1 week ago
Will Pucovski Sues Brighton Grammar Over Concussion Handling
Will Pucovski is suing his former school, Brighton Grammar.
He says he was knocked unconscious during football training when he was 16.
His lawyers say the school did not check him properly or quickly tell his parents.
They also say he was allowed to take part in more activity.
Pucovski later developed headaches, blurred vision, nausea and other symptoms.
His lawyers believe the first injury made him more likely to suffer later concussions.
He eventually experienced 13 concussions during his sporting career.
Doctors later advised him to stop playing cricket, and he retired while still in his 20s.
Former Australian cricketer Will Pucovski is suing Brighton Grammar over an alleged failure to follow concussion protocols after a 2014 football-training injury.
His lawyers allege he was knocked unconscious when his head struck a teammate’s knee during an aggressively physical drill.
The claim says Pucovski was not properly assessed, returned to training and did not have his parents immediately informed.
Lawyers allege the injury caused lasting brain damage and increased his vulnerability to 13 later concussions.
Pucovski retired from professional cricket after medical advice, with reports differing on whether this occurred in 2024 or 2025.
- Who
- Former Australian cricketer Will Pucovski is suing Brighton Grammar School; the claim refers to coach Alex Sylvan.
- What
- Pucovski alleges that the school mishandled his first concussion after a 2014 Australian rules football training incident.
- Where
- The writ was filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria, and the alleged injury occurred at Brighton Grammar’s football training.
- When
- The alleged injury occurred in 2014. Pucovski later retired after medical advice, although the reports differ between August 2024 and 2025.
- Why
- His lawyers allege that inadequate initial care caused lasting injury, contributed to repeated concussions and ultimately ended his cricket career.
Pucovski’s allegations
Brighton Grammar’s response
Concussion management
Pucovski’s allegations
Pucovski’s lawyers allege he was knocked unconscious, was not appropriately assessed, was allowed to resume activity and did not have his parents immediately informed.
Brighton Grammar’s response
Brighton Grammar has not addressed the specific allegations, saying the case is subject to legal proceedings.
Cause of later problems
Pucovski’s allegations
The claim alleges the 2014 traumatic brain injury left Pucovski vulnerable to 13 subsequent concussions and contributed to the end of his career.
Brighton Grammar’s response
The school has not publicly accepted responsibility or commented on the alleged connection between the 2014 incident and Pucovski’s later career problems.
Coach’s conduct
Pucovski’s allegations
The writ alleges that Alex Sylvan instructed students to be aggressively physical and to “go in hard” during the training session.
Brighton Grammar’s response
Brighton Grammar described Sylvan as a highly regarded and experienced teacher while declining further comment.
Key facts
- Plaintiff
- Will Pucovski
- Defendant
- Brighton Grammar School
- Alleged initial injury
- A 2014 Australian rules football training collision involving a teammate’s knee
- Alleged later concussions
- 13
- Court
- Supreme Court of Victoria
- Test debut
- Against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2021
- First-class record
- 2,350 runs at an average of 45.19, including seven centuries and a highest score of 255 not out
- School response
- Brighton Grammar confirmed Alex Sylvan was a highly regarded and experienced teacher but declined further comment because the matter is before the courts.
Quotes
Will Pucovski’s legal writ
Court filing submitted on Pucovski’s behalf
“Before the training drill commenced, Mr Sylvan again instructed and directed the students to be aggressively physical with each other, and to ‘go in hard’ against each other.”
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“The next couple of days I just started to feel more sick, the headaches got worse and worse.”
indianexpress.com
Ross Featherston
Brighton Grammar School headmaster
“I can confirm that Alex Sylvan is a highly regarded and experienced teacher at Brighton Grammar School. Beyond that, given the matter is the subject to legal proceedings, Brighton Grammar School will not be making any further comment.”
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