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 AFL and AFLW concussion guidelines, 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 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.
Concussed Magpie Nathan Murphy before he was subbed out of the 2023 grand final.Credit: Paul Rovere
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.”
AFL 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.
