The pre-season injury carnage continues to worsen, amid calls for the AFL to clamp down on a certain act. Meanwhile, club doctors will have extra powers this year to stop play to take players off the field for head injury assessments.
The pre-season injury carnage continues to worsen, amid calls for the AFL to clamp down on a certain act. Meanwhile, club doctors will have extra powers this year to stop play to take players off the field for head injury assessments.
By Andrew Wu and Scott Spits
Updated March 1, 2025 — 3.15pmfirst published at 8.39am
A leading concussion expert has welcomed the AFL’s move to give club doctors extra powers this year to intervene and stop play to take players off the field for head assessments in a drastic change to concussion protocols.
In an amendment to the concussion guidelines of both the AFL and AFLW, the league said the head injury assessment (HIA) removal process would operate similarly to the blood rule to assist with the management of head impacts and getting players off the ground as quickly and safely as possible.
The process will now allow club doctors, and in some cases club football managers, to notify the AFL’s match manager of the need to remove a player at the next break in play.
The league said in a statement: “Brief HIAs can still be conducted on the field by the club doctor following a head impact at the doctor’s discretion without the need for the removal of the player, but doctors now have this additional mechanism to compel a player to be removed for further off-field assessment if required.”
Neuroscientist and concussion expert Dr Alan Pearce said it was a necessary though belated change by the AFL.
“I think it’s a good thing for the doctors to do their job properly,” Pearce said. “I’m supportive for the doctor’s sake as much as it is for the players as well.
“The rhetoric around athlete health and wellbeing has to be demonstrated, not just talked about. This is certainly an example of that change, but I think it’s a case of catching up.”
The AFL’s executive general manager of football Laura Kane said player health and safety was the driving force behind the change.
“This process ensures we do not have a protracted situation where either doctors or a runner or trainer are trying to remove a player from the field and the player runs off or ignores the call,” Kane said.
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“It is important that we continue to make it easier for the doctors and clubs to manage any possible head impact.
“In the past 10 years, we have made more than 30 changes to our rules to protect the brain health of our players, and this change only further strengthens our commitment to player health and safety.“
The AFL said, under the HIA “removal process”, the relevant match manager will relay the information that a player needs to be taken from the ground to the emergency umpire, who will, in turn, pass that on to the field umpires.
Umpires will then stop play at the next break in play, such as:
- After any score
- When the ball is out of bounds, on the full, or through insufficient intent
- Any ball up
- If the ball is around an injured player who is clearly in the hands of medical staff, as is the current practice.
Kane said the AFL continued to consult club representatives about player welfare.
“We have had ongoing discussions with GMs of football with the overwhelming feedback that this additional measure will assist the club and doctors greatly in assessing and managing potential head impact injuries,” she said.
‘They have one job, the AFL – let’s get it sorted out’
AAP
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick took a swipe at the AFL after his side’s loss to Sydney on Friday night, saying the structure pre-season games needs more work.
There has been plenty of talk about whether the pre-season schedule has contributed to more injuries than usual.
Some of the league’s biggest names have succumbed to injury before the season has even started, with Swans star Errol Gulden sent to hospital for scans on his ankle.
There was speculation the dual All-Australian suffered a syndesmosis injury, potentially sidelining him for several weeks. Gulden’s ankle was caught under him and twisted awkwardly when he was tackled early in the game. He was in agony and needed two trainers to help him from the ground.
It was a night of injury carnage, with Suns players Mac Andrew (sternum), Charlie Ballard (ankle), David Swallow (knee) and Lachie Weller (hamstring) also taken out of the game.
Earlier on Friday, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (calf) and star Port Adelaide midfielder Zack Butters (knee surgery) were confirmed as being out of action for at least six weeks.
“We have to get a bit better and it’s hard, because round zero comes in and then some sides have two weeks off,” Hardwick told Fox Footy after the Sydney game.
“We need to put our heads together and figure out what we can do, and get a little bit tighter.
“Sydney can’t get home tonight [Friday] and they play next Friday – they’re stuck here.
“We just have to get this scheduling better. They have one job, the AFL, let’s get it sorted out.”
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