sport news West Coast AFL star says he'd still be playing TODAY amid claims doctors ... trends now
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Former West Coast premiership star Daniel Venables has doubled-down on his criticism of the AFL, saying he could still be playing had the league not 'wasted' the most 'important part of his rehab' from a horrific concussion that led to seven brain bleeds.
The nuggety midfielder has just returned from an intensive rehab program in the USA to try and combat the significant concussion symptoms he still suffers three years after the sickening clash that saw him retired at the age of just 21.
Worst still, Venables was sent home before taking himself to hospital after he felt like 'his head was going to explode'.
Daniel Venables celebrates winning the 2018 grand final with West Coast Eagles
The initial treatment he received from the AFL's concussion specialist are the subject of an investigation and Venables claims alleged problems with that treatment wasted a lot of 'important' time in his recovery.
'For sure. I wasted a lot of time, the most important part of my rehab,' Venables told Channel 7 when asked whether he could still be playing AFL had it not been for his initial treatment plan.
'There were a lot of red flags looking back on it, and it's shattering.'
Venables, a high draft pick who played 21 games for the Eagles, including their 2018 grand final triumph, retired at the age of just 21 after a sickening collision in round 9, 2019.
