Crows cleared over their handling of Jordan Dawson’s concussion against Essendon

The Crows have been the only club cleared over their handling of concussed players from last weekend, but Port boss David Koch has hit out at the AFL’s consistency around the head knock issue.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 19: Jordan Dawson of the Crows is seen injured during the 2024 AFL Round 19 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium on July 19, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Adelaide has been cleared of how it managed captain Jordan Dawson’s concussion against Essendon, but Carlton have been given an official reprimand and an investigation into Brisbane is still ongoing regarding how they managed their incidents on the weekend.

It comes as Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says there is a “consistency problem” when it comes to concussion and the AFL’s response to clubs whose management policies of a specific incident fall short.

The Crows were issued with a formal please explain from the AFL for how they handled Dawson’s head knock in their win over Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

The Crows captain was involved in a collision with Essendon’s Nate Caddy in the third quarter of the match.

He was assessed on the field and continued playing.

Dawson will miss Adelaide’s game against the Hawks. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The Crows said it was another head knock with Nic Martin in the fourth that concussed Dawson, who self-reported symptoms.

In a statement the AFL said it was “content that Adelaide managed Dawson in accordance with the requirements of the AFL and AFLW Concussion Guidelines”.

“It is acknowledged that Adelaide FC have stated that, if its review of the vision of the 3rd Quarter incident involving Dawson was completed prior to 3 Quarter time, Dawson would have been removed from the field of play for assessment and HIA,” the league said in a statement.

“As it turned out, the HIA of Dawson was undertaken during the 3 Quarter time break (which identified no signs of concussion) before Dawson started on field for the last quarter of the match.”

While the AFL will take no further action against the Crows, Carlton have been issued with an official reprimand for how it managed a head knock suffered by Harry McKay – who passed a SCAT6.

An investigation into Brisbane’s management of co-captain Harris Andrews on Sunday remains ongoing.

Before the AFL released its statement, Koch said on FIVEaa that there was not consistency around the issue.

“There is certainly a consistency problem … at the last presidents meeting we had an update on concussion protocols,” he said.

“I brought up to the group and said we have to get consistency on this and also we cannot leave it up to players to decide if they want to be treated medically.

“We cannot allow players to wave medical staff away, we cannot allow a delay between medical staff getting on to have a look at players.

“Umpires have the ability to stop a game for the blood rule, which there is a one in 10 million chance of someone being infected with someone else’s blood. Umpires even stop games when someone’s boot comes off, but then they don’t stop play when they obviously see a player on the ground and is groggy.

“You stop the game and get the doctor on as soon as possible.”

The Power were whacked for their handling of Aliir Aliir’s concussion in 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Power were last year hit with a $100,000 sanction, half of it was in the soft cap and the balance outside of it unless a similar breach occurred, after Port breached the league’s concussion protocols in its management of a head knock suffered by Aliir Aliir in the Showdown.

Aliir was returned to play after a huge hit involving teammate Lachie Jones, but the Power did not put the star defender through an SCAT5 prior to this.

Koch said the Power thought other clubs would be treated in the same way if they breached the league’s concussion protocols.

“I brought this up a couple of months ago at the presidents meeting, we have been too slow in doing something about it,” he said.

“We copped the Aliir fine and that was fair enough because we thought there would be a consistent tightening of the protocols, there has not been and I think we still have a long way to go on it.”

CROWS ASSISTANT BACKS PAUSES IN PLAY FOR CONCUSSION

Adelaide assistant coach Jack Hombsch says the AFL should consider whether a faster approach is needed to remove players from the field who suffer head knocks.

The Crows, Carlton and Brisbane were this week issued please explains by the AFL, with Adelaide coming under fire for its management of captain Jordan Dawson’s concussion.

The Crows had until close of business on Tuesday to respond to the AFL.

Dawson was placed in concussion protocols after suffering a head knock against Essendon on Friday night.

He was involved in a collision with the Bombers’ Nate Caddy in the third quarter but remained on the field for assessment, drawing the attention of the AFL.

Dawson was then involved in another incident with Nic Martin in the fourth quarter, which the Crows have said caused his concussion.

Jordan Dawson receives medical attention against Essendon. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

“I know we take head issues very seriously and we have a very experienced medical team around us,” Hombsch said.

“We haven’t discussed it (as a coaching group).

“We take it really seriously and we have a good group of doctors and medical staff around us.”

Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews and Dawson have entered concussion protocols this week.

Andrews had just returned to the Lions’ game against Sydney after completing a SCAT6 test for an earlier head knock.

Carlton has been the subject of the criticism after Harry McKay spent several minutes on the field – even kicking a goal – before he was taken from the field for assessment.

The Blues key forward has since been cleared of concussion.

“(Players staying on the field after a head knock) is a good question, for the game is constantly evolving and reviewing and so forth and it is potentially something the AFL might look at come the end of the season,” Hombsch said.

“It is really interesting (whether it is too easy for players to wave off doctors and runners), the game is constantly evolving and when you compare where we were six years ago and how much more importance we are placing on injuries to the head.

“I think we are taking it very seriously as a game which is great.”

While Adelaide will be without Dawson for its clash against Hawthorn on Sunday, it should regain spearhead Taylor Walker after he was managed.

Nick Murray remains after he escaped a serious knee injury, while Jordon Butts will miss after sustaining a long-term knee injury.

James Borlase is in line to replace Butts, while Josh Worrell is in the mix to return from a broken wrist.

Hombsch said the Crows were bullish about top draftee Dan Curtin’s form as a midfielder in the SANFL and that Curtin was unlikely to be recalled to play key defence in the absence of Butts – and potentially Murray.

Originally published as Crows cleared over their handling of Jordan Dawson’s concussion against Essendon