AFL’s decision on Nathan Murphy and Jordan Roughead shapes as significant test case for concussion rule

The AFL’s concussion rules are in for their fiercest test yet with Collingwood set to ask the league for permission to clear two players of concussion.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 01: Nathan Buckley, Senior Coach of the Magpies looks on during the 2021 AFL Round 07 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Gold Coast Suns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 01, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood will accept the AFL’s view on its new concussion protocol but only subbed Nathan Murphy from Saturday’s victory because of his history of head knocks.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said post match that both Murphy and Jordan Roughead had passed concussion tests despite finishing the game off the ground.

The Herald Sun understands Murphy passed the SCAT tests as required but after multiple concussions in the last year the Pies doctor decided against him returning to the ground.

He was concussed in a VFL practice match against Richmond last month, and also suffered a hit that saw him fracture his cheekbone late in 2020.

Roughead was shaken in a hit with North Melbourne’s Cam Zurhaar in the last term, with the Pies doctor assessing the damage.

With only 20 minutes remaining in the game he didn’t return but again he passed the range of SCAT tests as the doctor also analysed vision.

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Jordan Roughead copped a head knock against North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Both players showed no concussion symptoms after the game but will be monitored in the next 48 hours so delayed concussion is ruled out.

The AFL said on Sunday it would make the incidents part of its weekly review, with its medical team to consult with the Pies on the 12-day protocol.

If the league decides the players will miss next week’s game against Sydney at the SCG the Pies will accept the decision.

But it shapes as a significant test case because the league will not want clubs challenging its protocol every time a player’s symptoms improve.

Some players are deemed concussed despite passing SCAT tests because of other symptoms or evidence seen by doctors as they review the footage.

But the Pies are adamant neither player was concussed and that Murphy was not risked given the club’s awareness of his concussion history.

The AFL’s January media release on its new concussion protocols made clear players might be able to return the next week after being subbed off with head knocks.

Former AFL concussion researcher Alan Pearce, now associated with the Australian sports brain bank, said the players could make a case to play against Sydney.

He said the Pies doctor should be commended for showing caution.

“There are always grey areas but each case should be looked at individually. The media release talked about presumptive concussion.

“So if a player is brought off and looks concussed and the doctor from the club decides upon further examination they weren’t concussed, they fall under the presumptive concussion clause. So they can be cleared as long as they talk to the chief medical officer.

Jordan Roughead was ruled out with concussion. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/Getty Images

“It would be good to have testing for biomarkers which doesn’t rely on symptoms to show if players were concussed but the doctor should be commended for showing caution rather than just saying they could play on.“

The league’s release stated: “In connection with this substantive change, where a player is withheld from a game with a presumptive diagnosis of concussion but on subsequent assessment the club doctor and/or specialist supports a change in that diagnosis, the subsequent assessment must be discussed with and can only be approved by the AFL Chief Medical Officer.”

Roughead was concussed in 2019 in a game against Richmond and believed he was still playing for the Western Bulldogs.

He fumbled a handball that led to a Sydney Stack goal after being hit directly in the head with a football, with Nathan Buckley revealing later fellow defender Brayden Maynard has alerted doctors to his symptoms.

“There was one bit of play where he (Roughead) got handballed the ball, he fumbled it and then Sydney Stack kicked a goal,” Buckley said.

“He went to Brayden Maynard and he said ‘what happened then?’ And he (Maynard) went: ‘Well you dropped the ball mate and we had a goal kicked against us.’ And he (Roughead) goes: ‘I can’t even remember it.’”

CONCUSSION RULES TO BE CHALLENGED AFTER PIES’ PASSED TESTS

Nick Smart

The AFL’s new concussion protocols are set for their fiercest test yet with Collingwood set to ask the league to clear Jordan Roughead and Nathan Murphy to play in Round 9.

Both players were withdrawn from Saturday’s much needed win over North Melbourne by club medicos with concussion.

League rules stipulate they must now miss at least 12 days, which would rule both players out for next Saturday’s away clash with Sydney.

But the Magpies are set to investigate whether they can be granted exemptions given they both passed their tests.

Roughead, in particular, appeared agitated he had been pulled, and was seen arguing with club medicos on the interchange bench during the second half of the clash with the Kangaroos.

The decision is likely to fall with AFL chief medical officer Peter Harcourt, who would need to tick off whether or not the two Magpies would be allowed to face the Swans.

“Both of the boys that came out of the game actually passed concussion tests,” Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said.

“I was just having a chat with Wrighty (football manager Graham Wright) before coming in here and (asking) ‘what does that mean if we’ve passed concussion tests?’

“So we’ll be gathering that information during the week.”

When asked how Murphy was then able to be subbed out for concussion, Buckley replied:

“That’s what I’ll be finding out.

“I think largely that comes down to our doc and I think the vision is concluded in that.

“And I understand the decision in the moment, the doctor needs to make it off the back of all the available evidence and the test is just one.

Nathan Murphy (concussion) has been replaced by Callum Brown. #AFLNorthPies

— AFL (@AFL) May 8, 2021

“But I don’t know what that means for going forward and if I said any more about it I’d be speaking out of school.”

Buckley was a relieved man following Collingwood’s second win of the season on Saturday that followed five straight defeats.

“Immediately it’s a better feeling and obviously Steele (Sidebottom)’s 250th is significant in that regard,” he said.

“But the best thing out of that will be the vision we can show the players in the week about what happens closer to our brand.

“We didn’t do it consistently but the elements that we did we’ll be able to reinforce.”

