Port Adelaide concussion investigation: What really happened after Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones head clash

What really happened before Aliir Aliir returned to the field on Saturday? It’s the five minutes that has the AFL world talking. Does the Power have history? We take a closer look.

It is the five minutes that has the AFL world talking.

The league is investigating Port Adelaide’s handling of Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones’ sickening head clash that happened in the second quarter of Saturday night’s Showdown.

While Jones was taken down into the rooms for a SCAT5 test, Aliir returned to the field of play.

In the days since, the Power has been issued a please explain from the league and both Aliir and Jones placed in the concussion protocols and ruled out of this weekend’s clash with Geelong.

This is what Port Adelaide did in those five and a bit minutes, and what the AFL’s concussion guidelines say.

4.45 into the second quarter

Crow Chayce Jones clears the ball from the defensive 50 and Aliir and Lachie Jones clash on heads on centre wing while going for the ball along with Adelaide forward Riley Thilthorpe in a sickening collision.

Play continues for a couple of seconds as the two Power players lie stricken on the ground.

Aliir with his arms crossed and in pain, while Jones originally has his head above the ground before lying down.

The umpire calls a halt to the game as medical staff rush to their aid.

Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones go for the ball in a contest with Adelaide forward Riley Thilthorpe. Picture: Fox Sports.

Aliir and Jones both went to ground after clashing heads. Picture: Fox Sports.

Jones sits up first and rubs his temple and is able to get up unassisted, but Aliir is helped to his feet.

Both are escorted to the bench.

The Power medical staff did the right thing, rushing out to help Aliir and Jones and, once the game had stopped, treating them at the scene of the incident and then escorting them to the bench.

5.00

Broadcast footage catches both players on the bench getting attended to by medical staff – Aliir is getting his chin and jaw looked at, while Jones is being talked to.

It is still early on so the club medical staff perform a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and are on the look out for any suspected concussion. Medical staff were concerned about Aliir’s chin and jaw following the collision.

In the AFL’s guidelines, it states “the HIA is a rapid sideline screening tool for a suspected concussion. As such, it should be used in conjunction with the Sport Concussion Assessment tool 5th edition (SCAT5) and clinical judgement.”

Aliir had to be helped to his feet after the incident. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

Jones immediately reached for his temple after sitting up. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

5.50

The Power’s medical staff are now looking at vision on nearby monitors to determine if there was a suspected head injury event.

Aliir and Jones are still on the bench, Aliir is looking towards the monitor.

8.07

After an initial assessment and the footage has been reviewed, Jones has been escorted into the rooms for a Sport Concussion Assessment tool 5th edition (SCAT5) test.

He takes no further part in the match due to a migraine, according to the club.

Power club doctor Mark Fisher then determines that Aliir Aliir doesn’t need a SCAT5 test with coach Ken Hinkley telling reporters post-match: “The doctor was very, very comfortable that the situation was well and truly okay and that he (Aliir) was able to go back on.”

In the AFL guidelines, a player should be removed from play following a head collision to undertake further assessment including a SCAT5 test if they are:

10. Lying motionless (for > 2 seconds)

11. Possible no protective action in fall to ground

12. Possible impact seizure or tonic posturing

13. Possible motor incoordination

14. Possible dazed, blank/vacant stare

15. Possible behaviour changes atypical of the player

16. Any clinical impression or uncertainty from the club doctor that the player is not

quite right following trauma

After a small stint on the bench, Aliir returned to the field. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

But Port has admitted allowing Aliir to return without the proper testing was wrong. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

8.25

Aliir returns to the field.

On Monday, Fisher admitted he was wrong to allow Aliir’s return to the field without a concussion test.

“Like Lachie, Aliir’s condition was the subject of testing both on Saturday night after the game and since,” Fisher said.

“However, upon reviewing the vision of the incident again, Aliir should have undergone SCAT testing at the time immediately following the collision.

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Originally published as Port Adelaide concussion investigation: What really happened after Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones head clash