Waallitj Marawar (West Coast) great Brad Sheppard says public awareness and media discussion around concussion and head knocks is helping drive correct protocols for recovery at the highest level.

The 216-game Eagle and 2020 All-Australian defender was forced to retire due to issues stemming from a series of concussions suffered throughout his career.

The concussion of Collingwood and former Fremantle forward Lachie Schultz, and umpires’ decision to not stop play, at Optus Stadium last Thursday has seen the issue under the microscope from both a public and media lens this week.

While Sheppard said you could not completely avoid head knocks or concussions, the awareness around the issue and safeguarding players who sustained blows to the head had increased.

“What I’ve seen a big increase in is awareness about what you do once you do have one and the post-effects and the recovery,” he said.

“Discussions in the media at the moment, and the AFL putting their hand up and saying they’ve probably got to handle that (Schultz) situation a little different, it seems to me the awareness and the protocols and what you need to do once you have a concussion by the AFL is going in the right direction.

“You can’t avoid it. What you can do is make sure you get the right recovery.”

Sheppard’s former teammate Jeremy McGovern is set to miss his second straight game with concussion symptoms following a head knock sustained against Melbourne on May 3.

With his former side taking a cautious approach with McGovern, Sheppard said he was glad to see them not risk hurrying him back too soon.

“It’s never great to see any player go down with concussions, but it seems to me that all the protocols are getting followed, and they’re taking a cautious approach with his recovery, which is really important for Gov and for all players suffering concussion symptoms,” he said.

“I want to see him healthy and playing footy again, because he’s had a great year and for bloke who’s 33 now, there’s a bit of Benjamin Button about him.”

In July 2024, Sheppard filed a writ claiming damages, interest and costs for personal injuries suffered while working with the AFL and the Eagles from November 25, 2009, until his career ended prematurely in 2021.

The writ states that Sheppard’s “injuries, loss and damage ... resulted from the negligence and/or breach of contract and/or breach of statutory duty” of the defendants — the AFL, the Eagles, and two of the club’s doctors, Gerard Taylor and Alex Strahan.

West Coast will be known as Waalitj Marawar for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.