Ex-Tiger reaches seven-figure settlement with clubBy Jon Pierik and Vince Rugari
The Age
July 2, 2025Former Richmond player Ty Zantuck has reached a seven-figure settlement with Richmond over allegations the club mistreated a back injury that contributed to the demise of his career.
Zantuck had sued the club and two doctors over allegations they breached their duty of care in the treatment of his back injury when he played in 68 matches for the Tigers between 2000 and 2004.
His lawyer, South Australian-based Greg Griffin, confirmed on Wednesday that a confidential settlement had been reached.
“Yes, the matter has settled, and we are very happy with the outcome,” Griffin said.
Griffin would not comment when asked about specifics of the settlement.
The Victorian Supreme Court has been told the matter has been settled in principle.
There were no admissions of liability from any party.
Another source with knowledge of the situation, who would not speak publicly due to the confidential nature of the settlement, confirmed the settlement reached was seven-figures.
The Tigers declined to comment when contacted by this masthead. The club and the doctors had in their submissions to the court denied the original orthopaedic claims made by Zantuck.
In 2022, Zantuck and his legal team successfully argued before Associate Justice Mary-Jane Ierodiaconou in the Victorian Supreme Court for an extension to be granted to the statute of limitations for bringing a civil claim.
In his writ, Zantuck, 43, claimed doctors gave him more than 20 epidural injections to ease his back pain and to keep training and playing, and that the club forced him to take part in a pre-season training camp that exacerbated his condition.
Zantuck, having been denied his request to sit out the camp, claimed he was ordered to carry a 30-kilogram backpack on daily hikes despite having stress fractures in his lower back. This weight was later reduced to 15-20 kilograms after he complained again of back pain.
Justice Ierodiaconou in 2022 ruled that “Mr Zantuck’s loss arising from the alleged injuries is substantial”.
“His evidence is that as a consequence of pain arising from his back injury, he has been unable to work in a stable job save for a six-month period in 2009. This has placed him in financial distress. Mr Zantuck’s back pain is such that he uses a spinal stimulator,” Justice Ierodiaconou said.
Zantuck spent 2005 at Essendon, but the Bombers refused to administer the epidural injections, prompting Zantuck to believe the Tigers had mistreated him. Zantuck’s AFL career ended after a fortnight of pre-season training at Carlton in 2006.
He had also lodged a separate concussion claim against the Tigers, but not specifically club doctors, having endured what he says were up to 30 concussions, leaving him with brain trauma.
This case remains open, but no further action has been taken since the initial court hearings. A source close to Zantuck, who did not wish to speak publicly because of the confidentiality reasons, said Zantuck was weighing up his options. However, it was unlikely he would opt in to joining the concussion class action against the AFL led by Margalit Lawyers, a case which continues to hit hurdles.
Zantuck has previously spoken of head knocks having led to a range of neurological disorders and several suicide attempts.
Griffin had claimed that Zantuck is at risk of early onset dementia and is at greater risk of CTE, a degenerative brain disease.
As part of Zantuck’s submission, neuropsychologist Associate Professor Jennifer Batchelor said she suspected Zantuck has CTE, which was “evidence of acquired cognitive impairment”.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/we-re-pretty-used-to-it-grundy-dismisses-scg-surface-fears-20250702-p5mbuo.html
