OT Koschitzke collision

[WaynesWorld19]

Once again Koschitzke has shown, as he did when he didn't see the bump coming that caused his fratured skull, that he has no awareness for what's going on around him.

The reason is simple: he has played so little footy that he needs time at a slower paced level of competition to get the "feel" for the game again.

So after the major injury I applauded the Saints for bring him back this time thru the the Casey scorpians reserves

Plays half a game last week, full game this week and demonstrates once again the reason he's playing in reserves VFL - but no Thomas again says he's considering elevating him up again to AFL.

The saints must have a book being run to see how quickly they can destroy this kids career....plain amatuerism

Koschitzke collision
a cruel blow
16 July 2006 Sunday Herald Sun
Howard Leigh and Jon Ralph

INJURY-prone St Kilda star Justin Koschitzke has suffered another setback in bizarre circumstances.

Koschitzke's return has been put on hold again after a collision yesterday with VFL field umpire Josh Krull, 20, while playing for the Casey Scorpions reserves against Williamstown at Burbank Oval.

The Saint was playing his second game since returning from a fractured skull, suffered in a bone-crunching clash with Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa in Round6. He collapsed during a TV interview a few weeks later.

Yesterday's collision left Koschitzke with a badly gashed lower lip, which needed about six stitches, concussion and a loose tooth despite wearing a custom-made protective helmet.

He was taken to Epworth hospital for precautionary brain scans.

Koschitzke is likely to face video scrutiny after crashing into the umpire at a routine ball-up.

He was fined $2400 last year for negligently making contact with an umpire.

Koschitzke waited for about two hours in the Scorpion dressing room for St Kilda medical officer Ian Stone to arrive from the MCG to assess and treat his injuries.

After treatment, Dr Stone whisked Koschitzke away in his car to avoid the media.

The incident came as Koschitzke lined up for a ruck contest. He appeared not to sight the field umpire crashing into his back at almost top speed.

Trainers ran on to the field with a stretcher, but after being knocked out for a few moments Koschitzke got to his feet. He walked unsteadily from the field with blood coming from his mouth.

A Scorpion official later said Koschitzke vented his anger in the rooms by punching a locker with his fists.

``He was a bit dazed and wasn't very happy,'' the official said.

Dr Stone refused to elaborate on Koschitzke's injuries or his immediate football future, amid calls from 3AW commentator Rex Hunt for the Saint to not play again for the rest of the season.

``St Kilda will make a statement later,'' Dr Stone said.

St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said Koschitzke had only mild concussion afterhis bottom teeth went through his lip.

``He has got a bit of a loose tooth and split lip and no doubt he will be feeling a little bit embarrassed,'' Thomas said.

``He is fine, no trouble. He has just had an unfortunate accident that happens around Australia every week, but for Justin it keeps happening.''

Thomas shrugged off talk Koschitzke should consider writing off the year and starting afresh next season.

``If he had his bottom lip on the ground I would, but they are just the cards he has been dealt.

It's just a bit unfortunate for him,'' he told 3AW.

``The moment you feel sorry for yourself you might as well go and sit on the beach on your own.''

He revealed that rather than ensuring Koschitzke built his confidence again in the reserves, he was considering elevating him quickly to St Kilda's seniors.

``There is no good sending him back to Casey for four weeks to get his confidence back,'' Thomas said

 

[- PC -]

I really do think it is time the AFL stepped in and threaten to de-register Kossi , for his own health and for the health of the game.

Pictures of Kossi shaking and fitting on the field of play will not make for good viewing

Didnt the AFL threaten Grant? with non registration due to an insurance issue?

 

[Stiffy_18]

I genuinely fear for Kozi here. At the moment he just doesn't have any awareness. He is coming off a VERY serious injury that could have had a much greater consequences.

He needs to be managed extremely well here or its not just his footballing future thats in jeaopardy, its his life.

 

[lozstar]

The AFL really need to step in here, and not allow him to play any sort of football again until he is 100% better.

He has so much potential to be an absolute star, but if he keeps going like this, his career will be over sooner than he thought.

 

[campbell]

The AFL really need to step in here, and not allow him to play any sort of football again until he is 100% better.

He has so much potential to be an absolute star, but if he keeps going like this, his career will be over sooner than he thought.

Agree with that.

St Kilda really should be worried about their player, not next week.

The guy needs to be paid by the AFL or St Kilda or someone, and let get over his initial injury properly.

None of this macho ****, the kid could die.

 

[Scott Van Persett]

Is he one of the dumbest footballers going around ?

Seems to have no awareness nor idea of what's happening around him.

Why would you go for a ruck contest coming from behind the umpire who is obviously going to back out of the bounce ? He should be suspended for reckless conduct towards an umpire. All my sympathy for the colision was with the umpire

 

[birdmanptr]

]I really do think it is time the AFL stepped in and threaten to de-register Kossi[/B] , for his own health and for the health of the game.

