‘It doesn’t make sense’: Swans coach John Longmire calls for rethink on sub rule around concussion tests

The Swans were down a rotation in the final quarter of the Sydney Derby and John Longmire thinks there is a simple solution if the AFL wants to keep taking concussion seriously.

Jake Lloyd heads to the rooms for an HIA in the final quarter of the Sydney Derby. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sydney coach John Longmire believes the AFL should look at how the competition can use the substitute rule for players who are undergoing concussion tests.

The Swans were down a rotation in the final quarter against the Giants when Jake Lloyd was sent for an HIA following a heavy hit from Brent Daniels.

Lloyd returned to the field 15 minutes later after passing the assessment, but Longmire felt it was the perfect opportunity for Logan McDonald, who had already been subbed out of the game, to be reintroduced.

“What happened in the last quarter, you get a player come off to be assessed, which is fine,” Longmire said.

“But wouldn’t it be good to bring the player on next to you who is nice and healthy, and nothing is wrong with him?”

Logan McDonald was subbed out of the games for tactical reasons. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

It’s a similar strategy to what currently occurs in the NRL, where the 18th man is allowed to be introduced into the game when a team is undergoing multiple HIAs as a result of foul play.

Longmire thinks it’s an area the AFL needs to examine, with concussions now having a major impact on teams each weekend.

“It’s interesting this space, we’ve got to be mindful to keep evolving,” Longmire said.

“There’s probably a couple of things. One is to maybe stop the game if there’s a player that requires an HIA. That would have to be worked through, but it’s hard to get a player off during the course of the game when it’s up and back.

“And second of all, if you’ve got a player already subbed off that’s sitting there healthy, it doesn’t make sense you can’t bring him back.

“I’m sure that the powers that be should look at that and maybe consider that in the off-season.”