PORT ADELAIDE has been handed a $20,000 fine for failing to notify the AFL of a concussion test administered to Hamish Hartlett during the second quarter of its Round 16 game against Hawthorn.
$10,000 was suspended until the end of the 2018 season.
The AFL's general manager of football operations Mark Evans acknowledged the Power's assessment of Hartlett's head knock cleared him to return to the field at the time.
However the penalty was issued as Port failed to notify the AFL's match day interchange official that a 'Head Injury Assessment' was being undertaken.
This meant the AFL was unable to record the time required for the player to be excluded from the game.
Mr Evans said the assessment took place while the Power's chief medical officer was attending to the injured Brad Ebert in the rooms, and that Hartlett only returned to the field when the assessment cleared him of any concussion.
That took place after five minutes, however the AFL requires a player remain off field for 15 minutes, allowing an adequate review.
The Power's GM of football Chris Davies accepted the penalty issued by the AFL.
“If we had followed that protocol, Hartlett would have been excluded from play for longer so vision of the incident could be reviewed,” Davies said in a statement.
“Despite this issue of timing, Hamish was cleared of concussion at the time and has shown no sign of concussion during subsequent testing throughout this week.
“The club welcomes the AFL’s strong focus on protecting players from head injuries and our medicos’ sole concern was for the wellbeing of Hamish throughout the incident.”
