Wally Lewis tells National Press Club of life with suspected CTE dementia

Lewis, who played 441 senior games and captained both Australia and Queensland, said he had lost the confidence that he took onto the field throughout his career.

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“I once had the confidence in myself to succeed, lead my team to victory, captain my country, remember the strengths and weaknesses of the way opposition teams [play], organise myself each and every day, and feel well and truly in control of my everyday life,” he said.

“Now, much of that confidence has been taken away from me by the effects of probable CTE dementia. My everyday life is no longer blessed by confidence in my daily activities. Now I struggle to accept that it has been filled with fear and embarrassment about how forgetful I have become every single day.”

Lewis said he had often driven to work before realising he didn’t know where he was going, and would sometimes forget conversations he had just had. Now, he carries a diary as a “gentle reminder of what I need to do.”

He called on players at all levels, from grassroots to professional, to be educated about the risks associated with sport, and asked the federal government to provide funding into CTE research and support programs.

“I think we have come a long way since back when I played,” he said. “I loved my sport, and I wouldn’t really have changed a thing, but we do need to change things and provide hope, certainly for the future, and the players that will play in those games.”

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