West Coast Eagles midfielder Luke Edwards steps away from football after repeat concussions

West Coast midfielder Luke Edwards will not play football next season because of concussion concerns.

The 22-year-old consulted an external concussion expert at the end of this season after repeat head knocks and is “stepping away” from the game.

The Eagles confirmed the news on Thursday afternoon in a statement and said Edwards would now “map out his future”, but did not confirm he had retired.

“I am stepping away from the game currently due to concussion reasons to allow me the time to return to full health,” Edwards said. “With the support of my family and the club, I will take all steps required to prepare myself for the next steps in my life.”

Edwards stepping away comes after a string of players were forced into retirement due to concussion.

Collingwood’s Nathan Murphy and Josh Carmichael as well as Western Bulldogs draftee Aiden O’Driscoll and Melbourne premiership star Angus Brayshaw.

Edwards has suffered five concussions in the past two years.

“Luke has made the difficult decision to step away from the AFL to concentrate on his physical and mental wellbeing,” Eagles football boss Gavin Bell said. “The club will continue to give full support to Luke and would like to thank him for his efforts over the last four years. “He has been a popular member of the squad in his time at the club and we wish him well for the next chapter of his life’s journey.”

Edwards played 12 games for the Eagles this season, but did not appear again after a head knock in July’s western derby against Fremantle.

The son of former Adelaide champion Tyson finishes with 37 games for the Eagles after he debuted with eight games in 2021.

West Coast have now finalised their list moves ahead of next month’s draft, with Edwards becoming the 11th player from this year’s list to depart the club.

Edwards’ football year ended when he suffered his third concussion for the season in the round 20 western derby.

He sustained concussions against Richmond in round five and early in their round eight WAFL win over Claremont.

It leaves the son of dual Adelaide premiership star Tyson in the hands of medical experts, with it being no certainty that he will add to his 37-game AFL career.

an independent medical panel convened by the AFL which advised Carmichael, Brayshaw and O’Driscoll to retire from contact sports.

The AFL’s concussion problems have resurfaced, with former West Coast defender Brad Sheppard launching legal action against the league, the Eagles and two former club doctors over medical negligence.

The 33-year-old is still plagued by concussion symptoms, with the ailment forcing him to quit a car dealership job in Broome last year.

In 2021, lawyer and brain injury advocate Peter Jess said former West Coast midfielder Daniel Venables deserved a $10 million payout from the AFL as a concussion compensation.

Venables played in the 2018 premiership side in his debut AFL season.

But a devastating concussion suffered in round nine of 2019 ended his career after just 21 games.

Venables was forced to retire in 2021 at the age of 22 after an independent board of neurologists and neuroscientists declared it was medically unsafe for him to play again.

Also in 2023, a class action involving dozens of former players was launched against the AFL seeking compensation for concussion injuries.

The AFL extended their return-to-play concussion protocols to 12 days in 2021,