Ex-AFLPA boss calls for independent tribunal over Cats concussion waiver
Former AFLPA chief and Tigers player Joel Bowden calls for a Senate committee hearing into the secret waiver involving a Geelong player with concussion history, calling the move "gambling with a young person's health and safety".
Former AFL Players Association (AFLPA) president Joel Bowden has criticised the AFL, Geelong and the AFLPA for their handling of a secret concussion waiver signed by an undisclosed player. Bowden, a former trade unionist and Northern Territory parliament member, called for an independent Senate committee hearing to investigate the matter.
He was outraged by the club's actions, describing them as "gambling with a young person's health and safety." Bowden criticized the close ties between Geelong and the AFL, with former Geelong president Craig Drummond serving as chairman of the AFL Commission and Geelong chief executive Steven Hocking formerly being the AFL's general manager of football.
He also criticized the AFLPA for being too closely aligned with the AFL, stating that it "puts out a joint statement with the AFL," and urged the AFLPA to act more independently like a traditional union. Bowden warned that this type of behaviour is unacceptable and that Geelong should be brought before an independent tribunal to address the issue.
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