Elephant in the room. Knees to the head in marking contests.

[Obeanie1]

The Eagles Hawks game yesterday wasn't much of a football game.

However what did raise an eyebrow several times is how many knees to the back of the head occurred in one game. There were several brutal impacts to the back of the head in marking contests. Usually you see one a game but there were several.

Scrimshaw backed hard into a pack and Liam Ryan

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Liam Ryan

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attempting a big mark jumped and his knee got Srimshaw squarely in the back of the head. To the extent he was bleeding from the impact and got the free.

No concussion test done. Removed from the game later on due to delayed concussion.

Meek the Hawks ruck copped a massive knee to the back of the head from Chol who took a big mark. Chol tool time to recover holding his knee.

No concussion testing done there either.

And there was a third instance where a player jumped for a mark and kneed both ruckman in the back of their heads.

This is where Philip Hughes was hit by a cricket ball and lost his life.

So what is the AFL doing?

Well it's allowing this action to be continued even though it is stamping down on other aspects of the game.

And why no concussion testing for players getting kneed to the back of the head?

Is it all lip service?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Stop trying to make this a thing please. Leaping for a mark is an integral part of the game and bringing it into discussion risks peanuts like Ralph and McClure seeing it as a topic for debate and start bringing it up more and more so they can push for change via media pressure for the sake of a story and a few bucks.

Like the old local massage parlour with a neon sign open at 11pm on a Tuesday night, some things are just better left undiscussed.

Let the people enjoy the sport for what it is despite the flaws and obvious hypocrisy in certain elements of the game.

 

[Obeanie1]

Stop trying to make this a thing please. Leaping for a mark is an integral part of the game and bringing it into discussion risks peanuts like Ralph and McClure seeing it as a topic for debate and start bringing it up more and more so they can push for change via media pressure for the sake of a story and a few bucks.

Like the old local massage parlour with a neon sign open at 11pm on a Tuesday night, some things are just better left undiscussed.

Let the people enjoy the sport for what it is despite the flaws and obvious hypocrisy in certain elements of the game.

Well cricket actually did something about the risk.

They acted and mitigated the risk of injury or worse.

Not many games in the world where it's OK to run, jump and knee an opponent in the back of the head.

But as long as it's integral to the game it's all good.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Well cricket actually did something about the risk.

They acted and mitigated the risk of injury or worse.

Not many games in the world where it's OK to run, jump and knee an opponent in the back of the head.

But as long as it's integral to the game it's all food.

How about we just accept some risk, set up funds to help those who are hurt with medical costs and not turn the game into a completely shit sport.

 

[kaiserchief13]

If they make it illegal to knee in back of head then a big spectacle of the sport will be gone, but for it to be consistent it should be removed. AFL want to have their cake and eat it too though so.....

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Well cricket actually did something about the risk.

They acted and mitigated the risk of injury or worse.

Not many games in the world where it's OK to run, jump and knee an opponent in the back of the head.

But as long as it's integral to the game it's all food.

There is no solution in this case which wouldn't destroy the very fabric of the sport.

Like Boxing or UFC, players and the AFLPA must accept that there is an inherent risk in playing one of the most violent contact sports in the world.

Set up funds for players to receive appropriate treatment post footy and get the care that they need. Meddling with the rules of the game in an effort to reduce concussions will only end in disaster as it's impossible to eliminate them all without making it touch footy.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

 

[Bunk Moreland]

It is a big issue, have discussed it before. OP is completely correct.

Players coming from distance with velocity and delivering a knee to the back of the head (in the act of marking) is incredibly dangerous and could easily result in tragedy.

I don’t know what you do about it but if you did the same thing with an elbow or shoulder (accidentally) you would get six weeks. A knee does the same (if not more) damage.

People just need to pause and remember that the outcome could be a death before they comment.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

It is a big issue, have discussed it before. OP is completely correct.

Players coming from distance with velocity and delivering a knee to the back of the head (in the act of marking) is incredibly dangerous and could easily result in tragedy.

I don’t know what you do about it but if you did the same thing with an elbow or shoulder (accidentally) you would get six weeks. A knee does the same (if not more) damage.

People just need to pause and remember that the outcome could be a death before they comment.

