AFL boss: Physical game can be safe

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has responded to fears about the sport’s direction, saying it was possible to protect the head and for the game to retain its physicality.

Debate about the decision to refer David Mackay’s bump on Hunter Clark – which left the young Saint with a broken jaw – straight to the AFL Tribunal raged all week.

Mackay escaped without penalty on Thursday night, but concerns remain about how these types of incidents will be assessed in the future.

Speaking on SEN WA in an interview recorded before the Mackay verdict was known, McLachlan, pictured, said the AFL was taking protecting players “seriously”.

“Protecting the head, concussion and the implications for our players is a very significant issue in our game,” McLachlan said.

“We were making rule changes in the early 2000s and we continue to make decisions around prevention, around diagnosis, around treatment and around research.

“We’ll continue to protect the head and that’s had pushback from lots of quarters … (but the) game will continue to make decisions to protect the head.”

Part of the lead-in commentary to Mackay’s hearing was that the sport’s “fabric” would be damaged forever if the Crow was to receive a ban, which McLachlan refuted.

“It depends what you mean with fabric. I think it’s as physical as it’s ever been but it can be a physical game that still protects the head,” he said.

“If people think that’s changing the fabric, then I think it’s in a good way, because we need to protect the head.”