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Lions defender retires due to concussions

3 minute read

Brisbane defender Jack Frost has been forced to announce his AFL retirement at 26 due to ongoing concussion issues.

At 26, Brisbane defender Jack Frost has been forced to announce his AFL retirement due to ongoing concussion issues.

The fullback made the tough decision to end his six year, 56-game career with a year left on his contract after receiving advice from a specialist during the off-season break.

He walked away after enduring issues over the past two years following a total of 14 concussions in his career which started with a four-season stint with Collingwood.

Frost moved to Brisbane in late 2016 but played just two senior games - both in 2017 - for the Lions due to health issues.

Frost is the fourth Lions player in the last five years to retire due to concussion problems, following former skipper Jonathan Brown, Matt Maguire and Justin Clarke.

"I'm on an emotional rollercoaster at the moment which I'm sure will subside with time," Frost said.

"I have days where I feel okay and have accepted the fact that I can no longer play but I also have days where I get quite frustrated and upset that this is how it has ended.

"No one wants their career to end, let alone like this and it certainly wasn't how I expected it to finish.

"I do, however, value my health and the rest of my life and if I can be healthy and avoid further damage to my head it's a no brainer, pardon the pun."

Lions football manager David Noble saluted Frost after his tough two season stint in Brisbane.

"He has been brave and strong-willed during a challenging time in his career and has never wanted to let his teammates down," he said.

"His vulnerability to ongoing issues through a collision sport was something that needed to be discussed.

"The reality of his ongoing concussions has reached a high medical point of concern and it is in his best interests to retire."

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