy and deemed the concussion wasn’t serious.
“In the contest, I didn’t lose consciousness,” Bailey said.
“It wasn’t considered a serious concussion, but symptoms lasted for at least the following two days which meant I took the following week off.”
Returning just two weeks later, Bailey experienced his second concussion playing for Norwood in a trial game. This time around, the impact was more serious.
“This incident was definitely the most severe. This is the only incident that I went to hospital afterwards,” Bailey said.
“I took much longer to recover this time. I took the next four weeks off, but in hindsight I still wasn’t quite right at that point when I returned to playing.”
During his recovery, Bailey emphasised how eager he was to play again and try out for Norwood, despite being a bit hesitant. With the doctor’s approval, he felt that he was ready to return.
After the trial game for Norwood, Bailey returned to his local team. This is where he had his third and final concussion.
With a very delayed response and in the arms of trainers, Bailey recalled how this incident was very similar to his first. Concussion symptoms however would soon kick in.
“Symptoms really only started to develop whilst I was at basketball training the following day,” he said.
“I began to feel very faint and dizzy, needing to stop training. Symptoms progressed to bad headaches which pretty much didn’t stop for the next three and a half years.”
For Bailey, these ongoing symptoms which still occur today make life difficult and hard to enjoy, with constant struggles and pain.
“I graduated from school in 2020, which was certainly a struggle to maintain focus whilst being in pretty constant pain,” Bailey said.
“I am now having three monthly Botox injections which have mostly eliminated the headaches. I am now able to play sport and exercise again, however I will never play footy again due to the risk of contact.”
There’s a constellation of symptoms that can occur if a concussion is not identified straight away in a junior player.
However, the most common outcome of concussions involves developing mental health problems which can include irritability, anxiety, mood swings, depressed mood, and apathy.
According to a 2021 study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, a third of children and adolescents develop a mental health problem after a concussion.
It found up to 36.7 percent experienced significantly high levels of internalising problems such as withdrawing, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare stated there were 5156 injuries that required hospitalisation among Australian rules players across all ages and both sexes in 2018-19.
For Bailey, the concussions and ongoing pain, the fatigue, and inability to participate in sports all had a mental impact.
To be socially engaged was challenging, as well as the overwhelming head pain which would leave Bailey feeling depressed. To this day, he is still managing with these ongoing post-concussion problems.
“It was very difficult to be socially engaged and go out with friends to loud places etc. due to the head pain and my increased sensitivity,” he said.
“Over time everything built up, so I have struggled with depression and anxiety which I am still managing.”
In 2021, Bailey met with concussion expert and neuroscientist Dr Alan Pearce, where he participated in concussion studies.
The serious issue of concussion rates in community junior football has continued to rise which has raised concerns into whether or not concussion should be managed differently in junior football.
This rate of concussion rates is not only increasing in junior levels, but at the top level too, with the AFL seeing a 15 percent increase in the rates of concussion in 2022.
This has got researchers calling for a change to clubs' training programs.
Dr Alan Pearce who specialises in the research of sports-related concussions and is regarded internationally for his research says a child’s brain is still developing, therefore concussion symptoms in children need to be taken more seriously with longer recovery times.
“Due to children and young adolescents’ brains developing, concussion needs to be treated more seriously,” Pearce said.
“Children and young adolescents need to have at least double the time to recover than adults.”
Dr Alan Pearce performing concussion tests.
(Photo: La Trobe University)
According to Pearce, the debate of helmets protecting the brain from concussion is “the biggest myth around the injury that must be dispelled”.
“There is conclusive evidence over many decades that helmets are ineffective in preventing concussions,” he said.
“Wearing headgear will help prevent injuries to the skull and ears, but the brain remains vulnerable.”
Through research and study, Pearce’s main focus has been on adequate recovery and rehabilitation for children who experience concussion.
In addition, thinking seriously about modifying sport for children to non-contact versions until the age of 14 years has been something Pearce is wanting to recommend and propose to major football codes, starting from the junior leagues.
“Players are known for trying to suppress symptoms so they can continue to play or return to play as soon as possible. Because concussion is an invisible injury, it is easy for everyone to think the player is okay, when perhaps they are not,” Pearce said.
Players continuing to play with concussion symptoms have been a common trend that Dr Pearce has identified throughout his research and has stressed the importance for players, staff, coaches and trainers to be educated so they have a greater awareness and approach to the injury.
“To better educate, we must frame concussion as a brain injury, and use it in sentences that it’s a brain injury, then people (parents and players, even kids) appreciate the seriousness of the injury,” he said.
“Observation is the key. What we need is culture change and greater awareness about brain injury in sport and taking a more conservative approach to the injury.”
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