Ovens & Murray: Concussion reporting changes being explored after first year of new guidelines

21-day country footy concussion protocols are firmly in the spotlight at finals time. See what could happen in 2025.

Concussed players could be blocked from being added to a country footy club’s official team sheet next season in a step-up in management of head knocks.

AFL Victoria has confirmed a “concussion provision” could be added to PlayHQ with a similar process that already exists for suspended players.

But the onus remains on the player and club to report a concussion, that leads to a player entering 21-day protocols that came into force for the first time this year.

The VAFA is already using capacity within PlayHQ that prevents suspended players being added to the team sheet for concussions.

The enforcement and reporting of concussions remains a highly contentious area, particularly at finals time when a head knock can force a player to potentially miss a grand final.

The protocols are only “guidelines” and aren’t enforceable by a league.

They came sharply into focus last week in two separate incidents in an Ovens & Murray league finals match between Wangaratta Rovers and Wangaratta.

Wangarattas’ Hunter Gottschling was placed in the 21-day protocols after being on the end of a high bump from Wangaratta Rovers coach Sam Murray which earned him a one-match suspension.

On the same day, Wangaratta’s Liam McVeigh was suspended for two matches with an early guilty plea for a dangerous tackle that included head high contact to Wangaratta Rovers’ Sam Cattapan.

Cattapan didn’t return to the field, but was selected to play in the second semi-final against Yarrawonga.

Wangaratta Rovers coach Sam Murray. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Cattapan didn’t play, but hasn’t been ruled out for the preliminary final.

Rovers football boss Barry Sullivan declined to comment to the Weekly Times on Cattapan’s surprise selection and whether he should have also been in concussion protocols.

But Wangaratta president Jon Henry said his club was “really disappointed” in the league’s match review panel grading of the Gottschling bump and there being no avenue to appeal.

Wangaratta’s Hunter Gottschling playing against Yarrawonga in the 2022 grand final. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

“We’ve spoken to the O&M and they have told us there are no grounds to appeal the gradings by the MRP and the concussion management principles are guidelines and not enforceable,” Henry said.

“Hunter’s incident was graded as medium impact and 48 hours after the game he developed delayed concussion symptoms.

“In the same quarter we also had a player charged by the MRP for a tackle where the impact was graded as high.

“We understand that and accepted the two-match penalty on the basis the player was concussed.”

Boisdale-Briagolong’s Shaquille Coridas missed out on playing in its premiership-winning team on Saturday for a concussion he received in the second semi-final.

A player previously only needed to sit out 12 days after suffering a head knock.