Adelaide Footy League backs new 21-day concussion protocol

The Adelaide Footy League has backed new concussion protocols set to be implemented across community football in season 2024 and has called on players and clubs to remain honest around head knocks.

The Adelaide Footy League will introduce 21-day concussion protocols for the local SA footy season in 2024, but has called on players and clubs to remain honest with reporting head injuries.

The AFL announced on Wednesday that all community footballers will need to stand down for a minimum of 21 days if concussed and receive a medical clearance to return to play.

AdFL chief John Kernahan said the league would have no issue with implementing the protocols but would be eager to find out why a 21-day period had been agreed upon by the AFL.

“We’ve always maintained that wherever the protocols land is where they land, but we’d certainly be interested in some information as to why it landed at 21,” Kernahan said.

“That’s not to say we disagree with 21 days but why 21 and not 28? Why 21 and not 14? And crucially, why 21 and not 12 as is the AFL Policy?”

AdFL chief John Kernahan has called on clubs and players to adhere to the new 21-day concussion protocol. Picture: Emma Brasier

While the AdFL will be implementing the new protocol, Kernahan said the competition and its clubs still had concerns around education on the topic of concussion.

He believed more education was needed for players partaking in footy to increase awareness around why the issue had become so important.

“Whether it be the AIS or the Sports Medical Association, someone has missed a golden opportunity to impose on all codes to add education to the playing participant at the local level as to why they should have a heightened awareness to concussion because the good news is there are a lot of people at grassroots level asking for more information,” Kernahan said.

“At least through an AdFL lens, we have always had a high priority to the concussion policy which in the main has not changed outside of the time frame in which the participant can return to the field.

Action from last season’s Adelaide Footy League division one grand final between Glenunga and Prince Alfred OC. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

“Our volunteers have a component to concussion awareness in their accreditation and that has not changed either, so unless those who are recommending changes are also complementing their position with added levels of education, we’re leaving and breathing the policy and have been all along.”

One of the Adelaide Footy League’s challenges will be administering the new policy consistently throughout the season, with Kernahan recently revealing some players who are paid to compete had been lying about symptoms.

He urged volunteers, coaches and players to remain honest about head injuries and avoid possible sanctions.

“I’m tipping there aren’t any practicing neuroscientists among the broader Community football flock so refer to common sense. If there’s any doubt, sit them out and send them to a doctor to get cleared to play,” he said.

“As far as sanctions for a breach to the policy, there are a truckload of variables to consider ranging from deliberate ignorance or miss-diagnosis and of course as is our most of critical of concerns, the player themselves being remiss in their awareness or worse, deliberately avoiding diagnosis because of some misguided view that missing a match or two of footy is worse than protecting their long-term health.”