FORMER Adelaide defender Sam Shaw is suing the Crows, their club doctors and medical professionals after his career ended prematurely due to concussion.
Shaw, 27, played 24 games in seven seasons for the Crows before being forced to retire at the end of 2016 with concussion-related symptoms.
He is seeking damages from the Crows, Adelaide club doctors and other medical professionals, according to documents filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria last Wednesday.
The defendants include former Crows senior doctor Andrew Potter, Duncan Walker – who remains part of the club's medical staff – neurologist Paul McCrory and clinical neuropsychologist Helen Clausen.
The writ alleges Shaw suffered a concussion while playing for the Crows in the SANFL in their round-one game against West Adelaide on March 26, 2016.
"Specifically, it is alleged that the concussion suffered by the Plaintiff (Shaw) was not managed in accordance with reasonable medical practice," the writ states.
According to a report in The Advertiser on May 25, 2016, Shaw played the whole game against West Adelaide, finishing the match with 17 disposals.
The following week, he didn't play the second half of the round-two clash against Port Adelaide at Mannum because of a migraine.
Shaw played the next week against Woodville-West Torrens in round three, but was helped from the ground after copping what former head of football David Noble described as an "innocuous and relatively light" head knock.
"When he's not training he feels quite well, which is pleasing," Noble told The Advertiser on May 25, 2016.
"But he has this lethargy under exercise that we have to monitor and be conscious of, particularly in this era where as an (AFL) industry we are really conscious of identifying any ongoing concussion issues and dealing with them in the right way."
Shaw didn't play again until the round 18 match against Port Adelaide on July 31.
He had a strong game, but missed the rest of the season with concussion.
The report also stated Shaw had previously suffered a concussion in 2015.
Shaw thanked the Crows for their support when he announced his retirement in November 2016.
"I would like to thank the Adelaide Football Club for allowing me to live out a lifelong dream to play AFL and for their support during what has been a difficult time personally through injury," Shaw said, in a statement released on the Crows' website.
"It is with a heavy heart and through much deliberation with the assistance of friends, health professionals and my ever-supportive family to step away from professional football and focus on my health."
A Crows spokesman told AFL.com.au on Wednesday morning the club had yet to been presented with a writ.
"We have not been served with and are not aware of any such writ or any allegations it may contain," the spokesman said.
"If such a writ has been issued, then it potentially involves allegations concerning the medical history of a former player of our club.
"It would be inappropriate for us to make any comment at this time."
