Brendan Schwab: Player Rights, Advocacy & Governance | #203

In episode 203, Max chats with AFLPA GM of Legal Brendan Schwab! Brendan delivers a masterclass on player advocacy, rights, governance, and the long-term impacts of concussion. As GM of Legal at the AFLPA and former World Players Association CEO, Brendan shares the fundamental rights players deserve today that didn’t exist 30 years ago, how he founded Australia’s first footballers’ association with the Socceroos, and why helping athletes understand that the person is greater than the athlete is essential. On sporting governance, Brendan is clear — if you’re on a club board, you can’t just make up the numbers. If you can’t create impact with integrity and values-driven leadership, it’s time to step aside. We also dive into the AFL media debate and the high-pressure environment for players and coaches, exploring how media intensity can affect performance and wellbeing. Brendan outlines how we can reduce the long-term risks of concussion, the AFLPA’s work to support players dealing with head knocks, and why their latest survey revealed that 55% of players rank mental wellbeing as their number one priority. And, we tackle a big question in the game — when is it time for an AFL illicit drugs code reform? All this and much more in episode 203 of Sporting Max! www.instagram.com/sportingmax.podcast/