Concussed East Belmont cricketer replaced after being hit in the jaw at training

A Geelong cricketer that was hit in the jaw at training taking high catches has brought swift changes to the governing body’s concussion protocols.

An East Belmont fourth grade cricketer was replaced midway through a game after suffering a concussion at training. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A Geelong cricketer that was hit in the jaw at training has brought swift changes to the local governing body’s concussion protocols.

Two players were replaced after day one of the North Geelong versus East Belmont and South Barwon v St Joseph’s fourth grade matches in mid-January.

A Lions player reportedly got hit in the jaw while catching high balls during training and was concussed but has since returned to the field of play.

Meanwhile, a junior Joeys player suffered a seizure on the Saturday morning of the second day of a fourth grade match against the Swans and was subbed out, following an agreement between both clubs.

Both North Geelong and South Barwon were thanked for their “common sense approach” to the requests from the Lions and Joeys, the association said.

However, the request to replace a player “exposed a gap in the GCA process” with the association following CA’s guidelines, an internal email revealed.

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The guidelines had not created specific match regulations to allow for replacement players.

The GCA has since introduced a playing regulation to support the concussion guidelines and has been in force since February 1.

Under the CA guidelines, any player or official with a confirmed concussion should not return to play or train on the same day, and should only return to play or train once cleared by a qualified medical doctor and no earlier than 13 days from the concussion incident.

Under the new GCA regulation, the player must be a like-for-like player and can commence play from when the concussed player left.

Players can be replaced by those from the immediate lower grade or by a player that is not participating on that day, and that concussion protocols have been followed.

Individual clubs must oversee protocols, including medical assessments.

However, the regulation cannot be applied to one day games.

Originally published as Concussed East Belmont cricketer replaced after being hit in the jaw at training