AFL talks down rise in head knocks

THE AFL has downplayed a spike in the number of games that players missed because of concussion, despite overall injury rates decreasing.

The league’s annual injury survey, released yesterday, shows players missed an average of 5.6 matches across the 18 clubs as a result of concussions last season, up from 4.2 in 2015 and 1.6 in 2014.

But the average number of games missed as a result of all injuries fell to its lowest level in 10 years at 140 per club, down from 156 in 2015. Shoulder sprains and dislocations, groin strains, and anterior cruciate ligament tears — normally a season-ending injury — were all less prevalent than the previous season.

AFL football operations boss Simon Lethlean said the increase in games missed because of concussion reflected the league’s more conservative management of head knocks.

“The annual injury survey will direct the work we do with our clubs, research board and others to continue to find ways to prevent injuries and improve recovery protocols,” he said. “Each year, it is a key focus to ensure that our rules and our approach to the game works to make the sport as safe as possible within the bounds of a contact sport.”

St Kilda’s Sean Dempster and Melbourne’s Heritier Lumumba are among the players who have walked away from the game in recent years after struggling with head knocks.

Port Adelaide last season copped a $20,000 fine — half of which was suspended until the end of the 2018 season — when Hamish Hartlett was rushed back to the field after copping a nasty head knock.