“Devastating,” Craig Stewart’s CTE diagnosis shocks the AFL after 150 games in the VFL
In a revelation that will chill the AFL, former Collingwood and Richmond star Craig Stewart has become the latest former football player to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Stewart passed away in June 2023 at the age of 66. James Stewart, the recently delisted Essendon defender, was his son.
However, the Herald Sun has revealed that when Stewart passed away, a brain analysis indicated he was suffering from Stage I CTE.
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It is thought that repeated head trauma and concussions—which are only detectable after death—are the causes of CTE.
The symptoms of stage I include headaches, difficulty focusing or paying attention, and even short-term memory loss.
In addition to mood swings and depression, stage II CTE patients may also exhibit executive dysfunction, impulsivity, and suicidal thoughts. AFL legend Danny Frawley is thought to have received a Stage II diagnosis.
AFLW premiership winner Heather Anderson, as well as Shane Tuck and Polly Farmer, were also diagnosed with CTE after passing away.
“We are very sad to finally receive the specialist medical report from the ASBB confirming that Craig had CTE,” James Stewart told the Herald Sun.
It does, however, help us comprehend why his behavior and health have declined over the last few years.
“CTE is a terrible condition that can be avoided.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families impacted by this avoidable illness.”
Over the previous 15 years, Stewart’s manager Peter Jess added, he had noticed shifts in his friend’s “mood and behavioural patterns.”
Jess remarked, “I saw a once great proud man crumble in front of me and his family.”
Jess also disclosed that Stewart had contributed to the financing of Dr. Alan Pearce’s early clinical research, one of Australia’s
Continuous head trauma causes immense damage to the brain; this is no longer an if or maybe, according to Jess.
Due to persistent dysfunctional behavior, we’ve created a whole notion of a “walking dead” or, at the very least, a ticking time bomb that has a significant cost to society.
“The AFL has been informed over the last ten to fifteen years that spouses who have suffered brain damage from playing the game do not have support systems in place for their partners.”
After walking into Collingwood’s 1978 team and making an impression on coach Tom Hafey, Stewart made an instant impression in the AFL.
Having played 21 games in his first season, he was named the best first-year player.
Known by his nickname “Snaggles,” Stewart played 115 games and scored 122 goals for the Magpies, including back-to-back grand final appearances in 1980 and 1981.
The 193-cm big man twice scored six goals while playing for Collingwood.
However, he was ultimately traded to Richmond, where he played 35 more games in 1984–1986 to close out his career.
The announcement coincides with the AFL approving new regulations, which include a ban on overzealous smothers such as the one that left Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw with a serious concussion during the 2023 finals.
Additionally, it has been almost a year since a group of players—which has since expanded to include over 70 players—filed a class action lawsuit against the AFL seeking damages for head injuries and concussions.
