Port Adelaide may face punishment for mismanagement of Aliir Aliir after huge collision

The AFL is investigating Port Adelaide’s handling of Aliir Aliir following a head knock, as a Power forward forced into retirement by concussion has his say.

Aliir Aliir sits on the bench. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty

The AFL is considering penalties for Port Adelaide over its handling of Aliir Aliir’s head knock as a Power spearhead forced into retirement by concussion urged the league to harden its policies.

The Power on Sunday strongly defended its concussion policies as AFL football boss Laura Kane and chief medical officer Michael Makdissi investigated Saturday night’s dramatic incident.

Ex-Port Adelaide star Jay Schulz said the footage and return of Aliir made him “feel sick”, while the lawyer representing players in a concussion class action said players in Aliir’s circumstances should not return to the game.

Aliir was given approval to return to the field five minutes and 35 seconds after being rocked by a head clash with teammate Lachie Jones in the club’s loss to Adelaide.

Both players were assessed by club doctor Mark Fisher with the standard head injury assessment.

But under AFL policies there’s an expectation a head knock of that magnitude requires players to be given the SCAT5 test in the rooms with a 15-minute period of rest.

Aliir Aliir (L) grimaces after the collision. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty

While the AFL has used the term HIA as a short form for its concussion test this year, it is actually the SCAT5 that is the detailed head knock assessment Aliir should have undertaken.

It’s understood the league is furious Jones was given the SCAT5 test but Aliir was passed fit without Fisher requiring him to be checked with greater detail in the rooms.

The club – which was fined $20,000 for its concussion management in 2016 and investigated last year over returning players Tom Jonas and Zak Butters to the field quickly over head knocks – could face fines or other sanctions from the AFL.

The league said on Sunday the league’s investigation would continue as it monitored the symptoms of players and continued discussions with Port Adelaide.

“Over the coming days the AFL will continue to have dialogue with the Port Adelaide Football Department and their Club Doctor to closely monitor the management of Aliir and Jones,” it said.

Ex-Power forward Schulz has spoken of his battle with anxiety and depression after 40 footy concussions as he prepares to be part of a concussion lawsuit.

“Footage from last night’s head clash makes me feel sick. As someone who knows what can happen it’s disappointing. You could see they were both out before hitting the ground,” he said.

“It’s no one’s fault, we play a contact spot but it’s time the decision is taken away from player and club.”

Aliir Aliir sits on the bench. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty

AFL concussion campaigner Peter Jess said on Sunday the league needed to adopt the NFL policy of independent concussion doctors at each game who safeguarded the welfare of players.

“The club doctors are compromised because when one player is subbed out, it really places enormous pressure on the club doctor,” he said.

“What they have in the NFL is they have a neurologist appointed to every game. They oversee the assessments of all concussions . We have got to advance the technology where it is expert-based. The AFL’s mantra is if in doubt, sit out. It is impossible to do a proper analysis on someone’s brain in 20 minutes. It is beyond comprehension.”

Margalit Injury Lawyers Principal Michel Margalit, leading one of two concussion law suits against the AFL, said the game still had a long way to go “acknowledging the dangers of concussions to its players”.

“The serious long-term impact of concussion is universally recognised, and in particular the cumulative effect of returning to play too soon. When a player suffers such a clear heavy knock, return to play should not be permitted. The debilitating long-term risks of concussion are just too great.

“A player who is injured mid-game is not in a position to consent to return to play. Adrenalin is pulsing through their veins and they have the heavy expectations of their team and their fans resting on their shoulders. That’s not to mention the cognitive impairment of concussion that intercepts good decision making.’’

“It is now incumbent on the AFL to show in their response that their strong stance of protecting players from concussion is more than just words.’’