Port Adelaide fined $100k for mistake in Aliir Aliir concussion

Port Adelaide has been hit with a six-figure fine by the AFL over the handling of a player’s concussion last week.

Aliir Aliir played on after being concussed. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Port Adelaide has been hit with a $100,000 fine for what coach Ken Hinkley conceded was a “big mistake” by the club in its controversial handling of Aliir Aliir‘s concussion last week.

The league will also continue to probe the club’s procedures.

Aliir and fellow defender Lachie Jones will both miss this week’s clash with Geelong after a sickening head clash last weekend left them both concussed.

Port doctor Mark Fisher failed to administer a SCAT5 concussion test on Aliir, earning widespread condemnation and sparking a league investigation, including a “please explain” from the AFL.

On Friday, the league confirmed the huge penalty for conduct unbecoming, with $50,000 of the fine to be included in the club’s soft cap and the balance outside the soft cap “unless a similar breach occurs prior to the end of the AFL and AFLW seasons next year”.

AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said the club understood the error of judgment made on the night and took full responsibility for it, but the league would conduct a further review of the incident to “identify learnings” for Port.

“The AFL concussion protocols are some of the most stringent that exist in world sport; however, they require strict and consistent adherence to protect the health and safety of our players,” Meade said.

“In this instance Port Adelaide admitted that Aliir should have undergone SCAT5 testing at the time immediately following the collision on Saturday night. By not undertaking the test, and Aliir returning to the game without being subject to that further detailed assessment, Allir’s wellbeing was potentially at increased risk.

Aliir Aliir is taken from the ground after a big collision with Lachie Jones. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“The health and safety of all players is paramount, and this will continue to be the focus for our clubs and for the AFL.

“AFL club doctors are some of the most accomplished sports medicine professionals in the world, they have intimate knowledge of their players, and while in this instance there was an error in the club’s process, it shouldn’t undermine the work our club doctors undertake and the care shown to everyone at their football clubs.

“I would like to acknowledge the co-operation of Port Adelaide Football Club regarding this incident and the proactive approach from the club in assisting the AFL in this matter and the planned further review.”

The moment Aliir and Jones clash heads. Picture: Fox Sports

Aliir did undergo a SCAT5 test after the game, and had further testing that he passed, but both he and Jones entered the league’s concussion protocols, keeping them sidelined for 12 days.

Earlier in the week, the club said Fisher conceded he should have done the test in the first instance.

Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies said the club was remorseful for the breach of protocols and understood the importance of brain health across the AFL and competitions at all levels.

“Our club understands the health and safety of players at all levels of the game is the key priority and we understand concussion and the protection of the brain health of all those playing our game is paramount,” Davies said.

“As we said publicly earlier in the week, we accept we made a significant mistake in not following the concussion guidelines appropriately. Our club doctor owned the mistake and publicly acknowledged his error.

“We accept the penalty handed down by the AFL and now look forward to co-operating with AFL chief medical officer Michael Makdissi to review the weekend’s incident to ensure all our club medical officers are fully cognisant of the AFL’s expectations regarding the concussion guidelines.”

The Port Adelaide Football Club accepts the AFL findings and subsequent sanction of $100,000 fine for the breach of the AFL’s concussion protocols.

— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) August 3, 2023

On Thursday Hinkley said it had been a “tough week” for the doctor and the club.

But he maintained Fisher had his and the players’ full support.

“Absolutely, it has been a tough week for the club. We have had some issues that we would much rather not have had, but they are being dealt with the best they can possibly be dealt with,” he said.

“On reflection, Mark has said he should have done the full test.

“It is a big mistake, but nobody sets out to make a mistake in anything we do, particularly as a doctor. He has done great service for this footy club for a long time.

“Do we lack trust in Mark Fisher? No we don’t.

“He said he got it wrong and I think we should be able to look back at the runs he has on the board. He has done a lot of good things in his profession that we should give him some respect for.”

Jones was subbed out of the match at halftime, but Aliir played on following the heavy collision and reported to training on Monday.

Fisher will travel with the team to Geelong for Saturday’s clash, with Port out to end a three-match losing streak and cement their top-two spot on the ladder.

Originally published as Port Adelaide fined $100k for mistake in Aliir Aliir concussion