THE AFL Doctors' Association has thrown its support behind Geelong club doctor Chris Bradshaw after it was revealed on Tuesday that former Cats' defender Matthew Egan has sued him and orthopedic surgeon Mark Blackney over the treatment of a foot injury that ended his career in 2007.
President of the AFL Doctors' Association Dr Andrew Potter said in a statement that the association would provide Bradshaw with its "full personal and professional support" during the period.
"Litigation related to sporting injuries is uncommon in Australia and is a distressing event for all parties. We sympathise with Matthew Egan whose football playing career has been severely affected by injury [and] we hope these matters can be promptly settled to the benefit of all involved," Potter said.
Egan filed a writ in the Supreme Court on Tuesday claiming damages and costs for alleged negligent treatment by Geelong doctor Bradshaw and orthopedic surgeon Blackney.
Egan played his final game in round 22, 2007 against the Brisbane Lions after suffering a navicular stress fracture.
He was named All Australian that season but did not play in Geelong's premiership nor add to his tally of 59 games.
In his statement of claim, Egan alleges Blackney performed surgery on Egan's foot on September 3, 2007 before the player began his rehabilitation program on September 14 in the hope he could return for the AFL Grand Final.
On September 18, Egan alleges he suffered pain and a decision was made at that time he would miss the Grand Final.
He alleges he wasn't informed that even with an operation there was "virtually no prospect" of him playing for the Cats in the 2007 AFL Grand Final or that the average return to sport following the surgery was five months.
Slater & Gordon medical lawyer Nick Mann said the injury occurred at a time when Egan's career was on the rise and the chance to be a premiership player with the Cats was denied to Egan because of the treatment of the injury.
"We allege that as a result of the poor management of his rehab to his foot injury following surgery, his career was ended prematurely. Reasonable management is what they were required to provide to him," Mann said.
"Instead, he commenced an aggressive rehabilitation program 11 days after surgery. He was given no advice about the risks in returning to an aggressive rehabilitation program so quickly.
Playing with Geelong he would have played finals football and more than likely been a premiership player. He would have established a significant career as an AFL footballer. That has been lost to him because of the treatment he received."
Egan's career finished at the end of 2009 after Geelong delisted him and began as an assistant coach with the club.
The action applies to the two individuals involved in Egan’s treatment rather than Geelong.
He claims to have had six further surgeries from the time of the injury until March 2011.
The 31-year-old Egan joined Essendon as an assistant coach in 2011.
