BEN BOUNCES BACK

Concussed Kangas star rallies to take on Hawks

STAR North Melbourne forward Ben Brown was knocked out cold last week, stretchered off and sent to hospital for CT scans, but miraculously is on track to play in the “Tasmanian derby” against Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday.

Brown was rushed to hospital last week after he was concussed in a tackle that led to Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy being suspended for two matches.

Roos coach Brad Scott said Brown, right, had recovered quickly from the heavy knock and would play against the Hawks barring any late setbacks.

“He’s carried on the rest of the week like he started it; he’s recovered remarkably well and he feels good,” Scott said.

“All of his measures and markers and all of the testing that we do looks really good.

“All of that is pending him not having anything unforeseen in the next couple of days — but at this stage it all looks really positive.”

Brown trained with the main group at Arden Street yesterday ahead of Sunday’s clash in Launceston.

The 24-year-old is enjoying a career-best season, with 51 goals putting him fourth in the race for the Coleman Medal, five goals behind the leader, Essendon’s Joe Daniher.

Kangas skipper Jack Ziebell was involved in a heavy collision against the Pies but Scott expects him to lead the team against Hawthorn.

The Roos and the Hawks are both out of finals contention with three rounds remaining, but Scott said there will be more than just pride on the line.

“We’re really keen to win every game,” Scott said.

“[But] the effort and the way we go about it is the important thing.

“Clearly we’ve got some challenges with availability, but we’ll still field a team that we feel is capable of winning.”

Ruck-forward Majak Daw (foot) will see a specialist this week to determine if he will be able to play again this season.

Meanwhile, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley won’t be instructing his players to change their tackling technique despite Brodie Grundy’s much publicised suspension.

Grundy was rubbed out by the Match Review Panel for two weeks after leaving North’s forward Brown concussed following a bonejarring tackle.

After Saturday night’s match Buckley labelled the tackle “perfect” and he said yesterday he had not changed his interpretation.