AFL player Geoff Burdett's wife reveals he can no longer speak or understand #sports #news

Former Essendon player Geoff Burdett's wife Mary-Anne has detailed the shocking extent of his dementia fight, revealing he is no longer able to speak and 'his brain is just frizzled'.

Burdett, 70, played 37 matches for Essendon from 1976-81 before captain-coaching three country footy clubs.

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He is now in the full-time care of Mary-Anne, who is now worried about how she will keep up with the expenses of looking after him.

Burdett suffers from progressive primary aphasia, a type of dementia that can rob sufferers of the ability to speak, write, express their thoughts and understand words.

'He is just such a typical younger onset [dementia sufferer] because he is so able-bodied but his brain is just frizzled,' Mary-Anne told News Corp.

'From the minute he wakes up in the morning he is trying to tell me things but he just can't.



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Essendon great Geoff Burdett is pictured with his wife Mary-Anne, who has laid bare the horrible toll of his dementia battle



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Burdett (pictured) was knocked back when Mary-Anne applied for a payout through the AFL Players' Association's benefit scheme



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At a time when she should be enjoying retirement, Mrs Burdett (pictured with Geoff) is worried about how she'll pay for putting him into care

Видео AFL player Geoff Burdett's wife reveals he can no longer speak or understand #sports #news канала Dadan Saja