Grand Final Concussion Discussion

[BenDoolan]

One has to feel for AFLW Adelaide Crows skipper Chelsea Randall. Copped a concussion in the Prelim Final which means she must miss a mandatory 12 days.

This is devastating for any footballer. Can’t imagine how gutted they would feel. They probably feel quite well on the day of the GF... arms and legs fully functional and capable. But you have to give your brain a rest. Would be frustrating as hell.

What are your thoughts of the AFL making the GF two weeks after a Prelim? This is to allow any player who may cop a concussion in the Prelims time to recover to play in the GF. Of course, by doing that, you probably allow for others with “niggles” to get themselves right also.

Having a week off between Prelim & GF also allows for events like Brownlow Night, All Australian announcement, GF parade the weekend before GF, to be better celebrated.

Or should we just say “stiff shit”?

I’m more inclined to say stiff shit, but I really do feel for Chelsea Randall (and anyone who would miss a GF in these circumstances).

[grassy1]

Chelsea Randall’s a great Footballer.

It’s just rotten luck she copped the concussion at the wrong time.

But don’t let this be an excuse for AWFULL to change the Rules Again.Otherwise,the pressure to Move the Grand Final from the MCG will be greater than ever,which is something they’d be loathe to contemplate,but look stupid for their hypocrisy in changing nearly everything else but that(and Bouncedown Time).

Me,I’m loathe to change anything and if someone is either concussed or cops an injury in the Preliminary Final,good luck getting fit in a week,or bad luck if you miss.Must we bloody change everything?!?!?!?!?!?

[BenDoolan]

Chelsea Randall’s a great Footballer.

It’s just rotten luck she copped the concussion at the wrong time.

But don’t let this be an excuse for AWFULL to change the Rules Again.Otherwise,the pressure to Move the Grand Final from the MCG will be greater than ever,which is something they’d be loathe to contemplate,but look stupid for their hypocrisy in changing nearly everything else but that(and Bouncedown Time).

Me,I’m loathe to change anything and if someone is either concussed or cops an injury in the Preliminary Final,good luck getting fit in a week,or bad luck if you miss.Must we bloody change everything?!?!?!?!?!?

The reality is, some things will never stay the same.

The situation with concussion changed from last year. It may change again. Who knows??? Do we not look to adjust the most important day in a footballers life to at least accommodate an opportunity for them to participate due to concussion rules?

If we stay with the mentality of “leave the game alone”, we would never have progressed from the rigid Saturday afternoon time slots for all games. Footy under lights would never be a thing. Interchange bench would still be one (and only activated if there is an injury). The game needs to evolve. And it evolves through change.

I remember the absolute uproar when they changed the old 15 metre penalty to a 50 metre penalty. People went absolutely ape shit about how harsh a penalty it was. Can you actually imagine the 15 metre rule still being in place today? Take a look at an old game from the 80s. It was horrendous. There would possibly be about 20 - 30 of them dished out per game. Players would deliberately waste time by knocking the ball away from their opponents (give up 15 metres) so it buys time for teammates to man up their opponents. You won’t do that today with a 50 metre penalty in place.

And that’s just one example of an improvement through change.

[grassy1]

Yes mate,but is there ever going to be one year when the AFL can just get their hands off it and leave the Game alone?

And how far do you take that break between Preliminary Finals and the Big One?

Do you extend that break for 2 to 3 weeks,because a Competition’s Marquee player gets a 2 Week Injury?Do we hold on for him,so he doesn’t miss the Big One?

Sorry,but if someone cops an injury at the Worst possible time,Bad Luck!

Someone else gets an opportunity to step up and make a difference,if he’s good enough.Or she,in the case of Chelsea Randall’s Replacement.

[BenDoolan]

Yes mate,but is there ever going to be one year when the AFL can just get their hands off it and leave the Game alone?

And how far do you take that break between Preliminary Finals and the Big One?

Do you extend that break for 2 to 3 weeks,because a Competition’s Marquee player gets a 2 Week Injury?Do we hold on for him,so he doesn’t miss the Big One?

Sorry,but if someone cops an injury at the Worst possible time,Bad Luck!

Someone else gets an opportunity to step up and make a difference,if he’s good enough.Or she,in the case of Chelsea Randall’s Replacement.

No other injury is mandated. Only concussion.

You could do a hammy in the Prelim, and technically play the next week (just like Mercuri, Hird, M. Johnson - and whoever else in the 2001 GF). But with concussion - you HAVE to miss - even if you feel ‘right’ to play.

[grassy1]

Only concussion so far,but you know AWFULL,it’ll be something else soon after.

[F111]

New international guidelines for concussion in sport. Published 14/6/23 British Journal of Sports Medicine last week. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/11/619

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/99 ... ID=5544978

Rest, Exercise, Limit Screen Time

The new guidance states that light physical and cognitive activity, such as walking and easy activities of daily living (ADLs), are both okay in the first 48 hours after concussion and beyond.

Brief (<1 hour), mild symptom exacerbation during recovery, defined as an increase of 2 points or less on a 10-point symptom scale, does not delay recovery.

However, physical and cognitive activity should be stopped if there is more than a mild increase in symptoms, defined as an increase of greater than 2 points from preactivity level.

The new guidance also states that prescribed aerobic exercise in the 2 to 10 days after injury, personalized to the tolerance level of the athlete, aids recovery from sports concussion.

There is evidence that patients recover an average of 5 days faster with early aerobic exercise than without.

Doubt it'll change the 12 day thing though.
Here's a video of the current scat5 assessment method...
https://youtu.be/gNoadxx37_E

[Windy Hille]

Good discussion. Very impressive arguments, and challenging thought provoking questions.

Perhaps a week off before the granny isn’t a bad idea