Pictures of Kossi shaking and fitting on the field of play will not make for good viewing

Didnt the AFL threaten Grant? with non registration due to an insurance issue?

Agree as a saftey rep at my work place i would say there is some cause for this both as a team mate and opostion player he is a danger mainly to himself and some degree to others.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Is he one of the dumbest footballers going around ?

Seems to have no awareness nor idea of what's happening around him.

Why would you go for a ruck contest coming from behind the umpire who is obviously going to back out of the bounce ? He should be suspended for reckless conduct towards an umpire. All my sympathy for the colision was with the umpire

He's certainly not dumb.....just lacking in playing enough footy.

It would be the same as putting an amatuer footballer into an AFL game....the pace, movement, bigger bodies would have that player in danger....no difference ATS for Kosi.

Just needs to spend 4-5 weeks in VFL not 1.5 weeks

 

[Scott Van Persett]

Don't you think it's dumb running in for a ruck contest from behind the umpire?

It's not as if he's a novice at AFL level and this was at VFL level !

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Don't you think it's dumb running in for a ruck contest from behind the umpire?

It's not as if he's a novice at AFL level and this was at VFL level !

Yes but like his previous injury he was intensely watching the ball with NO peripheral vision to notice the umpire.

Iam sure this is not normal with him otherwisw he wouldn't have been drafted as high as he was .....but IMO has been caused by playing too little footy due ti injuries.

 

[Scott Van Persett]

WW, he didn't need peripheral vision to see the umpire. He should have been in his central vision. He was right in front of him throwing the ball up. Cannot even blame the umpire for a bad bounce.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

WW, he didn't need peripheral vision to see the umpire. He should have been in his central vision. He was right in front of him throwing the ball up. Cannot even blame the umpire for a bad bounce.

When you think about it your right ...maybe he isn't bright??

Second time in 12mths he's had a collision with an umpire

 

[Stiffy_18]

WW, he didn't need peripheral vision to see the umpire. He should have been in his central vision. He was right in front of him throwing the ball up. Cannot even blame the umpire for a bad bounce.

Its a bit different when he is some 200cm bloke looking up at the ball and running toward it and he confronted with a smaller umpire running backward. Kozi is at least a foot taller than that umpire.

 

[lozstar]

When you think about it your right ...maybe he isn't bright??

Second time in 12mths he's had a collision with an umpire

umpires need to learn to stay out of the way.
remember a couple of years back in the afl when whenever a player turned around/ran backwards an umpire was there & then ran into them

it should not be up to the player to look for the umpire - their job is to look for the ball.

 

[Scott Van Persett]

What's the umpire supposed to do ? Throw up the ball and stand there and not move out of the way ? Everyone knows that they are going to move backwards, there's no excuse for the players running into them in this instance

 

[-WWJD-]

Yup, the umpire did nothing wrong in this case. And it wasn't as though it was a horrible bounce that Kosi had to go chase, he threw the ball up because of the weather. Very strange incident, you really have to worry about his lack of overall awareness.

 

[Sanguinarius]

I really feel bad for the guy. So much talent, but he has the worst luck going. He invents new ways he put himself out of action.

I agree that he needs to come back slowly. If you rush him again the same thig could happen - or worse.

 

[maccas_no1]

Sense needs to prevail here and Kosi needs to forget this year, sort himself out get healthy again and come back next year have a good solid pre-season and go for it, St Kilda are risking his life.

 

[RoosterLad]

Sense needs to prevail here and Kosi needs to forget this year, sort himself out get healthy again and come back next year have a good solid pre-season and go for it, St Kilda are risking his life.

Yep i agree. As soon as he fractured his skull and then collapsed on tv he should have been forced to take the rest of the year off.

This isnt like a recurring hammy problem or something, this is a serious head injury we are talking about here.

 

[Stiffy_18]

What's the umpire supposed to do ? Throw up the ball and stand there and not move out of the way ? Everyone knows that they are going to move backwards, there's no excuse for the players running into them in this instance

Umpire should run "away" from the play not right into it. In other words umpire should run towards the boundary line and not towards center of the field. From what I could gather from the vision I saw, it looks like the umpire bounced the ball and ran backwards into the path of the ruckmen. What he should have done was FACE the ruckmen when he was bouncing and run backwards and let the ruckman run towards him to contest the ball.

 

[Scott Van Persett]

Umpire should run "away" from the play not right into it. In other words umpire should run towards the boundary line and not towards center of the field. From what I could gather from the vision I saw, it looks like the umpire bounced the ball and ran backwards into the path of the ruckmen. What he should have done was FACE the ruckmen when he was bouncing and run backwards and let the ruckman run towards him to contest the ball.

Actually I saw another view of the incident on Sports Tonight this evening and the umpire did just that as there was a second ruckman for Kosi's team. The umpire was facing towards the two competing ruckmen and Kosi came in from directly behind the umpire and collected him. It looked like his team were going to have 2 ruckmen at the contest