MATTHEW Richardson has revealed he has ­suffered memory loss and fears his 282-game AFL career may have left him with brain injuries.

The Richmond Tiger champ has admitted worries about several hard hits to his head and concussions have caused him to question the ­legacy of his career since he quit in 2009.

While the former star forward and now commentator says his concerns are not as great as those raised by several other former players, Richardson is speaking out about his own fears to show that brain injuries can affect anybody.

Richardson has become an ambassador for BrainLink and Brain Injury Awareness Week and revealed a disastrous phone call soon after his retirement that he had no memory of caused his greatest concern.

“I knew I had to make an important phone call, so I did and got told: ‘Mate, we spoke for 20 minutes yesterday.’

“I had pages of notes from the conversation,” Richardson said.

“I don’t know if I was stressed out or it had anything to do with the knocks I took, but ... that was something that was a concern to me, for sure.”

FOOTY FANS SURVEY: What you really think about the game

With the recent retirement of Jonathon Brown after a ­series of head knocks, and ­following an on-air interview with a doctor about concussion, Richardson said he had been thinking more about the toll of his own hits.

“I started thinking about the knocks I’ve taken in my ­career and whether they’ll have any long-term effects,” Richardson said.

“I had a couple of concussions and broken cheek bones on each side during my footy career and they were pretty heavy knocks to the head, I guess.

“I had a couple where I was completely knocked out. There was a game against Carlton at Etihad which was probably the biggest hit I ever had.

“It was before half-time and I didn’t take any further part in the game. I don’t remember the incident, I don’t remember coming off the ground, but I remember waking up in the change rooms and coming to, so I guess I was unconscious for a little while there.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen. I feel fine now and I don’t have any lingering effects from anything, but it does get you wondering about the future and whether there will be any side-effects.”

Richardson will host BrainLink’s Beanie and Barbie Bash this Wednesday to raise awareness for those with ­acquired brain injuries. His ­fellow ambassador, Tim Wilks, is joining Richo to prove there can be a strong life after suffering a brain injury.

The 47-year-old father had to leave behind his successful IT business after becoming progressively ill with MS from 2007. While one side of his body feels as though it’s weighed down, he decided to take part in the LifeMoves peer support program and has rebuilt his life.

As well as being a volunteer to help others with brain injuries, Mr Wilks has started his own frozen yoghurt business and is dedicating his life to helping others. “I started to feel fantastic, realised I wasn’t alone and that there are a lot of people with challenges in life, and life may not be over, it’s just different,” Mr Wilks said.

grant.mcarthur@news.com.au

MORE INFO: www.brainlink.org.au