Collingwood midfielder Josh Carmichael suffers concussion as AFL considers future of contact training

A Collingwood midfielder has been concussed for a second time in three months as the AFL considers limiting the number of contact sessions clubs can hold.

MELBOURNE. 09/07/2022 . AFL . Round 17. Collingwood vs North Melbourne at the MCG. Collingwood debutant Josh Carmichael . Photo by Michael Klein

Collingwood midfielder Josh Carmichael has become the second player this week to suffer concussion as the league weighs up limiting contact training to reduce head knocks.

Carmichael, 24, suffered concussion at Collingwood training on Monday and will sit out the rest of the sessions in the lead-up to the Christmas break as he recovers.

It is the second concussion in three months for Carmichael who also copped a high knock in the VFL and entered concussion protocols in September.

The Magpies’ midfielder joins Carlton’s Mitch McGovern on the sidelines after the Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday the defender had also suffered concussion in training.

It is a major issue for the game following the recommendations from State Coroner John Cain including cutting back the volume of contact work at training to help reduce concussions in football.

Josh Carmichael is the latest player to go down with a concussion injury. Picture: Getty Images

Cain was delivering his findings into the death of former Richmond hard nut Shane Tuck when he urged the game to reduce contact training from 2025 to help protect players from brain injuries.

The league will take time to weigh up the recommendations before implementing any changes.

The AFL has taken a strong stance against head high hits through the match review process this year to help discourage high bumps and dumping tackles.

Collingwood is also awaiting a verdict on Nathan Murphy’s future following a series of concussions including a bout in the Grand Final win over Brisbane.

Murphy’s case is being assessed by a medical panel. His status for next year is uncertain despite some optimism Murphy would be fine to play on.

BLUES GUN SUFFERS HEAD KNOCK AS AFL REVIEWS CONTACT TRAINING FUTURE

Carlton star Mitch McGovern has suffered a concussion during a Blues training session as the league considers whether to limit clubs’ contact training to help prevent head knocks.

McGovern endured a head knock at training on Monday and will miss the final two training sessions leading into the Christmas break.

While the gun backman has entered concussion protocols, he is expected to make a full recovery in time for training to resume in mid January.

Carlton on Tuesday confirmed McGovern “was involved in an incidental collision” at training and was treated by the club’s medical department on Monday.

It comes as the league considers whether to cut back on full contract training in-line with the recommendations from State Coroner John Cain following the death of former Tiger Shane Tuck who suffered multiple concussions in his career.

Cain urged the league to reduce contact training from 2025 in a bid to reduce players’ chances of suffering serious brain injuries over their careers.

The AFL is considering the advice in what represents the greatest challenge in the game as former players press forward with class action against the league over its concussion handling.

Brownlow medallist and McGovern’s Carlton teammate Patrick Cripps said on Monday limiting contact at training was “always a tricky question”.

Mitch McGovern suffered a concussion at training. Picture: Getty Images

He said players believed clubs were doing all they could to guard against concussions.

“I think when you play contact sport, you are never going to get it perfect,” Cripps said.

“I think there has been a lot of trust in the AFL and the clubs to monitor and protect players as much as they can.

“I think that question is going to be getting asked for as long as this game goes but I feel like every year the clubs and the AFL are working really hard together to make sure that we not only play a great brand of footy but also that our health is No. 1 as well.”

Judge Cain also recommended independent concussion spotters, who watch games from the media box, be empowered to remove players from the field for medical assessment.

Other recommendations include the AFL increase player and community awareness of head trauma, it develop standardised baseline testing and it encourages players to donate their brain for medical research.

Judge Cain commended the AFL for implementing the Brain Health Initiative, a $25m program over the next decade which aims to monitor the brain health of players over their career.

Dr Makdissi said the AFL had made more than 30 regulation changes since 2005 to reduce the risk of head trauma, including the banning of boxing training, rule changes to tackling and upgrading impact categorisations based on severity of injury.