Former Test cricketer Will Pucovski has launched legal action against his private school over the handling of a head injury sustained during an Australian rules football training session in May 2014, which he claims triggered a cascade of concussions that ended his career at age 27.
In a writ filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Pucovski alleges that a coach directed students to "go in hard" and endure "physical pain" during a full-contact keepings drill after the school's team had lost to fellow APS institution Scotch College by a substantial margin the previous weekend. During the session, he was struck in the left temple by a teammate's knee during a sling tackle and knocked unconscious.
Pucovski claims the 2014 injury was the primary head trauma from which he has never recovered, and that it left him with a traumatic brain injury from which subsequent concussions in his cricket career compounded his symptoms. He experienced at least 13 known concussion injuries from balls to the head throughout his playing career, according to the writ.
The incident represents a critical moment in what would become a medical crisis for the then-16-year-old. After regaining consciousness, he was assisted off the oval but returned to participate in the next drill after the coach allegedly asked if he could continue. Over the following days, he developed headaches but continued attending school until a general practitioner diagnosed concussion three days after the collision. That weekend, while acting as a runner for a Brighton Grammar seconds match, his symptoms worsened and he developed nausea.
Medical advice subsequently urged him to cease all physical activity and remain home from school for six weeks to recover. According to reporting on the case, his lawyers are now alleging the school mishandled the concussion so severely that he later suffered blurred vision and was hospitalised a week after the incident.
What injuries does Pucovski claim resulted from the 2014 incident?
Pucovski's legal team alleges that the initial head injury caused lasting neurological damage. The writ claims he developed a traumatic brain injury with severe head trauma syndrome, symptoms that never returned to baseline. According to detailed reporting on the legal claim, the writ alleges he now suffers from vision problems, persistent headaches, fatigue, nausea, motion sickness and trouble completing tasks on the left side of his body. Mental health issues including obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety are also cited.
Following his retirement in April 2025 after expert advice from an independent panel, Pucovski described experiencing long-term concussion-related symptoms that persisted throughout his career. The cumulative effect of 13 documented concussions in cricket, compounded by the unresolved primary injury from 2014, ultimately made continued competition impossible.
What are the allegations against the school and coach?
Pucovski's lawyers allege that the coach lacked appropriate accreditation or training to coach junior amateur Australian rules football players. They claim the coach failed to arrange medical assessment or treatment following the head collision and did not inform Pucovski's parents of the incident. The school is alleged to have been vicariously liable for this breach of duty of care.
The writ characterises the school's conduct as "grossly" in breach of its duty of care, demonstrating "a high-handed, contumelious and callous disregard" for Pucovski's safety after the incident. Brighton Grammar headmaster Ross Featherston told the Australian Associated Press that the coach is "a highly regarded and experienced teacher" at the school but declined to comment further, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.
What damages is Pucovski seeking?
According to reporting on the case, Pucovski's legal team is seeking damages not only for lost cricket earnings but also for foregone media and coaching income following his medical retirement. The claim reflects the career trajectory that was interrupted by the initial injury and its long-term consequences.
Pucovski played one Test for Australia against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2021, a career milestone achieved despite the ongoing effects of the 2014 head injury. His last match for Victoria came in 2024, after which medical advice led to his retirement from professional cricket.
What is the current status of the case?
The claims have not yet been tested in court, and neither Brighton Grammar nor the coach have had an opportunity to file their defence. Brighton Grammar has confirmed the filing of the writ, and no court date has yet been scheduled. The case will proceed through the Supreme Court of Victoria, where the school and coach will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
Key Facts
- Pucovski suffered a head injury during an Australian rules football training drill at Brighton Grammar in May 2014 when struck in the left temple by a teammate's knee
- He claims the incident caused a traumatic brain injury that was mismanaged by the school and left him vulnerable to subsequent concussions throughout his cricket career
- He experienced at least 13 documented concussions in cricket before retiring in April 2025 at age 27
- The writ alleges the coach lacked appropriate training and the school failed to inform his parents or arrange medical assessment following the collision
- No court date has yet been set for the case in the Supreme Court of Victoria
