Former Adelaide and Collingwood winger Paul Seedsman has openly discussed the ongoing impact of concussions sustained throughout his football career. After experiencing a major head injury in 2021, Seedsman struggled with the consequences for a two-year period, ultimately leading to his retirement in 2023 without playing further matches since the incident.
Now in 2025, Seedsman reveals that he still grapples with severe symptoms that disrupt his daily life, preventing him from maintaining consistent employment. He describes days filled with “agony,” often waking unable to get out of bed due to his condition. “Every day I’m symptomatic,” he shares, noting the varying intensity of his symptoms. Some days, the effects are so debilitating that he requires complete rest.
His situation has caused him to take on limited coaching responsibilities with Walkerville Football Club in the Adelaide Football League, although he admits that these duties are constrained by his health issues. Despite enjoying his time there, Seedsman has missed significant periods of coaching due to his condition, expressing gratitude for the understanding shown by the club.
Compounding his struggles, Seedsman describes the physical toll exertion takes on him, comparing it to draining a phone battery. Every activity contributes to a gradual decline in his wellbeing, with increased symptoms signalling that he has reached his limit. On particularly bad days, he experiences debilitating effects akin to a stroke, rendering him unable to perform basic functions.
Paul Seedsman’s experience highlights the broader issue of concussion-related retirements in the AFL, a topic recently thrust into the spotlight with the uncertain future of West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern. If McGovern retires, he would join a growing list of players, including Seedsman, who have been forced to step away from the game due to concussion effects.
Throughout his career, Seedsman played 132 games and was selected for the All-Australian team in 2021, marking significant achievements. However, his post-career challenges underscore the serious, often unrecognised consequences of head injuries in sport, calling for continued awareness and support for affected athletes.