Questions raised after Aliir Aliir returns to play without undergoing a HIA test

Fans are demanding answers after a player returned to the field when his team failed to do the one thing that has become law in 2023.

Aliir Aliir wasn’t put through a HIA test. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Port Adelaide lost its third straight match on Saturday night after Adelaide proved far too strong in the Showdown.

The Crows poured it on as they ran away to secure a 47-point win behind the stellar play of Taylor Walker, who booted seven goals.

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The Power could be set for more pain throughout the week with questions set to be put to the club after star defender Aliir Aliir returned to the field of play shortly after being helped off following a heavy hit with teammate Lachie Jones.

Midway through the second quarter the two teammates slammed into each other during a marking contest.

Aliir courageously went back with the flight of the ball before being collected by Jones.

Both men were left sprawled out on the turf with replays appearing to show Aliir being out cold before he had even hit the deck. Club trainers and medicos rushed to their side before helping both men from the field.

Jones was taken down into the rooms while Aliir remained on the bench.

Much to the surprise of everyone watching on he stood up and went back onto the ground within 10 minutes of the incident.

Sam Skinner, who played two games for Port Adelaide last year before being delisted, took to Twitter to voice his dismay.

“Allowed back on after this? Duty of care?” Skinner tweeted.

“And they’ll call it ‘delayed concussion’ during the week to cover their a***s.”

Aliir and Jones in the hands of trainers. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Aliir Aliir was in a bad way. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It was confirmed by Fox Sports’ David Zita that the Power had not conducted a HIA with the club doctor deciding one wasn’t required.

“Port Adelaide have confirmed there was no Head Impact Assessment for Aliir Aliir. Veteran club doctor Mark Fisher examined the vision and was satisfied there was no need for one. Club says Lachie Jones been subbed out with a migraine,” Zita tweeted.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley leapt to the defence of his club’s medical staff.

“The doctor made those decisions based around both players and he was really clear and really certain to me and Aliir was too,” Hinkley said after the shock 47-point loss to Adelaide.

“I sat and spoke with Aliir and he was clear as you could be.

“The doctor was very, very comfortable that the situation was well and truly okay and that he was able to go back on.

I think we have got to the stage where Aliir should have 15 minutes out with a HIA regardless of whether he is subsequently cleared of concussion and able to return. Club doctors are under incredible time pressure but this was a big head clash. The vision was clear-cut pic.twitter.com/FSPc5FVYAy

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) July 29, 2023

“He went back out and played the whole game, so I don’t think there’s too many problems with Aliir other than he got beaten badly (by Taylor Walker).

“The doctor, Mark Fisher, is an incredibly experienced doctor and he makes the right decisions that he needs to make.

“As soon as he came off, I was absolutely surprised myself a little bit at how clear he looked and how bright he looked.

“He was the same Aliir that I was talking to before the game.”

While the incident got fans up and out of their seats, it was Aliir rejoining the game without having undergone a HIA test that raised eyebrows.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph wrote: “I think we have got to the stage where Aliir should have 15 minutes out with a HIA regardless of whether he is subsequently cleared of concussion and able to return. Club doctors are under incredible time pressure but this was a big head clash. The vision was clear-cut.”

Presenter Ben Way wrote: “It’s hard to say @afl is taking concussions seriously when players return from a clash like that so abruptly. Good to see Aliir Aliir back, but very swift.”

One user wrote: “Port Adelaide is going to have to answer some questions during the week. Aliir Aliir who clearly looked like he was concussed, has returned to the field.”