AFL 2022: Paul Seedsman’s future in doubt as concussion issues linger

Matthew Nicks has revealed the lingering effects of Paul Seedsman’s concussion and conceded the Crows star has had several setbacks in his recovery. Get the latest news.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – Advertiser Photos FEBRUARY 7, 2022: AFL Adelaide Crows Player #11 Paul Seedsman training along with the rest of the team at Adelaide Football Clubs, West Lakes Oval, SA. Picture Emma Brasier

Matthew Nicks has revealed the extent of the incident which has left Paul Seedsman with lingering concussion symptoms.

The Adelaide senior coach also said he is hoping to see Seedsman back in action “early on in this season” but the club will take no risk with the star wingman.

Seedsman suffered the concussion prior to the Crows’ Christmas break and two months on is still dealing with symptoms.

After a career-best season in 2021, Seedsman is unable to partake in contact training and has to wear sunglasses when outside running at West Lakes.

Paul Seesdman jogging at training in sunglasses. Picture: Emma Brasier

Nicks said Seedsman had copped a heavy hit in a marking contest.

“It is a really delicate area when you talk about concussion,” he said on Triple M.

“Seedo was in a marking contest and he copped a knee to the back of the head and it really flushed him so at the moment his health and wellbeing is the number one thing for us.”

The Crows aren’t putting a time frame on when Seedsman will return to contact training or games.

Nicks said this was because Seedsman was having good and bad weeks in his recovery.

“He’s had his ups and downs, he has been tracking really well and then he will have a bit of a setback,” Nicks said.

“When I talk about setbacks, I’m not an expert on concussions and headaches coming back in but he will have a really good session and then unfortunately for the next 24 hours he might feel a little bit down and get the headaches back.”

Paul Seedsman was one of Adelaide’s best players last season.

Nicks said there had been moments where he thought Seedsman was ready to return to full training, but added the Crows had to be patient with him.

“We will be taking no risk with that, we won’t be putting a time frame on him,” Nicks said.

“He has these moments where I think he is close to coming back in that game simulation and then we will have a few setbacks here and there.

“He is chugging along and we are hoping to see him early on in this season.”

TOP DOC WEIGHS IN ON CROW’S CONCUSSION BATTLE

The immediate playing future of Paul Seedsman remains in doubt after the star wingman continues to miss training sessions because of ongoing concussion issues.

Seedsman, who finished third in Adelaide’s best and fairest count last year, suffered a concussion in a training drill prior to the Crows playing list going on their Christmas break.

Two months on Seedsman is still unable to take part in any contact drills at Crows training.

He has been restricted to running, and has been doing kicking drills in recent weeks, but has to wear sunglasses outside.

The Crows have declined to comment on whether Seedsman will be available to play in February practice matches, whether he could return for Round 1 or even when he is set to return to full training.

Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

Paul Seedsman has been restricted to running drills. Picture Emma Brasier

Adelaide has previously said it will approach Seedsman’s lingering concussion symptoms with caution.

Associate Professor Alan Pearce, who is regarded as Australia’s pre-eminent concussion researcher, said the Crows needed to be careful with Seedsman since he was having issues for more than a month after getting the initial concussion.

“So if it takes him half a season to recover then it takes him half a season to recover because it might extend his career for another two or three years,” Pearce told The Advertiser.

“Rather than rushing him back and then all of a sudden he gets another brain injury or a musculoskeletal injury and he is back to square one.”

Pearce said Seedsman would be “somewhere in what we call stage three” of a six stage return to play strategy – sport-specific exercise running and drills.

Seedsman is believed to be at ‘stage three’. Picture Emma Brasier

“The fact that he hasn’t gotten into any contact training is a bit of a concern two months out (from the concussion),” Pearce said.

“Because even with what we push for with a longer recovery time, even with 25 to 28 days he would then have started to do some more stuff where at nearly 60 days he is just doing some running and he needs to shade his eyes.

“That he hasn’t done any contact training is a flag.”

The Crows have an internal trial next Friday, and then start pre-season matches.

Pearce said they can’t rush Seedsman back for either of these games.

“He still has a number of stages to go in his return to play strategy,” he said.

“The club would be skirting their responsibility to him if they brought him very quickly from that to pre-season games.”

The AFL confirmed this week that they would continue with their minimum 12 day mandatory rest for any player who suffers concussion in the 2022 season.

Originally published as AFL 2022: Paul Seedsman’s future in doubt as concussion issues linger