Opinion Concussion: Why Stef shouldn't play this weekend

[brizrider]

one of the most ridiculous comments I have heard. If you don't trust the opinion of a medical professional who do you trust? A fan that doesn't know anything about brain injuries? Leave it to the medical professional

Edit - Fan comment not directed at you by the way!

Medical decisions should be left to medical practitioners - simple as that

Seemed like a statement of fact to me. He meant it in the conservative sense - not disregarding what health professionals say but perhaps being even more cautious, getting a 2nd opinion etc.

 

[WA Lion]

Seemed like a statement of fact to me. He meant it in the conservative sense - not disregarding what health professionals say but perhaps being even more cautious, getting a 2nd opinion etc.

Certainly not intended that way. Seeking a 2nd opinion from someone qualified to give said opinion is to be encouraged. My point was more that it needs to be based on professional medical practitioners making decisions based on evidence and governance, not what any average joe in the crowd thinks.

 

[Dylan12]

Hammo's take:

SHOULD Stefan Martin be playing footy this weekend? According to the AFL’s concussion protocols he is clear to play. But it doesn’t feel right. It feels risky. Concussion has been the hottest topic in footy for some time now.

Protecting the head is the game’s golden rule. Break it and the MRP or tribunal will throw the book at you. Big bucks are being spent on studies. Yet we send players out the following week after being concussed. It doesn’t feel right because it doesn’t seem like we have all the answers yet. Do we know if some people are more prone than others, or if a person is concussed are they at greater risk of it happening again? Can we guarantee the concussion tests prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a player is not at risk?

What we do know is that players have claimed they can beat the test. Lions legend Jonathan Brown reckons he memorised the questions.

We also know that careers are ending early because of concussion, the Lions themselves have lost Justin Clarke at just 22 and veterans Brown and Matt Maguire in the past couple of years. They all had multiple concussions.

Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch raised how serious the issue of concussion was in our game in the post-match media conference after the QClash where Martin was knocked-out by Gold Coast Suns defender Steven May. It has affected Brisbane more than most clubs.

Because of that the Lions claim they are being ultraconservative with Martin. There is no doubt they are abiding by the laws of the game and what the concussion test is telling them, that he is right to play. And they are listening to what the player is saying.

But ultraconservative is sitting him out anyway. And maybe that should be the rule. You get knocked out, you miss a match.

It is time to take such an important decision out of the hands of the clubs. The scary thing about concussion is that some players pass tests and then fail later ones. It happened to Clarke earlier this year. It is believed hard physical exercise can bring on the symptoms. Martin trained just once this week.

Nick Riewoldt played after a concussion and was fine. Let’s hope Martin is too. Because there is no guarantee.

 

[bato]

"Well, if you take one more hit, no matter how big or small, you could receive permanent damage or worse case scenario, end up dead".

That could happen five weeks later as well. One week rest would have same effect as no week's rest - would it not?

 

[BRAB]

I didn't realise all these journalists were qualified doctors

 

[luthor]

I didn't realise all these journalists were qualified doctors

We should save ourselves a packet and sack our club doctor(s) and medicos.

Who needs 'em?

Hammo and Damo are more qualified and can give us advice for free all season.