AFL to introduce historic rule change

The AFL will reportedly overhaul its “return to play” protocols ahead of the 2021 premiership as the league looks to minimise the impact of concussion.

As revealed by The Herald Sun’s Michael Warner, players will be sidelined for 10 days after suffering a concussion this season.

Currently, concussed players are allowed to compete seven days after a head knock, meaning they could potentially return the following weekend.

But the new return to play protocols would ensure a knocked-out player would be out of action for at least one game.

Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

As a result, if a player suffers a concussion during a preliminary final, they would subsequently miss the grand final.

The report claimed the updated concussion guidelines would be finalised in the coming weeks.

Brad Ebert of the Power is taken from the ground after suffering a concussion.Source:Getty Images

Concussion expert Dr Alan Pearce warned young footballers would ideally require 30 days for a full recovery.

“We can’t just assume that 7-10 days and symptom resolution is the way that we measure recovery,” Dr Pearce told 7News.

Sports leagues worldwide have instituted stricter protocols and head injury assessments, but the revelation of degenerative brain diseases such as CTE has seen several players cut their careers short over fears of concussion.

On Saturday, the Australian Sports Brain Bank revealed the late Shane Tuck had a severe case of CTE, making him the third AFL player to have suffered from the crippling neurological disorder.

“It’s the worst case I’ve seen so far,” neuropathologist professor Michael Buckland told The Age. “It was actually quite shocking, the degree of disease he had.”

CTE was also found post-mortem in AFL greats Polly Farmer and Danny Frawley, who were both older than Tuck when they died. Farmer was 84 and Frawley was 56.

“Those cases span three generations of players,” Buckland said. “What’s disturbing is that the worst case is the most recent, and also the youngest.”

Paddy McCartin of the Saints leaves the field with possible concussion.Source:Getty Images

Although return to play protocols have been tightened multiple times in recent years, former St Kilda star Nick Dal Santo said he was still “concerned” about concussion in the AFL.

“I think we’ve come leaps and bounds in the last four, five, maybe 10 years from an AFL perspective,” Dal Santo told SEN Breakfast.

“There’ll be a lot of people out there sceptical saying, ‘It’s in the club’s best interests to get the player back out there’, but it’s not in the doctor’s best interest.

“And the doctors have the final say and they are bound by legal reasons to make sure that protocol is adhered to.

“Years ago (players) would say, ‘I’m fine’, and I’ve been out there and heard players say it. I’ve heard them during the week say, ‘I’m good to go’, and the team goes, ‘Okay we’ll back you in, you’re an experienced player, you know your body better than us and you know how you’re feeling’.

“Those days are gone.”

Source: Read Full Article