Omeo District: Lindenow South coach Neil Rawlings steps down to focus on concussion battle

“Seek the best advice” is the tip from a country footy coach forced to stand down due to ongoing effects of concussion.

Lindenow South coach Neil Rawlings has reluctantly stepped down from the job to focus on his recovery from 10 concussions he has suffered during his senior career.

The 39-year-old second-year coach was recently discharged from a fortnight stint in hospital for the latest bout of concussion he suffered in a non-football related head knock last December.

Rawlings is preparing to travel to Melbourne once a week for the next 12 weeks as part of his recovery in a move that led to him relinquishing the coaching job.

A recent brain scan has also detected a small cyst and coupled with the pressures of coaching a country club, his position became untenable.

“I don’t think there is enough awareness or help around concussions in country footy,” Rawlings said.

“I’ve had 10 concussions all up in my senior footy career and up until the last few years it wasn’t properly looked at in the AFL let alone country footy.

“The more awareness around how bad the effects of concussion are, the better.”

Neil Rawlings celebrates goal for Lindenow South in the 2022 Omeo District grand final win against Swifts Creek. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

His most recent on-field concussion was in last season’s seventh round in the Omeo District league before making a return almost two months later.

He still suffers from regular migraines.

“It was very hard for me to step down because footy has been a big part of my life,” Rawlings said.

“Playing and coaching is something I’ve always done.

“Hopefully I can get back and help out in some way.

“I was just going backwards trying to do too much.”

Rawlings said his advice to anyone in a similar predicament was “seek the best advice”.

“There is just not enough support in the country,” he said.

Neil Rawlings played in Lindenow South’s most recent premiership in 2022. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Lindenow South president Mick Harrington said Rawlings had the club’s full support.

“We’re sad that it has come to this, but we absolutely understand,” he said.

“His family and his health have to be his top priorities.

“We’re doing everything we can to educate our players because I’ve had 13 concussions myself.”

Under stricter concussion-related protocols introduced this season, the earliest that a player can return to play after a concussion is on the 21st day after the day on which the concussion was sustained.

It is also contingent on the player progressing through each phase of the return-to-play program.

Rawlings joined Lindenow South in 2022 when the club won its most recent premiership.

Club stalwart Sam Howden has taken over as coach of Lindenow South and led it to a win over Bruthen last Saturday.