The Australian Football League (AFL) is facing sharp criticism from the scientific community after endorsing a new helmet designed to reduce concussions, a move that leading neuroscientists describe as potentially dangerous. The controversy centers on GameGear, a headgear product that has already entered the retail market despite the fact that a comprehensive study into its efficacy is still underway.
The tension highlights a growing rift between sports administrators seeking immediate safety solutions and medical experts who argue that headgear provides a “false sense of security” without actually preventing the internal brain trauma associated with concussions. While the AFL has established new headgear standards that GameGear has passed, critics argue the move ignores decades of established science regarding brain acceleration and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
At the heart of the dispute is an Monash University-led trial, funded by GameGear to the tune of $800,000. The two-year study aims to track 600 athletes across both Australian Rules football and rugby league to determine if the gear actually reduces concussion risk in real-world scenarios. However, the product is already available for purchase online for $215, leading experts to warn that the market is being primed before the science is settled.
GameGear is funding research on concussion. (GameGear Headgear)
The ‘False Sense of Safety’ and the CTE Risk
Professor Alan Pearce of Swinburne University has been vocal about the risks of marketing headgear before clinical trials are complete. He suggests that the move is not only “subpar science” but potentially hazardous to players and children. “I am as well concerned that parents are buying this headgear thinking it will protect their kid from concussion,” Pearce said. “Athletes can also get a false sense of safety from wearing headgear: I reckon it is potentially dangerous.”
The core of the scientific objection is that while helmets can prevent skull fractures or superficial lacerations, they do little to stop the brain from sloshing inside the skull during a high-impact hit—the primary cause of concussion and long-term degenerative disease. Dr. Chris Nowinski, a co-founder of the UNITE Brain Bank at Boston University, points to American football as the ultimate cautionary tale. Despite having the most advanced helmet technology in the world, American football remains the leading sport for cases of CTE.
The statistics from Boston University are stark: in a study of 376 former NFL players’ brains conducted since 2008, 345 cases of CTE were diagnosed—a rate of 91.7 per cent. “The idea that a helmet is going to save you from CTE is simply untrue,” Nowinski said.
In the AFL, the human cost of these injuries is becoming increasingly visible. Several former stars, including Danny Frawley, Adam Hunter, and Shane Tuck, have been diagnosed with CTE. The tragedy extended to the women’s game as well; Heather Anderson, a premiership player for the Adelaide Crows, was found to have CTE post-mortem after dying by suicide in 2022 at age 28. Anderson had worn a helmet for the majority of her career.
Alan Pearce predominantly studies sports-related concussion. (ABC News: Billy Draper)
The AFL’s Regulatory Tightrope
Despite these warnings, the AFL has moved forward with its first-ever Australian Football Headgear Standards. In a curious juxtaposition, GameGear is currently the only helmet to pass these standards. This endorsement has already led to discussions with several clubs, including Hawthorn, West Coast, and Fremantle, with some players trialing the gear in training.
However, the AFL has insulated itself legally through a series of strict disclaimers in the fine print. The league explicitly states that meeting these standards does not “constitute a guarantee” that a player will be protected from sustaining a brain injury. The AFL clarifies that it is not acting in a regulatory capacity regarding supplier claims and is not liable for the claims made by manufacturers.
GameGear inventor Graeme Attey argues that his soft-shell technology is a necessary evolution. He compares the potential impact of his invention to what seatbelts did for road safety, asserting that it is unacceptable to continue “bashing bare heads together like bricks.” Attey points to testing at the Transport for NSW Crash Lab, which showed a reduction in head acceleration of 91 to 94 per cent compared to other commercial brands. While he admits the gear does not currently claim to reduce concussion, he believes the lab results create an “implied obligation” to make the product available to the public.
Graeme Attey maintains he intends for his headgear to do what “seatbelts did for road safety”. (Facebook: GameGear)
A Climate of Uncertainty for Players
The debate over headgear arrives at a time of significant financial and legal instability for professional athletes. Nearly 100 AFL players, including former Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw, are currently pursuing insurance claims for post-career struggles related to concussion. Brayshaw, who wore headgear before his forced retirement, is among those seeking compensation for long-term brain trauma.
The insurance industry is reacting to this uncertainty with caution. In late March, 500 AFL players were notified that they would no longer be covered for head trauma in their AMP Superannuation fund, provided by Zurich, effective May 1. Zurich cited “widespread uncertainty” regarding the magnitude of CTE and its long-term health effects as the driver for this decision.
While the AFL remains cautious, some players in other codes are taking the leap. Manly NRL player Jake Trbojevic has opted to wear the GameGear helmet during games, citing the research regarding reduced brain acceleration. However, sources within the NRL suggest that the league does not publicly endorse any headgear for concussion prevention, as the scientific link between helmets and the prevention of brain injury remains unproven.
Jake Trbojevic has opted to wear headgear because of the “research” behind it. (AAP: Mark Evans)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for concerns regarding head injuries or concussions.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of self-harm, support is available through Lifeline (13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (1300 224 636).
The next critical milestone in this controversy will be the conclusion of the Monash University trial. The results of this study will determine whether GameGear’s impact-reduction lab data translates into a measurable decrease in real-world concussions, or if the neuroscientists’ warnings about the “false sense of safety” are validated.
We invite our readers to share their perspectives on athlete safety and the role of technology in contact sports in the comments below.
