Golf ball to the head sidelines St Kilda forward for round one
An errant golf ball to the head has left St Kilda spearhead Max King as one of the first players to miss an AFL match for premiership points under the league’s new 12-day concussion rule.
The freak accident comes as the league continues to weigh up whether to introduce a concussion substitute for the 2021 season just days before the season is set to begin on Thursday night.
Max King (right)Credit:Getty
The Saints confirmed on Sunday that King would miss the round one date with Greater Western Sydney in Sydney next Sunday after being struck by a golf ball while playing a round in Brighton on Thursday with friends.
Tests showed that the youngster had suffered what the club has described as “mild concussion,” automatically ruling him out of the game against the Giants under the AFL’s new rules in which players cannot play in the 12-day window after being concussed.
King’s absence for the clash adds to a lengthy list of unavailable Saints, with ruckmen Rowan Marshall (foot) and Paddy Ryder (personal) both also sidelined along with Dan Hannebery (calf), Ben Paton (leg), Jarryn Geary (leg), James Frawley (hamstring) and Brad Crouch (suspension). Zak Jones (hamstring) is, however, pushing to play against GWS.
“It’s obviously a blow to lose Max for round one, but player health and wellbeing – particularly when it comes to concussion – is paramount,” St Kilda chief operating officer Simon Lethlean said.
“We’ll continue to monitor Max over the next week and take every measure necessary to ensure he is on track for round two.”
The Saints’ round one clash is proceeding as planned at this stage despite the coronavirus outbreak in Sydney however the AFL continues to monitor the situation in Sydney – as well as in Brisbane where there has also been a recent outbreak – with health and safety remaining a priority for the league.
The AFL has shown a preparedness to make 11th-hour fixture changes, shifting an AFLW game between Brisbane and Collingwood as recently as this weekend because of the Brisbane outbreak.
The male Lions are due to take on Sydney on Saturday night at the Gabba while West Coast host Gold Coast in the men’s round one on Sunday night at Optus Stadium.
The AFL confirmed on Sunday that it was contemplating the introduction of a 23rd player for each men’s team this year, to be used in the event a player were to be concussed.
The idea was put to the league last week by senior coaches but would need to be approved by the AFL Commission this week before it could be implemented in the premiership season, which starts with the traditional Richmond-Carlton clash at the MCG on Thursday night.
The AFL had substitutes between 2011 and 2015, a concept ultimately pulled after widespread unpopularity.
There was also a provision for some of this period for a player to be temporarily subbed out of a game while being tested for concussion.
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