AFL takes “full responsibility” in light of botched Lachie Schultz investigation

An embarrassed AFL has taken full responsibility for the Lachie Schultz concussion debacle and the incorrect statement which claimed its umpires did not see the Pies star in a distressed state.

An embarrassed AFL has taken full responsibility for the Lachie Schultz concussion debacle amid calls the league is in “disarray”.

The league on Wednesday night admitted it released an incorrect statement last Friday about the Schultz incident and exonerated the umpires involved in last Thursday night’s clash.

The four umpires involved will all officiate this weekend after the league on Wednesday night admitted it received the wrong information from the umpires’ department – and not the umpires – about what transpired after Schultz was concussed and staggered to his feet in Collingwood’s win over Fremantle in Perth.

Football boss Laura Kane on Wednesday night blamed a “miscommunication” from the umpires’ department for the Schultz statement error and said the league’s process “failed”.

The league also did not check the audio or vision of the incident.

Clubs are adamant the league’s lack of top-line senior club experience has cost it this year as the league hunts for a new chief operating officer to support CEO Andrew Dillon.

Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said Wednesday night on Fox Footy the AFL was in “disarray” over the saga.

The AFL initially said in a statement last Friday that the umpires “did not see” the injured player which is why they allowed play to continue.

But on Tuesday night the league changed its tune and said the umpires had seen the incident but couldn’t remember it.

It prompted Hawthorn and Brisbane champion Luke Hodge to suggest the umpires were “pedalling lies” on Channel 7, prompting a strong rebuke from senior umpires in high-level talks with league chiefs on Wednesday.

AFL Umpires’ Association boss Rob Kerr said in a statement to the Herald Sun the umpires involved wanted to set the record straight.

“The umpires spoke to the coaches after the game and there was a discussion about the Schultz incident,” Kerr said.

“After the story (on Channel 7) last night, we spoke to the umpires because we couldn’t see how the narrative from last night made any sense.”

The umpires were upfront about seeing a struggling Schultz in Friday’s umpire review because they were aware they were wearing microphones and were being recorded for coaching purposes and as part of the broadcast.

They allowed play to continue because the umpires believed Schultz was not in immediate danger.

It is the second major controversy the AFL has faced within 10 days after the red-faced league backflipped on a Willie Rioli suspension last week following revelations in the media containing new information about multiple threats made by the forward.

Kane said the AFL had failed in handling the Schultz case.

“Our process in determining what happened Thursday night failed and for that we take full responsibility,” Kane said.

“Today we have determined there was a miscommunication from members of the umpiring department, not the field umpires, which formed the basis of our initial public statement on Friday.

“Those team members have been counselled and reminded of the importance of ensuring our process is fully followed regarding these types of incidents and in this instance it was not.

“I have asked GM Football Performance Josh Mahoney to review these processes to ensure the right information is communicated and to ensure this does not happen again. Everyone, including our umpires are aligned in ensuring the health and safety of players continues to be the utmost priority and the AFL has been in regular contact with the AFLUA today.”

Umpires were furious on Tuesday night after allegations they had misled headquarters, and calls for the whistleblowers to stand down for failing to stop play around Schultz as per AFL concussion protocols.

But tensions were smoothed over on Wednesday when the league admitted it had erred.

One source suggested many felt their integrity had been questioned in Kane’s Tuesday night statement that claimed the umpires didn’t remember seeing Schultz concussed.

AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh said the AFL needed to reform its health and safety processes in the wake of ­multiple concerning player injury incidents.

“What this highlights to us is that the process of dealing with vital health and safety issues on the field is unclear, and there are many recent examples of the industry needing to better prepare everyone for when these situations occur,” Marsh said.

“Equally, we are disappointed that the AFL failed to appropriately review a serious on-field incident but acknowledge that they have taken responsibility for this.”

An “angry” and “agitated” former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has called for a full investigation into how the AFL came to issue the incorrect statement.

“There’s got to be a huge inquest and time spent on this, and really open and transparent communication of what has occurred,” Buckley said on SEN.

“It throws everything into disrepute.

“I thought the umpires handled it perfectly on the night. The Jamie Elliott mark was the first opportunity to blow time off, but there was nominally time off anyway, with 30 seconds to have the shot on goal.

“The umpires had it under control, absolutely under control, and the vision and audio of that demonstrated it.”

