‘Tagging’ discussed, says Clarko

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has admitted for the first time that head “tagging” was discussed before Mitch Lewis was concussed in a club boxing session last week.

The Hawks consistently stated until Saturday the head wasn’t referenced in Clarkson’s directions to the playing group, after he stopped the session to demand they up the ante. The AFL is likely to reveal its findings early next week from an investigation into the incident.

Lewis will miss a secondstraight match on Sunday against Essendon in Launceston, with Clarkson saying the AFL’s 12-day concussion protocols “didn’t kick in early enough for him to play”. The incident took place on June 7.

Clarkson said Lewis wasn’t knocked out and was only concussed when his sparring partner, fellow key forward Jacob Koschitzke, made connection to the head with an uppercut.

“We have used the words tag and touch to the head,” Clarkson said.