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Full Noise by SN
Exclusive: Zurich to cut insurance on head injuries amid Brayshaw scandal
Tom Morris • March 26th, 2026 8:42 pm
AFL players will no longer have head trauma included within their superannuation plan, according to a bombshell email obtained by SEN.com.au on Thursday afternoon.
In a remarkable turn of events, Zurich informed AMP (the trustee of the super plan) that “they cannot continue to support this high level of claims.”
The proposed changes are set to come into effect from May 1. In real terms, it means footballers will not be covered for head injuries via their superannuation policy.
Well over half the AFL playing cohort and some AFLW players elected to obtain Zurich insurance after the company won a tender process in late 2020.
As reported by SEN.com.au earlier this week, there was a significant spike following Angus Brayshaw's career-ending incident in late 2023.
These hundreds of footballers will now need to search for their own cover, though it is abundantly clear the insurance market is retreating from a willingness to support elite players with concussion problems post-career.
Not only this, but Zurich has also increased its costs, offering a lesser product but charging more money.
The level of cover has also decreased for all injuries, from $1.1 million down to $450,000.
If a player suffers a career-ending injury this weekend, they are entitled to as much as $1.1 million in cover via their superannuation.
But on May 1, this number plummets by $650,000.
“We’ve considered Zurich’s proposal and have assessed a variety of other options,” the email from AMP, which was sent to hundreds of players, read.
“Of the options we looked at, the changes we’re communicating in this letter were considered by the trustee, acting in the best financial interests of members of the plan, to be most appropriate when compared to the alternatives.
“There have been a significantly higher-than-expected number of claims being paid over the last 5 years.
“The insurer has informed us that they cannot continue to support this high level of claims, when compared with the insurance charges they’ve received.”
This lessening of support through superannuation comes at a time when the game is doing more for players than ever before. There was a $54 million injury and support fund agreed to in the last collective bargaining agreement.
Players can still access significant financial support following head trauma thanks to the injury and support fund – run and managed by the AFLPA – but the additional safety net of insurance within superannuation will no longer exist for head trauma.
Dozens of players have applied for the injury and support fund already.
The AFLPA has the ability to change the super fund and go to market if they want.
The Australian Cricket Players' Association (ACA) also uses AMP as a super fund, but they have a different insurer (AIA). AIA hasn't made the same changes as Zurich.
An expert in the field, who asked not to be named, said:
"It's like having house and contents cover, but if your house burns down, you're not covered."
AFL players spoken to by SEN.com.au on the condition of anonymity expressed a range of anger and disappointment following Zurich's decision.