Laura Kane said a miscommunication caused the debacle. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

In the umpire exchange, the whistleblowers can be heard saying to each other: “Got an injured player in the middle … I’m watching.

As Schultz stumbled from the ground and fell over, one umpire can be heard exclaiming, “oh”.

The conversation continues: “It’s OK. What do you think Craig? We haven’t … we haven’t been told. Not yet.”

The umpires’ conversation refers to the fact the whistleblowers had not heard from the medical spotter in the AFL Review Centre (ARC) about Schultz’s condition.

The medical spotter can order the game to be stopped to help care for a player who is suspected to have concussion.

But the responsibility to stop the game also sits with the umpires and does not sorely rest with the medical spotter in the ARC.

UMPIRES ‘FURIOUS’ AMID BLAME GAME OVER SCHULTZ DRAMA

The AFL Players’ Association says the AFL needs to reform its health and safety processes in the wake of the Lachie Schultz concussion debacle.

Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh expressed his dismay at revelations umpires saw Schultz on the ground in the win over Fremantle but dangerously allowed play to continue.

Marsh said it was one of many examples which highlighted serious concerns around how the league managed health and safety issues such as concussions on field.

The suggestion that it was the umpires who misled the league has drawn ire within umpiring circles, with one source close to the umpiring group describing the latest situation as a “total shambles”.

Last year Melbourne’s Christian Petracca played on with life-threatening internal injuries which has become subject to review.

Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron was also concussed in an off-field incident last year and was allowed to play on, prompting a change to the concussion rules in-season.

Adelaide’s Jordan Dawson was another who played on after a head knock before he was eventually subbed out of the game with concussion in the fourth-term last year.

Umpire Justin Power.

Umpire Simon Meredith.

There was also concern over a Harrison Jones incident last month when play was allowed to continue after the Bomber suffered a serious ankle injury.

Jones was over the boundary line but still close to the play when the game continued.

The Players’ Association says the increasing number of concerning health and safety incidents is a major worry for the game and its stars and should lead to a full examination.

Players are subject to searing review and frame-by-frame slow-motion replays in the match review process which fines and suspends them for disciplinary matters.

Yet industry sources have pointed to a blatant hypocrisy in the Schultz incident after failing to review the incident using the umpire audio.

Jordan Clark and Lachie Schultz collide.

Schulz is helped to his feet by trainers.

The umpires’ conversation refers to the fact the whistleblowers had not heard from the medical spotter in the AFL Review Centre (ARC) about Schultz’s condition.

The medical spotter can order the game to be stopped to help care for a player who is suspected to have concussion.

But the responsibility to stop the game also sits with the umpires and does not sorely rest with the medical spotter in the ARC.

The ARC medical spotter is a back-up function for the umpires.

It means the umpires should still have paused the game as they had seen Schultz on the ground, regardless of the help they receive from the ARC.

Umpire Craig Fleer.

Umpire Martin Rodger.

Schultz showed immediate concussion symptoms in Collingwood’s win over the Dockers and the audio revealed on Channel 7 on Tuesday night confirmed the umpires saw he was in a distressed state.

Yet the whistleblowers told Kane they did not see Schultz which was the reason for them allowing play to continue, the league said in a statement last week.

Off the field there has also been significant outcry over inconsistencies over penalties for off-field behaviour such as the GWS Giants’ ‘Whacky Wednesday’ dress-up sanctions.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was fined $20,000 for his plane jibe after the tense semi-final win over the Hawks last year which became the main promotional tool and marquee match for this year’s Gather Round.

The Players’ Association has a health and safety committee led by former club doctor Ben Barresi and Monash neuroscience professor Sandy Schultz to help guide policy decision-making.

“It is now clear that the umpires noticed Lachie Schultz’ injury and had the opportunity to stop the play to ensure he left the field safely,” Marsh said.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the industry to continually strengthen health and safety protocols for our members.”

Laura Kane is under fire over the handling of the Lachie Schultz debacle. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Kane said earlier this year recent head injury assessment modifications meant the AFL could manage concussions like the blood rule and would “assist in getting the players off the ground as quickly and safely as possible”.

However, umpires failed to follow correct protocols in the Schultz incident, putting him at risk of further injury.

“It is important that we continue to make it easier for the doctors and clubs to manage any possible head impact,” Kane said.

“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.”

Originally published as AFL takes “full responsibility” in light of botched Lachie Schultz investigation