Brisbane has been slapped with a $40,000 fine for breaching the AFL’s concussion protocols.
The fine was handed to the club a week after an incident during the Lions’ two-point win over Sydney in round 19 at the Gabba.
The Lions breached concussion protocols, after they delayed conducting a head injury assessment and SCAT6 test on defender Harris Andrews.
The $40,000 includes a previous $10,000 suspended fine for another concussion protocol breach that occurred during the 2023 AFLW grand final.
The league explained their decision via a statement on Friday, noting a “delay in actioning” to remove Andrews from the field, after the club was notified to do so via the ARC.
Harris Andrews of the Lions and Logan McDonald of the Swans compete for the ball during round 19. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Brisbane explained that their doctors were “busy”, when Andrews went down in the third term.
However, the AFL were still dissatisfied with the Lions management of the incident.
AFL general counsel Stephen Meade explained that the Lions “fully cooperated” with the league in their investigation, but urged the club to do better at concussion management.
“The AFL requires strict compliance of Clubs to the Concussion Guidelines to best protect the health and safety of our players”, Meade said via the league’s statement.
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“Brisbane fully cooperated with our inquiries in relation to this matter and has admitted its breach and is committed to working with the AFL to improve its processes”.
Meade also doubled down on the importance placed on protection of player’s heads and concussion management going forward.
It comes after confirmation that the AFL would tweak rulings around concussion testing and management from round 20 and beyond.
Anytime an HIA needs to be completed from this weekend going forward, that football club’s general manager’s will receive a text.
Harry McKay of the Blues is helped to his feet after a heavy collision during the round 19 clash against the Roos. Getty
It means if doctors are busy treating other players, while another player goes down concussed, the footy GM can notify the doctors quickly, to remove them and assess as rapidly as possible.
“The AFL also acknowledges its role in the important task of improving player care and the new measures that have been introduced this week, including extending notifications from the ARC medical spotters for mandatory off-field assessment including SCAT6 to club GM’s of football, are part of those efforts,” Meade said.
The money will be taken from the Lions’ football department, who are set to lose $20,000. A further $10,000 will be suspended until the end of next season.