The sport they sign up for.

 

[fake tyrone]

There aren't that many hangers being taken anymore, so I would argue the fabric of the sport is already changing when it comes to protecting or abolishing the speccy. I'd actually be curious to see the data on how many players have actually suffered a concussion or injury from copping a knee to the back of the head in a marking contest, but I do generally agree that it appears to be an inconsistency when it comes to overall concussion policy.

 

[The Feeder Club]

It is a big issue, have discussed it before. OP is completely correct.

Players coming from distance with velocity and delivering a knee to the back of the head (in the act of marking) is incredibly dangerous and could easily result in tragedy.

I don’t know what you do about it but if you did the same thing with an elbow or shoulder (accidentally) you would get six weeks. A knee does the same (if not more) damage.

People just need to pause and remember that the outcome could be a death before they comment.

Yeah it could so easily result in tragedy and death that it has never happened

 

[Cmarsh]

The sport they sign up for.

Bit of a lazy answer.

Sure it's a contact sport but that doesn't mean you don't take steps to try and mitigate risks.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Bit of a lazy answer.

Sure it's a contact sport but that doesn't mean you don't take steps to try and mitigate risks.

So ban driving the knees into an opponent and destroy the aerial battle of our game?

 

[Cmarsh]

So ban driving the knees into an opponent and destroy the aerial battle of our game?

Its always been quite an obvious problem. No one really wants to touch it though because it might mean the high mark dies.

 

[LongSerong]

Call me crazy but not sure if you can compare Phil Hughes getting hit by 120-140km/h ball to the skull as the same as a knee in a marking contest

 

[Rabish Binney]

Stop trying to make this a thing please. Leaping for a mark is an integral part of the game and bringing it into discussion risks peanuts like Ralph and McClure seeing it as a topic for debate and start bringing it up more and more so they can push for change via media pressure for the sake of a story and a few bucks.

Like the old local massage parlour with a neon sign open at 11pm on a Tuesday night, some things are just better left undiscussed.

Let the people enjoy the sport for what it is despite the flaws and obvious hypocrisy in certain elements of the game.

Tackling is also an integral part of the game.

Yet if you tackle a player without malice which results in a concussion, then the tackler is banned for 3 games....

It would seem however that kneeing a player in the head whilst going for a mark, which results in a concussion does not carry any consequences.

Don't get me wrong - there's no way I want to see any change to high marking contests. Just trying to point out the inconsistency here.

The tribunal make it all about 'outcomes' & 'consequences of actions'.

Then shouldn't a knee to the head in a marking contest, which results in a concussion to a player be treated the same as a concussion suffered to a player from a legitimate tackle?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Tackling is also an integral part of the game.

Yet if you tackle a player without malice which results in a concussion, then the tackler is banned for 3 games....

It would seem however that kneeing a player in the head whilst going for a mark, which results in a concussion does not carry any consequences.

Don't get me wrong - there's no way I want to see any change to high marking contests. Just trying to point out the inconsistency here.

The tribunal make it all about 'outcomes' & 'consequences of actions'.

Then shouldn't a knee to the head in a marking contest, which results in a concussion to a player be treated the same as a concussion suffered to a player from a legitimate tackle?

Totally with u on the inconsistency element. But I'd rather a flawed tribunal/adjudication system than losing a critical part of what makes our game so great for the sake of consistent outcomes.

 

[JustaBattler]

A marking attempt which sees a knee into a players head is a dangerous anachronism that flies in the face of moving towards protecting the head rules.

 

[L_W_P]

I brought this up a couple of years ago. I think it was Mitch Lewis taking a hanger on Ed Richards

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Ed Richards

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?

Richards was KOd, Lewis got a mark of the year nomination, and everyone moved on.

I suspect it's only a matter of time until the head injury lawyers and doctors raise it as a possible issue and the AFL will put measures in place.

I don't believe the act of jumping for the ball will be banned but it will be a "duty of care" action, just like with bumps and tackles.

If guys like Howe, Heeney, Liam Ryan

1

Liam Ryan

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etc want to keep flying and using their knees they can. But if they make contact with an opponent's head and there's a concussion then a suspension will follow.