The inquest into the death of former AFL player Shane Tuck is set to take an important step in the Victorian Coroners Court on Tuesday when submissions are heard and the scope of the investigation becomes clearer.

Stephen Meade, the AFL’s legal boss, and Gideon Boas, counsel assisting state coroner Judge John Cain, are expected to detail in a directions hearing whether the case involving the former Richmond Football Club player and boxer should have a wider remit than just focusing on Tuck, who took his own life in July 2020 and was found to have severe CTE when his brain was examined by the Australian Sports Brain Bank.

CTE is a disease that is linked to numerous head knocks and mental health problems, including mood swings and depression. It can only be diagnosed post-mortem.

The scope of the inquest is important as a wider investigation could look at the league’s overall handling of head knocks, concussions and the potential for CTE.

In an earlier hearing in March, Meade, when seeking the chance to provide a written submission, said the investigation could be “potentially very broad” and had “the potential to impact our sport”. Meade told the court the league acknowledged there was a potential link between head trauma and CTE.

South Australian-based lawyer Greg Griffin, acting for Tuck’s widow, Katherine, is also expected to have his say on what direction the case should head.

Judge Cain is also weighing up whether the case should eventually be heard publicly or in private.

The case is now before Judge Cain, as Simon McGregor, the initial coroner, had recused himself due to him being the brother of an AFL Players Association staff member, Matt McGregor, who had referred Tuck to psychological services as part of the PA’s wellbeing team.

The court had requested Tuck’s medical records, information from Richmond on his history of head knocks and the AFL’s concussion policies, the latter having tightened considerably over the past decade.