In a concerning turn of events during Collingwood’s recent match against Fremantle, Magpies captain Darcy Moore voiced his dissatisfaction over the umpires’ decision not to halt play after teammate Lachie Schultz sustained a concussion.(ESPN.com)
The Incident
Late in the final quarter, Schultz was involved in a tackle with Fremantle’s Jordan Clark, resulting in a significant head impact. Schultz remained on the ground, visibly disoriented, and collapsed shortly after attempting to rise. Despite this, play continued for approximately 16 seconds, culminating in a goal by Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott. It wasn’t until Elliott was lining up for his set shot that the umpires stopped the game .(The West, ESPN.com, news)
Moore’s Reaction
Collingwood’s captain, Darcy Moore, expressed his concern over the situation. “We were pretty concerned at how severe he looked, how disoriented he looked,” Moore stated. “Players on both teams thought the game should have been stopped at least for 20 seconds to let him off the ground.” He emphasized that continuing play while Schultz was in distress “didn’t feel right” .(ESPN.com, FOX SPORTS)
AFL’s Response
The AFL later clarified that the umpires did not observe Schultz’s condition immediately after the incident. Had they been aware, play would have been stopped when Nick Daicos received the ball in the middle of the ground . However, this explanation has been met with skepticism, especially after audio emerged indicating that the umpires were aware of Schultz’s injury but allowed play to continue .(news, The West)
Fallout and Reactions
The incident has sparked widespread criticism from players, coaches, and commentators. Both Collingwood’s Craig McRae and Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir agreed that play should have been halted sooner. Former AFL players Kane Cornes and David King have called for a review of the umpires’ actions, highlighting the inconsistency in stopping play for injuries .(news, ESPN.com, sen.com.au)
Collingwood’s Executive GM of Football, Charlie Gardiner, expressed surprise over the AFL’s initial statement, reaffirming the club’s belief that play should have been stopped. The incident has reignited discussions on whether AFL umpires should be employed full-time to ensure better decision-making during matches .(news)
Schultz’s Condition
Following the match, Schultz was placed in concussion protocols and is expected to miss at least one week of play. Despite the concerning nature of the incident, Schultz has been reported in good spirits and is progressing through the necessary recovery steps .(FOX SPORTS)
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges in managing player safety and the need for consistent and prompt action in response to on-field injuries
