Former Australian Test cricketer Will Pucovski is suing his former elite private school, Brighton Grammar, over an alleged mishandling of a concussion injury sustained during a 2014 football training session. Lawyers for the 28-year-old lodged a statement of claim in Victoria's Supreme Court on Tuesday, alleging the school breached its duty of care.
Pucovski, who hails from Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, was 16 when he suffered the injury after being tackled and having his head struck by a teammate's knee. His lawyers claim the school did not take reasonable steps to assess him medically and allowed him to continue training shortly after being knocked unconscious. He reportedly continued to feel unwell the following day, experiencing blurred vision, and was admitted to hospital later that week.
This incident marked the first of 13 documented concussions throughout Pucovski's sporting career, ultimately leading to his medical retirement in 2025. He missed months of school following the initial injury. Medical experts suggest that adolescent brains are more vulnerable to lasting concussion-related injuries due to incomplete development.
Pucovski's ongoing health issues include frequent headaches, fatigue, motion sickness, dizzy spells, and difficulties with his peripheral vision on the left side. His last Sheffield Shield match was in March 2024, after which he was advised by medical professionals to retire from the sport following his 13th known concussion. The Victoria batsman had previously impressed in the sport, scoring 62 in his only Test match against India in January 2021 and maintaining a first-class batting average of 45.19, including seven centuries.
Described as a prodigious talent, Pucovski was considered by many to have the potential for a long international career. Two months before his Test debut, he achieved the rare feat of scoring two consecutive double centuries in the Sheffield Shield. He has since taken up a coaching role with the Melbourne Cricket Club.
Pucovski has spoken about the impact of his injuries, stating that symptoms lasting over a year have made it difficult to envision a return to professional sport and have affected his daily life. He has also noted that his family and friends have observed changes in him, which he described as frightening for himself and those close to him.
The landmark case, filed by Peter Gordon of Gordon Legal, could potentially influence how schools across Australia approach and manage concussion injuries. Pucovski married his long-term partner, Emma, shortly after his retirement.
