The Rush Hour with Bernie, Blewey & Jars

AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh Downplays The Prospect Of Independent Doctors At Games

AFL Players Association CEO Paul Marsh has downplayed the possibility of independent doctors being introduced to handle concussion tests in-game.

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Speaking on the Rush Hour with Bernie, Blewey and Jars, Marsh admitted concussion was the ‘biggest issue’ facing the players association, but independent doctors would not solve all problems.

“There’s nothing to say that an independent doctor may not have also made the wrong decision,” he said.

“There is an argument to say that the doctors who work with the players every day know them the best.

“There’s an element of, that may help them make better decisions, and that’s what the doctors have consistently said.”

Marsh’s comments come after heavy scrutiny on the Port Adelaide Football, with star defender Aliir Aliir not given a full SCAT5 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool) before returning to the field despite showing visible symptoms of suffering a head knock after a collision with teammate Lachie Jones.

Jones was later subbed out after passing his SCAT5, with the club citing a migraine.

Both players were entered into concussion protocols two days after the game and are set to miss this weekend’s clash with Geelong.

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Marsh also admitted that the impending class action filed against the AFL over the league’s history of concussion injuries was a huge threat.

“That is a seismic risk for the industry… we’ll put a fund in place as part of this CBA negotiation that I think will look after the player players better than where we’re at right now.

“The class action will play out and we respect the right of the players to go down that path, but this is how serious this issue is.”