Tom Doedee’s ‘crazy courage’ leads to ‘sickening’ collision against Essendon

Adelaide’s Tom Doedee “blind courage” led to a “sickening” hit against Essendon, with some suggesting he should have known better.

Adelaide’s Tom Doedee was too courageous for his own good. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Adelaide’s Tom Doedee was too courageous for his own good in the early stages of the Crows’ match against Essendon on Friday night.

The young defender was involved in a sickening contest in the first quarter at Marvel Stadium.

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As the ball was sent into Adelaide’s defensive 50, Doedee ran back with the flight of the ball and collided brutally with Essendon’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Crows teammate Chayce Jones.

“Big crunching contest!” James Brayshaw said in commentary on Channel 7.

“Look at that courage from Doedee. That’s sickening, isn’t it,” North Melbourne great Wayne Carey added.

Tom Doedee with amazing courage going back with the flight. 🙏

(watch on 7) pic.twitter.com/BoZxc1IzJV

— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 9, 2021

Doedee had the stuffing knocked out of him by the heavy contest and lay motionless on the turf for a minute before the Adelaide trainers came to his aid.

He was assisted from the field and went straight down to the change rooms for a medical assessment.

Experts and fans immediately questioned if Doedee’s extreme courage was worth it.

“Blind courage, he would have known what was coming,” AFLW Melbourne player and expert commentator Daisy Pearce said.

Tom Doedee (bottom) gets flattened in a brutal contest during Adelaide’s round 17 match with Essendon. Pic: Michael Klein

“If you can’t directly impact the footy, if you can’t get your hands to the footy and you’re just running in for the sake of showing courage,” Carey said

“I mean that was a tough collision.

“A future leader of his footy club and that’s why, when you see him go back with that type of courage.”

Tom Doedee clearly not a subscriber to the saying “discretion is the better part of valor”. #AFLDonsCrowshttps://t.co/IzKHVhPxW8

— Andrew Wu (@wutube) July 9, 2021

Tom Doedee straight down the rooms for a concussion test with a cut under his eye. Almost crazy courage. Massive collision with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

— Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) July 9, 2021

Doedee. Example of ‘stupid’ courage #AFLDonsCrows

— Mitch Hallahan (@mjhallahan14) July 9, 2021

Tom Doedee should’ve knowingly foreseen impact. Reckless. High contact. Probably gets 3 games for that act of courage. #AFLDonsCrows

— Joel Dry (@JoelDry7) July 9, 2021

However, the courageous act impressed current and former players alike.

“Tom Doedee. That’s incredibly brave. Wow,” Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams tweeted.

“Extraordinarily brave,” St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt said of Doedee on Fox Footy.

“You love that as a teammate. You love seeing teammates put their body on the line.”

It was confirmed Doedee had blurred vision and was subbed out of the game with concussion.

Ben Davis was activated as Adelaide’s medical substitute and took his place.

It means the 24-year-old will miss Adelaide’s clash with West Coast next week due to the AFL’s strict 12-day concussion protocols.