The sport their boy loved was damaging his brain. 'Now it's too late'

Nick Lowden, a talented young Australian Rules Football player, died at just 23 years old, becoming the youngest person in Australia diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). His parents, Kerry and Tony Lowden, are now speaking out, sharing their son's story to raise awareness about the devastating effects of repetitive head impacts in the sport.

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And now it's too late, he's gone.

Nick, described as energetic, athletic, and a natural talent, played from a young age, dreaming of making it to the AFL. He collected multiple junior best and fairest awards and was known for his selfless play. His parents supported his passion, though they often reminded him that football wasn't everything.

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I know he was my son, but he was a natural.

However, a significant incident in a 2017 game at age 17, where Nick fell awkwardly after leaping for a mark and hit his head hard on the ground, appears to have been a turning point. His parents recount how he was visibly dazed after the collision, an event they believe may have contributed to his later diagnosis.

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You're as good as any of the others.

The Lowdens are determined to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak. They believe the AFL has a responsibility to more proactively inform players and parents about the risks associated with the sport, particularly the cumulative damage caused by repeated head knocks. Their advocacy aims to ensure that no other parent has to face the tragedy of losing their child because the dangers of the sport they loved were not adequately understood or communicated.

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There's other things that are great in life besides football, but he loved football and that's the path he wanted to go on.