The AFL career of former Keilor junior Daniel Venables is over.
Venables, who was part of the West Coast Eagles’ 2018 premiership team, suffered brain trauma in a marking contest during a game in 2019.
Ongoing symptoms meant he hadn’t been able to play since.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Eagles said that an AFL medical panel unanimously recommended that Venables avoid contact sport, including AFL.
Venables said he was sad that his career had come to an end, but he was relieved that the pressure was off.
“I’m not able to play again, so I can just concentrate on my health,” he said.
“It’s not until you sit back and reflect on the time that you understand how far you’ve come and the things you have had to go through.
“I feel like this has matured me as a person and it will help me in the future.”
“It has been two-and-a-half years, I am a very realistic person and I understood it was going to be tough to get clearance to play.”
Venables, 22, played his junior football with Keilor, PEGS and the Western Jets. He played 21 games after being taken by the Eagles at pick 13 in the 2016 AFL draft.
Eagles football general manager Craig Vozzo said Venables’ retirement was sad, but not a surprising outcome.
“He tried everything to recover and play again, but ultimately that will not be possible,” he said.
“Despite the ongoing battles, Daniel has remained upbeat and has been an important part of the squad and the club.
“He has been a great club man and very popular teammate and while it is tragic that we will not see a wonderfully talented player impact the game as he could have, this decision is made in Daniel’s best interests and with our full support.”
Vozzo said the club would continue to support Venables as he plans the next phase of his life.
