Health Problems in Australian Football

May 5, 2026, 08:29
AustraliaSports

Introduction

The Australian Football League (AFL) has problems with player health. Players have brain injuries and mental health problems.

Main Body

Aiden O'Driscoll had a bad head injury in January 2024. He cannot play football now. Many other old players are angry. They are taking the AFL to court. Because of this, an insurance company stopped paying for head injuries. One player, Elijah Hollands, had a mental health problem during a game. His team did not take him off the field quickly. The AFL was angry. They made the Carlton club pay $75,000. Now, the AFL has new rules. Every club must have a full-time doctor for the mind. The AFL wants all players to be mentally healthy before they play.

Conclusion

The AFL is making new rules for mental health. But they still have big legal and money problems with brain injuries.

Learning

💡 The Power of "CANNOT"

In this text, we see: "He cannot play football now."

What is this? It is the opposite of "can." Use it when something is impossible.

How to use it: Person →\rightarrow cannot →\rightarrow action.

Examples from the world:

  • I cannot speak Japanese.
  • She cannot drive a car.
  • We cannot go outside today.

🕒 Now vs. Then

Look at these two ideas from the story:

  1. "Aiden... had a bad head injury" →\rightarrow (Past/Finished)
  2. "He cannot play... now" →\rightarrow (Present/Current)

Simple Rule:

  • Use HAD for things that happened yesterday or last year.
  • Use NOW to talk about your life today.

Vocabulary Learning

player (n.)
a person who plays a sport
Example:The player scored a goal.
health (n.)
the state of being physically fit
Example:Good health is important for everyone.
brain (n.)
the organ inside the head that controls thoughts
Example:The brain processes information.
injury (n.)
damage to a body part
Example:He had a serious injury after the fall.
mental (adj.)
relating to the mind
Example:Mental health is as important as physical health.
court (n.)
a place where legal cases are heard
Example:The case was taken to court.
insurance (n.)
money paid to protect against loss
Example:He bought insurance for his car.
company (n.)
an organization that provides services or products
Example:The company offers many benefits.
pay (v.)
to give money in exchange for services
Example:They will pay the doctor for treatment.
field (n.)
an open area for sports
Example:The ball rolled onto the field.
club (n.)
a group of people with a common interest
Example:She joined a local club.
doctor (n.)
a person who treats illnesses
Example:The doctor examined the patient.
mind (n.)
the part of a person that thinks and feels
Example:The mind can be very powerful.
rule (n.)
a rule is a rule that must be followed
Example:Everyone must follow the rules.
legal (adj.)
relating to the law
Example:Legal advice can help you.
money (n.)
currency used for buying goods
Example:She saved her money.