The AFL has admitted it made an error by allowing play to continue after Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz suffered a heavy concussion in Thursday night’s clash with Fremantle.
Schultz was left dazed after a brutal head clash with Fremantle’s Jordan Clark in the final term, triggering immediate concern from players and medics.
Despite Schultz throwing up his arms in a classic ‘fencing’ response and struggling to get to his feet, the game continued for almost 20 seconds.
The ball remained in play as Nick Daicos won possession and passed to Jamie Elliott, who marked inside 50 and kicked a goal.
Multiple medical staff attended to Schultz as he staggered to the bench, but umpires failed to stop the game.
Now the AFL says play should have been halted.
Schultz was hit hard by Freo’s Jordan Clark and collapsed to the ground as trainers tried to assist him from the field
Schultz, pictured with Maddie Oberin during the Collingwood Magpies Best And Fairest Awards in 2024, will now enter the AFL’s concussion protocol
‘The play can be stopped by the umpires, who are instructed to stop play as soon as they are aware there is an injured player in the vicinity of play,’ an AFL spokesperson said.
‘In last night’s match the umpires did not see the injured player at the time so play continued. Upon review, if the umpires were aware, play would have been stopped when Daicos had possession.’
It marks the second consecutive week where play was not stopped for a clearly injured player, after Essendon’s Harrison Jones was treated off the field with a dislocated ankle in Round 8.
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore said it was ‘rattling’ to witness Schultz’s condition on the ground.
‘We were pretty concerned at how severe it looked, how disorientated he looked,’ Moore told Fox Footy.
‘Players from both teams thought the game should have been stopped for 20 seconds to let him off the ground.’
Moore was standing close to Schultz at the time and could see the forward’s struggles.
‘It didn’t feel right still chasing the footy when he was in that state,’ he said. It was a set shot anyway. That was the moment to stop.’
Coach Craig McRae shared Moore’s concern, confirming the club had called for a stretcher.
‘We’re all just worried about his welfare,’ McRae said.
‘We did what we could. Ideally, you can stop the game.’
Schultz has a history of head knocks, and this marks his third concussion since 2021.
He will miss next week’s match against Adelaide and is aiming to return against North Melbourne.
McRae said the situation showed Schultz’s courage.
‘Your subconscious kicks in – get knocked down, get up. Maybe that’s in his psyche,’ he said.
‘This is a part of our game we’d love to not have. We’re making changes to make the game safer.’
Schultz remained conscious and was later seen singing the club song in the rooms after the win.
Melbourne great David Schwarz has now called for a review of how players are removed from the field after head knocks.
‘I just don’t want a player running off the ground, half concussed or fully concussed,’ Schwarz said on SEN.
‘He was out. You just have to say, ‘Do not move. We’ll get you stretchered off.’
Schwarz questioned why medical staff allowed Schultz to leave the field on foot rather than forcing him to lie still.
‘I’m no doctor, but it’s not a good look, and it can’t be good for the player,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Collingwood is hopeful Brody Mihocek will return from an abdominal strain next week.
The club had planned to rest Jordan De Goey, and is optimistic that Brayden Maynard and Scott Pendlebury will also return.
