AFL hits Port Adelaide with $100,000 fine for Aliir concussion ‘error’

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Port Adelaide has been issued a $100,000 fine for not testing defender Aliir Aliir before sending him back on to the ground at Saturday night’s match against Adelaide.

The AFL issued the fine to Port Adelaide over the club’s “error of judgment” which breached the league’s concussion protocols.

Port Adelaide teammates Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones collide against Adelaide on Saturday night.Credit: Fox Footy

The AFL’s chief medical officer Michael Makdissi will also lead a review of the incident involving Aliir.

“An amount of $50,000 (50 per cent) will be included in the club’s football department soft cap with the balance ($50,000) outside the soft cap unless a similar breach occurs prior to the end of the AFL and AFLW seasons next year,” a statement from th AFL read.

The AFL’s general counsel, Stephen Meade, said the club took full responsibility.

“The AFL concussion protocols are some of the most stringent that exist in world sport, however they require strict and consistent adherence to protect the health and safety of our players,” Meade said.

“In this instance Port Adelaide admitted that Aliir should have undergone SCAT5 testing at the time immediately following the collision on Saturday night. By not undertaking the test, and Aliir returning to the game without being subject to that further detailed assessment, Allir’s wellbeing was potentially at increased risk.”

Aliir and teammate Lachie Jones appeared to clash heads as they contested a mark, and both lay motionless on the ground for a moment before they walked from the ground.

The AFL issued a “please explain” to the club regarding its management of him after the second-quarter incident when he clashed heads with teammate Lachie Jones.

Both players underwent head injury assessments, but only Jones underwent a SCAT5 test during the game. He was then subbed from the game with a migraine. Jones has also entered concussion protocols and will miss the game against Geelong.

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