Bucks learns two big lessons as Pies ease pressure

Nick D’Urbano

Memo to Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley – the time for experiments is over.

Two things are abundantly clear after Collingwood’s desperately needed win over North Melbourne on Saturday.

Firstly, Jordan De Goey is a deep forward.

Secondly, Darcy Moore is a defender.

Neither player should ever play anywhere else again, unless in an emergency.

De Goey might like to think he is a midfielder, but his best position is – and always has been – deep inside the forward 50.

Jordan De Goey had kicked four majors before halftime. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos Getty Images

In a team that lacks explosiveness and forward class, he is the Magpies’ best in that department and has to stay deep forward.

He must have been licking his lips at the opening bounce.

Playing out of the goalsquare, the job on him was given to Roo Aiden Bonar.

The former Giant is a good player but he’s predominantly a midfield who was essentially turned into a fullback for the day.

It appeared clear that Bonar was not the right match-up for De Goey as he struggled with the Magpie’s power and strength.

Although, to the surprise of many, coach David Noble persisted with Bonar and allowed De Goey to play himself back into form at North Melbourne’s expense.

The Roos’ best stopper, Ben McKay, was instead playing on youngster Beau McCreery.

Kangaroos skipper Jack Ziebell also spent time on De Goey at stages, but Bonar was largely left to his own devices in the first half as his opponent kicked four goals to halftime and six for the match.

After a week of harsh criticism, it was the perfect response.

An even better response will be if he can maintain the rage next week and the week after.

Ziebell moved to him in the second half, and Bonar’s dirty day ended with an ankle injury that saw him subbed out.

At the other end, Moore looked like a different man.

Last week, the last of his three-week trial up forward, he had just five touches in the Magpies’ insipid loss to Gold Coast.

On Saturday he had a career-high 28 disposals and 19 marks to prove why he was the All-Australian centre half-back last year.

Moore relished the freedom to set the Magpies up behind the ball as part of Buckley’s plan to revert to an old game plan this week.

The Magpies were the slowest team in the league for ball movement last year, but they made the call over the off-season to become a lower-possession, more direct football team on offence.

It hasn’t had the desired result, and Buckley said a change had been implemented this week as the 17th-placed Magpies searched for a way to kickstart their stuttering season.

It produced an immediate result – the Magpies’ second win of the year – and didn’t the coach need it.

It releases the pressure for now, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll do enough to convince club bosses he’s the man to take the Magpies into 2022.

Any week but this week Brody!

Checkers takes a screamer 🙌#AFLNorthPiespic.twitter.com/0WU8h8Euuu

— AFL (@AFL) May 8, 2021

Brody Mihocek got vertical to take a specky on Josh Walker. Picture: Fox Footy

Jaidyn Stephenson booted two in his first-game against his former club after a much-publicised exit from the club in the off-season while Aaron Hall was influential off halfback with a game-high 37 disposals.

It’s now 16 straight defeats for the Kangaroos as new coach David Noble still searches for his first win in the top-job.

De Goey was on fire early, kicking two of the Magpies opening three of the game and making the most of his first-half match-up on Aiden Bonar.

The Kangaroos brought the heat early, forcing John Noble into a deliberate rushed behind which saw former Magpie Stephenson boot the Kangaroos first.

Collingwood began to assume control of the contest in the second-term, making the Kangaroos pay on the scoreboard booting 5.4 to 1.4 – opening up a 30-point halftime lead.

After the major break, the Roos responded with four unanswered goals to cut the margin to six points early in the third term.

Again, Collingwood steadied and responded with a one-two punch of their own – booting four of the last five as Cameron’s second helped maintain the Magpies five-goal barrier heading into the final quarter.

De Goey’s sixth sealed the result for the Magpies as North squandered numerous opportunities to get back into the contest (21-10 in final term).

For the first time in 32 years, John and David Noble became only the third ever father-son duo in the history of AFL/VFL football to compete against each-other.

David had the peculiar task of plotting his first victory as Kangaroos coach against his son John who has become a mainstay of the Magpies back six since he was picked up in the 2019 mid-season draft.

John overcame a nervous start in which he was pinged for a deliberate rushed behind to be one of the Magpies better contributors (career high 31 disposals) and ultimately leaving his dad searching for his maiden win.

BIZARRE ZURHAAR DELIBERATE

Is this one of the worst free kicks paid of the season?

With the game still delicately poised in the second-term, Cameron Zurhaar had a rapid-fire shot at goal which took an almighty shank and rolled out for what seemed to be a straightforward throw-in.

However, the umpire astonishingly paid a deliberate against Zurhaar which had the players and fans alike completely baffled.

ROOS 2.2, 3.6, 8.7, 11.10 (76)

PIES 3.2, 8.6, 12.10, 14.10 (94)

D’URBANO’S BEST

ROOS: Hall, Ziebell, Stephenson, Menadue, Cunnington, T.Thomas

PIES: Moore, De Goey, Maynard, Crisp, Noble, Pendlebury, Sidebottom,

GOALS

ROOS: Stephenson 2, T.Thomas 2, Mahony 2, Zurhaar 2, Campbell, Lazzaro, Turner

PIES: De Goey 6, Cameron 3, Pendlebury 2, Mihocek 2, Hoskin-Elliott

INJURIES

ROOS: Bonar (ankle) substituted by Phillips

PIES: Murphy (concussion) substituted by C.Brown, Roughead (concussion)

VENUE: 22,329 at Marvel Stadium

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

D’URBANO’S VOTES

3: Darcy Moore (Coll)

2: Jordan De Goey (Coll)

1: Aaron Hall (NM)