‘I thought we’d moved past that’: Sickening head clash rocks AFL

The AFL community was in disbelief after two Port Adelaide stars were allowed back into the game despite a horrific head clash.

Tom Jonas and Zak Butters come off worse for wear. Photo: Getty Images

Richmond have re-entered the top eight after outlasting Port Adelaide by 12 points at the MCG on Thursday night in a game where the AFL’s concussion protocols, as well as the Power’s medical team, are sure to come under scrutiny.

Star Port duo Tom Jonas and Zak Butters clashed heads in a sickening collision on the wing in the final quarter, leaving them with nasty gashes above the eye and on the cheek respectively.

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The incident came at a crucial time with the Power trailing by just two points and allowed the Tigers the man advantage to kick a key goal.

But curiously, neither player was concussion-tested, and returned to the field of action in a desperate bid to help their side pinch a victory.

It was an incident that raised plenty of eyebrows as

It was brutal watching as one of the commentators on Fox Footy whispered: “Can’t watch that.”

After the game, the Herald Sun’s John Ralph called it “a car crash-style incident” after the match.

Butter was off the ground for six minutes and 20 seconds, while Jonas was back after eight minutes and seven seconds.

However, Ralph did say: “I don’t think it’s for you and me in the cheap seats to suggest they were concussed, and not all head knocks do result in concussions.”

Tom Jonas and Zak Butters have both come from the ground following this incident.#AFLTigersPowerpic.twitter.com/wYFTB8yi5j

— AFL (@AFL) June 9, 2022

Port Adelaide told Seven’s Tom Browne that it was a “cut to the head” and that “concussion protocols were followed”.

This is fine. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Social media did not agree however.

Newscorp’s Peter Brown tweeted: “The fact two players have come back on the field after a brutal head clash is the story of the @AFL season. This is bigger than the result tonight.

“I simply can’t believe the @AFL has allowed two players who were involved in a sickening head clash to come back on the field. I am dumbstruck. I thought we’d moved past that.”

Herald Sun’s Lauren Wood wrote: “Worth noting that AFL concussion guidelines are around testing players that exhibit concussion symptoms or signs – as opposed to just viewing the incident. Should it be both? I would argue yes. You can rehab a hamstring – not a brain.”

In the space of 24 hours, we've had two examples of Australian sports not taking concussion seriously enough.

Firstly Isaah Yeo in #Origin and now Jonas and Butters in #AFLTigersPower

Really disappointing. Surely they had to be tested at least.

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) June 9, 2022

No concussion tests? 🤷‍♂️ Abbey Holmes only commentator brave enough to say something. https://t.co/6jDHEZTZj0

— Paul Kennedy (@paulwkennedy) June 9, 2022

#notadoctor but no concussion test after this seems... Extremely Questionable https://t.co/zJQC9QJ0oo

— Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) June 9, 2022

Those efforts would be ultimately in vain, however, and the 11.11 (77) to 10.5 (65) result ensures the Power will finish the round at least two games outside the top eight, and they could be three games adrift if Collingwood upset Melbourne on Monday. In that scenario, the Tigers would also slip back outside of the eight.

After affording himself some respite with five wins in the past six games, following Port Adelaide’s 0-5 start, Power coach Ken Hinkley is sure to experience increased pressure on his job as his team’s finals hopes fade yet again in his 10th year in charge. No coach has ever survived a 10th season having not delivered his club a premiership.

After squandering a 33-point lead to Sydney in their last game, Richmond looked like they were headed for another dramatic fade out when their 26-point lead evaporated as Sam Powell-Pepper put the Power back in front early in the final term.

It was a terrible moment between Butters and Jonas. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Richmond bookends Noah Balta and Josh Gibcus switched ends in the last quarter, after Todd Marshall (three goals) had the better of Gibcus in the opening three quarters, and the move paid off with Gibcus putting the Tigers back in front four minutes later.

Soon after, Dustin Martin extended Richmond’s lead to eight points but after a tense 12 minutes, Connor Rozee got the Power back within three points after a sensational running effort from 50m out after bursting clear of three Tigers.

However, fittingly, Liam Baker, who was magnificent in the final quarter, had the final say, kicking a beautiful dribbler under pressure to put the Tigers up by nine points and the Power had nothing left to give after that.

But in a slight concern, Baker might come under match review scrutiny for a headhigh bump on Marshall in the first quarter.

The Tigers’ delivery to their forward line wasn’t flash for large parts of the night, but their huge advantage in inside 50s (64-47) proved pivotal.

The Power finished with more disposals (373-341), and even won the clearances (39-30) despite their makeshift ruckman Jeremy Finlayson doing most of the grunt work against Richmond duo Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo, but they were let down by poor ball use and skill errors too often.

Baker was well supported by Trent Cotchin and Dion Prestia while Dylan Grimes, Robbie Tarrant and Nick Vlastuin were huge down back.

The defeat came at a cost for the Power who lost Trent Dumont (calf) to injury.