REPEATED concussion has so badly affected Melbourne wingman Kade Kolodjashnij that he has had to periodically shield himself from sunlight.
The concerning revelation came from Kolodjashnij's former Melbourne teammate Jordan Lewis, a fortnight after it was decided the 24-year-old would put his career on hold after he suffered another head knock.
"Football, I would hope, is so far from his mind. He had days where he couldn't be exposed to sunlight," Lewis told SEN radio on Monday.
"If that was me, I would be making a call on my footballing future if I was suffering those types of symptoms.
"I haven't been exposed to anyone like that."
Kolodjashnij was placed on a modified program after being concussed at training in December.
He had arrived at Melbourne from Gold Coast at the end of the 2018 season with a history of head knocks, and in just his second game as a Demon, suffered delayed concussion.
He missed seven weeks before returning in the VFL but was knocked again two weeks later and ruled out for the season.
He hasn't played at AFL level since round three, 2019.
Kolodjashnij hasn't trained in the past few weeks but has been in and out of the club as he attempts to return to full health.
The effects of concussion on long-term health was again thrust into the spotlight last week when it was revealed late Geelong great Graham 'Polly' Farmer suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head knocks that is only detected by a brain autopsy.
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It led to retired Western Bulldogs premiership player Liam Picken to call for a concussion substitute to be introduced, to take the pressure off players when it comes to returning to the field after a head knock.
Lewis said Kolodjashnij's symptoms were a reminder that life was bigger than football.
"When you see it day to day and you see that he is a really good guy and a happy guy, and you see the emotions that he goes through during the day – he isn't able to do what he loves doing," Lewis said.
"He has to be home all the time because he can't be exposed to light – that's when it hits you.
"Is the game worth that?"
