At a time when the AFL continues to spruik its toughened concussion protocols, match review officer Michael Christian opted to not cite Ginbey nor even mention the incident in his weekly report.
Premiership defender Brandon Starcevich will miss Brisbane’s AFL season opener against Geelong after he was concussed in their three-point loss to Adelaide. Starcevich was pushed into a marking contest by opponent Daniel Curtin.
“I’m sure it will be looked at … I don’t think there’s any malice in it, they are just trying to contest the ball,” Lions assistant coach Stuart Dew later said of the Starcevich injury.
Owens booted 20 goals last season, and would be a major loss, particularly as star forward Max King remains in doubt for the season opener against Adelaide in a fortnight.
King had surgery on his right knee on Thursday. Scans this month ruled out a second ACL rupture on that knee after a training incident, but King had an exploratory arthroscope after continuing to deal with pain as he tried to ramp up his preparation.
More to come
Bombers go whacko for Kako
Andrew Wu
Gun youngster Isaac Kako is yet to play a senior game for Essendon but has already left an imprint at the club.
Bombers fans are going whacko for Kako, and so too are senior players who say they have been energised by the enthusiasm shown by the first-round draft pick in his first three months at Tullamarine.
Isaac Kako has Essendon fans salivating.Credit: AFL Photos
The diminutive goal sneak with the dreadlocks has been the find of the summer for the Dons, capping off his first pre-season with four goals in an exciting practice game outing against Geelong.
Touted as a leading contender for this year’s Rising Star Award, Kako is already a hit with Bombers, who flocked to him for signatures at the club’s family day on Saturday.
The dressing room has also warmed to the quietly spoken 18-year-old, whose on-field deeds are making a big noise.
“It’s pretty rare to have a small forward with so much presence,” Bombers defender Ben McKay said on Saturday.
“Normally it’s the big key forwards who strut around. For someone of his height and youth to have that aura is a really good thing.
“He’ll make defenders nervous from game one. He’s such a humble kid, that’s the most impressive thing for me. A very respectful young guy, good values, upholds what it means to be an Essendon person first and foremost.
“His footy stuff will take care of itself, but he’s a ripping young kid with the utmost respect for everyone around him.”
Lively small forwards are in vogue and in Kako the Dons look to have found a youngster with the speed and skill to thrive in the forward half.
“This spark for his first pre-season is at a high level,” McKay said.
Kako and Nate Caddy were close friends before they became Bombers.Credit: Getty Images
“That’s what stands out the most. He does the selfless stuff, his spark, his moments, you can already see that from his second practice game. That’s pretty rare for a young kid to have those moments.
“He’s a natural energy giver in terms of who he is as a person. It’s hard for the fans not to get around him.”
Kako and fellow teenager Nate Caddy shape as the great red-and-black hopes for a success-starved supporter base.
McKay, who has played on key forward Caddy in match simulation at training, said the young gun had improved significantly with a second pre-season under his belt.
“This time last year, compared to this time now, he’s evolved as a player,” McKay said.
“I know he’s only young but he’s a nightmare to play on – I mean that. I don’t say that lightly.
“His movement is next-level. He makes you think about him rather than our strengths. He’ll be a handful.
“There’s already a bit spoken about Nate and Isaac. Going forward, they’ll be a duo to look out for for 10 to 15 years. Nate’s improvement has been significant. I can’t wait to see what another 25 to 27 games does for his confidence.”
Key change made to AFL’s concussion protocol
Andrew Wu and Scott Spits
A leading concussion expert has welcomed the AFL’s move to give club doctors extra powers this year to intervene and stop play to take players off the field for head assessments in a drastic change to concussion protocols.
In an amendment to the concussion guidelines of both the AFL and AFLW, the league said the head injury assessment (HIA) removal process would operate similarly to the blood rule to assist with the management of head impacts and getting players off the ground as quickly and safely as possible.
The process will now allow club doctors, and in some cases club football managers, to notify the AFL’s match manager of the need to remove a player at the next break in play.
Concussed Magpie Nathan Murphy before he was subbed out of the 2023 grand final.Credit: Paul Rovere
The league said in a statement: “Brief HIAs can still be conducted on the field by the club doctor following a head impact at the doctor’s discretion without the need for the removal of the player, but doctors now have this additional mechanism to compel a player to be removed for further off-field assessment if required.”
Neuroscientist and concussion expert Dr Alan Pearce said it was a necessary though belated change by the AFL.
“I think it’s a good thing for the doctors to do their job properly,” Pearce said. “I’m supportive for the doctor’s sake as much as it is for the players as well.
“The rhetoric around athlete health and wellbeing has to be demonstrated, not just talked about. This is certainly an example of that change, but I think it’s a case of catching up.”
The AFL’s executive general manager of football Laura Kane said player health and safety was the driving force behind the change.
“This process ensures we do not have a protracted situation where either doctors or a runner or trainer are trying to remove a player from the field and the player runs off or ignores the call,” Kane said.
“It is important that we continue to make it easier for the doctors and clubs to manage any possible head impact.
“In the past 10 years, we have made more than 30 changes to our rules to protect the brain health of our players, and this change only further strengthens our commitment to player health and safety.“
The AFL said, under the HIA “removal process”, the relevant match manager will relay the information that a player needs to be taken from the ground to the emergency umpire, who will, in turn, pass that on to the field umpires.
Umpires will then stop play at the next break in play, such as:
- After any score
- When the ball is out of bounds, on the full, or through insufficient intent
- Any ball up
- If the ball is around an injured player who is clearly in the hands of medical staff, as is the current practice.
Kane said the AFL continued to consult club representatives about player welfare.
“We have had ongoing discussions with GMs of football with the overwhelming feedback that this additional measure will assist the club and doctors greatly in assessing and managing potential head impact injuries,” she said.
‘They have one job, the AFL – let’s get it sorted out’
AAP
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick took a swipe at the AFL after his side’s loss to Sydney on Friday night, saying the structure pre-season games needs more work.
There has been plenty of talk about whether the pre-season schedule has contributed to more injuries than usual.
Swans and Suns players wrestle during their pre-season clash on the Gold Coast.Credit: AFL Photos
Some of the league’s biggest names have succumbed to injury before the season has even started, with Swans star Errol Gulden sent to hospital for scans on his ankle.
There was speculation the dual All-Australian suffered a syndesmosis injury, potentially sidelining him for several weeks. Gulden’s ankle was caught under him and twisted awkwardly when he was tackled early in the game. He was in agony and needed two trainers to help him from the ground.
It was a night of injury carnage, with Suns players Mac Andrew (sternum), Charlie Ballard (ankle), David Swallow (knee) and Lachie Weller (hamstring) also taken out of the game.
Earlier on Friday, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (calf) and star Port Adelaide midfielder Zack Butters (knee surgery) were confirmed as being out of action for at least six weeks.
“We have to get a bit better and it’s hard, because round zero comes in and then some sides have two weeks off,” Hardwick told Fox Footy after the Sydney game.
“We need to put our heads together and figure out what we can do, and get a little bit tighter.
“Sydney can’t get home tonight [Friday] and they play next Friday – they’re stuck here.
“We just have to get this scheduling better. They have one job, the AFL, let’s get it sorted out.”
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