PORT ADELAIDE football boss Chris Davies says the club will provide more information to the AFL regarding the collision between Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones in Saturday night’s Showdown.
Both defenders have entered the AFL’s concussion protocols out of an abundance of caution after suffering from headaches, despite each passing follow-up concussion testing since the second-quarter incident.
Jones was substituted with a migraine despite passing a SCAT5 test immediately after the clash while Aliir underwent a Head Impact Assessment and returned to play out the match.
After reflecting on the way things panned out, club doctor Mark Fisher on Monday conceded he would have ensured Aliir had a SCAT5 test immediately following the incident.
General Manager – Football, Chris Davies explained the club has maintained contact with the AFL since Saturday night.
“The conversation over the last couple of days has been about the process and it has obviously given our doctor time to reflect on the vision specifically,” Davies said.
“On the basis of reviewing both the way he went about the conduct and the vision, he has made the decision today that he’s happy to put them both in the concussion protocols.
“And specifically with regard to Aliir, that he should have done that SCAT5 test immediately after the incident.”
Davies explained that the way Aliir and Jones presented following the incident was very different, and the decision on whether they were able to play on was left to medical experts and not influenced by coaching or administration staff.
Aliir did undergo a SCAT5 test after the game, and further testing since which he has passed, but like Jones, will remain out of contention for selection for at least 12 days as part of a gradual return under the AFL’s concussion management guidelines.
“Aliir has passed the tests he needed to subsequent to that (game) but Mark Fisher’s decision was specifically with regard to the protocol of having the test done immediately post the incident,” Davies clarified.
“It’s a medical call that is not for coaches or administrators to make.
“Doctor Fisher has been a long-standing doctor at this club. He has been a medical professional for a long time, including going to both Olympic and Commonwealth games.
“His decision on the night was to not do it and on reflection, he thinks he should have
“(Aliir and Jones) haven’t failed concussion tests today. They have both suggested they have headaches so on that basis, out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to put them both into the concussion protocols.”
There has been some suggestion in the media that independent doctors should be appointed to oversee concussion management at games in the place of club appointed medical staff.
Davies was open to the idea if it is in the best interests of the game, as decided by the AFL.
“At the end of the day, no matter whether it’s an independent person or a club (appointed) person, these situations are judgement calls made by doctors at the time and so obviously we want to make sure we’re getting these decisions right, and if that means an independent person is the right person to do so, with concussion being the issue it is, we would support whatever the AFL believes is the best outcome into the future,” he said.
