By Andrew Wu
The AFL says play was not stopped after Lachie Schultz’s head knock because the umpires failed to see the stricken Magpie lying in the middle of the centre square in the final quarter of Thursday night’s win over Fremantle.
The league on Friday did not apportion blame to any of the four field umpires who allowed play to continue for about a further 45 seconds while Schultz struggled to his feet, then fell before jogging off the field. Magpies coach Craig McRae confirmed post game Schultz was concussed in the incident.
Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz stumbles leaving the field in the round nine match against Fremantle.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The AFL Players Association accepted the league’s explanation but is concerned the league’s head injury assessment removal process failed to bring about Schultz’s exit sooner.
Umpires have the discretion to stop play on the grounds of player safety but failed to in this instance as they had not seen Schultz, the league said.
The league said if the umpires had seen Schultz, play would have been halted when Nick Daicos gained possession some 15 metres away from the dazed forward. This took place about 10 seconds after Schultz’s knock.
There was an umpire less than five metres away from Schultz who did not see the Magpie on the ground with his arm in the air in the fencing position unconsciously taken by people who have been concussed.
Umpires had a further opportunity to stop play when Jamie Elliott marked for a shot at goal. He was allowed to take his kick, creating another chance for the game to continue if he had kicked the ball into the player on the mark.
By this time, four trainers wearing pink or purple vests were jogging alongside Schultz, who was being given a generous applause from the crowd as he came off the field on the opposite wing.
“The play can be stopped by the umpires, who are instructed to stop play as soon as they are aware there is an injured player in the vicinity of play,” an AFL spokesperson said.
“In last night’s match, the umpires did not see the injured player at the time, so play continued. Upon review, if the umpires were aware play would have been stopped when Daicos had possession in the centre of ground.”
Players from both teams told the AFLPA play should have been stopped sooner, echoing the views of Pies captain Darcy Moore, the AFLPA president, and McRae.
Lachie Schultz talking to teammates after Thursday night’s win in which he copped a heavy knock.Credit: Getty Images
“Concussion is one of, if not, the biggest issues in the game and the industry must be conservative when it comes to dealing with head knocks,” an AFLPA spokesperson said.
“Notwithstanding how difficult this game is to officiate, the fact play continued after Lachie Schultz suffered a serious head knock last night wasn’t right and players on both sides believe that play needed to stop until Lachie was safely taken from the ground.
“Should an issue such as this arise again, we’d expect this action to be taken.”
Despite a five-day break, a hampered Nick Daicos, and travel across the country, the undermanned Pies overcame a committed but sloppy Fremantle to post a stirring 14-point victory – 15.7 (97) to 12.11 (83) – on Thursday night.
This was a game Collingwood – missing 948 games of experience from the absent quartet of Scott Pendlebury, Brayden Maynard, Jordan De Goey and Brody Mihocek – had no right to win, but no team is better at finding ways to get over the line than Fly’s Pies, who are the team to beat in 2025.
Jamie Elliott was the hero for the victors, booting a career-best six goals in a game where the Pies generated just 34 entries inside 50, were smashed in the middle and spent long periods of the game defending grimly.
The potentially season-defining win was marred by the ugly head knock to Schultz, who was floored in tackle on a charging Jordan Clark. Schultz lay on the ground in the centre square with his left arm raised then tried to get to his feet before toppling over.
Teammates show their care for Lachie Schultz as the Magpies sing their team song after Thursday night’s win.Credit: Getty Images
Clark did not appear to do much wrong but in the current climate around concussion his actions would have been closely scrutinised by the match review officer.
Umpires have the discretion to stop play for player safety, but the game continued for about a minute, with the ball getting within several metres of Schultz at one point.
On entering the AFL’s concussion protocols, Schultz will immediately become unavailable for the Pies’ game against Adelaide on Saturday week.
Moore said Magpies players were fearing for Schultz’s wellbeing, and play should not have been allowed to continue. There was also alarm among staff on the bench.
Jamie Elliott of the Magpies is tackled by Heath Chapman of the Dockers.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“When you see an incident like the one with Lachie Schultz, just competing so hard, it’s rattling to see,” Moore told Fox Footy.
“It’s a reminder to everyone watching on about the risks the guys take and what they are prepared to do.
“We were pretty concerned at how disorientated he looked, players on both teams thought the game should have been stopped to let him off the ground.
“That was really our first concern, how nasty it looked. But for the guys to regroup and score a few goals when the game was on the line, was awesome.
“He was right in front of me so I could see how much he struggled walking. It was 20 seconds and [we were] taking a set shot anyway, it felt like it was right in that moment.
“Clearly, it happens when [the player] is near the play. Someone is in a state like that and we are still running around, chasing the footy? It didn’t feel right.”
Heath Chapman of the Dockers and Lachie Schultz of the Magpies contest for the ball.Credit: Getty Images
McRae, who was coaching from the bench, also said play should have been stopped.
“We were all worried about his welfare,” McRae said. “We sent out a stretcher and the doctors were trying all they could to make sure Lachie was OK, and he jumped to his feet because that is just the way he goes. He gets knocked down, he gets back up after every contest.
“So we did what we could, ideally, we should stop the game.”
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