Port Adelaide concussion controversy: Josh Carr hits tricky Stephen Rowe question ‘out of the park’

Port Adelaide assistant Josh Carr had to sidestep an attempted interview trap and didn’t miss a chance to bite back at broadcaster Stephen Rowe. Read the transcript.

Port Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr. Picture: Tom Huntley

An attempted fastball from Stephen Rowe was hit “out of the park” by Port Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr.

In a jocular radio interview on FIVEaa that threatened to turn dark, Carr called Rowe out for trying to trap him with a question about Saturday night’s controversial head clash between Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones.

All three on air – Rowe, Carr and Tim Ginever – made clear they were having a laugh despite Rowe trying to lead Carr down a certain path on the collision between the defenders.

Port Adelaide admitted after the incident that it erred in not putting Aliir through a scat test for concussion, with both he and Jones ruled out of round 21’s crucial clash with Geelong after entering concussion protocols.

Rowe’s sneakily fast question couldn’t get past Carr’s bat.

“So you were obviously surprised from above (in the coaching box) that Aliir went back on, Josh?” Rowe asked.

“Rowey, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to make me say the wrong thing, or give you something to talk about it? It sounds like it.”

Port Adelaide came under fire for its reaction to a clash between Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

Carr then aired a passionate defence of embattled Power doctor Mark Fisher.

Rowe again went for a newsline later in the interview, asking Carr if he had been contacted by Richmond to take up its vacant coaching position and whether he was happy at the Power.

“Rowey, you are off again mate,” Carr said amid giggling.

Once Carr hung the phone up at the end of the interview, Rowe was at pains to point out “I love the bloke, love him” and Carr “doesn’t suffer fools or crap from people like me and put me in my place.”

Rowe then said the questions he threw up were smacked “out of the park” by Carr.

TRANSCRIPT OF QUESTIONS BETWEEN ROWE AND CARR

Stephen Rowe: The clash, in real time, what were your thoughts?

Josh Carr: To be honest Rowey I sort of missed it when it happened but obviously I have seen it many times since. Never looks great when two guys run into each other, obviously there has been a fair bit spoken about it since then and the club’s probably, spoke to the media yesterday regarding it. Obviously didn’t get it totally right, we have said that and now it’s about obviously going forward and making sure everything is good to go and they are OK.

SR: So you were obviously surprised from above (coaching box) that Aliir went back on, Josh?

JC: Rowey, what are you trying to do? Ae you trying to make me say the wrong thing or give you something to talk about? It sounds like it.

FIVEaa host Stephen Rowe. Picture: Mike Burton

SR: You can just say –

JC: As I said, I just back in our medical staff. And Fish (Dr Mark Fisher), I have known him for 25 years, he has always had the best interest of his players, he has been at my house at 1 in the morning looking after my family and players families and I am not sure how many doctors do that for their patients. He cares for his players and he admitted the other day that by not doing a scat test (for concussion) he made a mistake but at the same time, the tests that have been done since, they have passed it as far as the scat tests go. These things do happen and people make mistakes and I guess it’s nearly, not time to move on, it’s obviously a big thing that happened, but we do have a game this weekend.

SR: Fair call. Can you replace him? He is hard to replace Aliir isn’t he?

JC: Definitely, hard to replace. Probably lucky that Hawk (Tom Hawkins) is out this week, they probably would have played on each other.

Later in interview...

SR: Joshy here’s another one, It’s been reported that Richmond have rung you, is that true?

JC: Nah I have had no phone calls Rowey.

SR: OK, you wouldn’t entertain it? You are happy and staying here, that’s it?

JC: Rowey, you are off again mate.

(Laughter)

SR: Joshy, you know me mate.

JC: I think I have said the whole time, I want to be the best coach I can be. That is my number one priority and I want to be a senior coach and all those things and if the time comes and I get those calls and those opportunities I definitely want to do that.

SR: Excellent.

JC: But at this stage, right now I am the assistant coach, midfield coach at Port Adelaide.