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

West Coast midfielder Luke Edwards has taken a 12-month break from the game due to concussion concerns, leaving his football future in limbo.

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

But unlike other recent AFL retirees, Edwards‘ departure has not been medically forced, leaving an air of intrigue over his future.

The Eagles confirmed in a statement 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’ decision comes after a string of players were forced into retirement in 2024 through concussion, headlined by Melbourne premiership gun Angus Brayshaw, Collingwood’s Nathan Murphy and Josh Carmichael as well as Western Bulldogs draftee Aiden O’Driscoll.

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

Edwards suffered three concussions this season for a total of five 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, he debuted in 2021 and played 37 games for the Eagles after being drafted at pick 52 in 2020.

Apart from the derby, Edwards also suffered 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 play again at AFL level.

Edwards follows defender Brad Sheppard and midfielder Dan Venables out the Eagles exit door through concussion.

Sheppard has launched legal action against the league, the Eagles and two former club doctors over medical negligence and remains 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 Venables, a member of West Coast’s 2018 premiership team, deserved a $10 million payout from the AFL as a concussion compensation.

A concussion suffered in round nine of 2019 at Optus Stadium ended Venables career after just 21 games. He 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.

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.

The West Australian Football Commission adopted a 21-day concussion protocol for all community levels, including the WAFL and WAFLW, in March.

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.