In a “bombshell” revelation, AFL players will no longer be covered for head trauma in their superannuation.

That’s according to a leaked email obtained by SEN’s Tom Morris, who reports that insurer Zurich — which sponsors Melbourne and covers more than half of AFL players — informed AMP, the super plan trustee, that “they cannot continue to support this high level of claims”. MORE IN AFL DAILY.

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Morris on Thursday revealed an email from AMP — that was sent to “more than 500 players”, he reports — conceding an inability to cover the “significantly higher-than-expected” amount of claims.

“We’ve considered Zurich’s proposal and have assessed a variety of other options,” the email from AMP read.

“Of the options we looked at, the changes we’re communicating in this letter were considered by the trustee, acting in the best financial interests of members of the plan, to be most appropriate when compared to the alternatives.

“There have been a significantly higher-than-expected number of claims being paid over the last 5 years.

“The insurer has informed us that they cannot continue to support this high level of claims, when compared with the insurance charges they’ve received.”

May 1 is the date from which not only changes to head trauma coverage will come into effect, but a huge decrease in the level of cover for all injuries.

Currently, if a player suffers a career-ending injury, they are entitled to as much as $1.1 million via their superannuation. But come May 1, that number drops massively to just $450,000.

It comes amid news that medically-retired Melbourne premiership player Angus Brayshaw still hasn’t been allowed to cash in on a Zurich payout worth roughly $1 million.

According to Morris, seven doctors have approved his claim, with a Zurich-hired doctor the only one who hasn’t.

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CATS STAR EXPOSES ‘MOST CONTENTIOUS’ PART OF NEW RULE

Geelong star Tom Stewart has laid bare the “most contentious” aspect of the new last-touch out-of-bounds rule.

Speaking after the Cats’ narrow eight-point win over Adelaide on Thursday night, the five-time All-Australian questioned a specific scenario that occurs frequently when players are trying to avoid the ‘lasso’ rule.

“It’s definitely a unique rule,” Stewart began post-match on Fox Footy.

“The thing I can’t get my head around — and I had a discussion with one of the umpires on field — is when a player makes a conscious effort to get their hand on the ball and force it out of bounds. That should be deliberate, I think.

“I’m not quite sure whether we’ve got that right; people trying to slap it out of bounds to ensure that it’s not a last-touch free kick.

“So, yeah, it’s very fresh, it’s very new, and everyone’s trying to learn it. But that’s the most contentious thing I find, is someone trying to knock it out so the lasso (rule) doesn’t come into play.”

Stewart’s comments are consistent with his coach Chris Scott’s, who, unprompted, brought up the fact that the ‘insufficient intent’ should be enforced more between the arcs.

“I think the (last disposal out of bounds) rule, in general, my observation would be that it’s been a success,” he said in his post-game press conference.

“(But) I’m a little confused around … like, insufficient intent still applies. So, if you dive at a ball and knock it across the line, that’s probably a free kick as well.”