AFL news 2022: Port Adelaide loss to Richmond, Tom Jonas Zak Butters bump, video, concussion, Ken Hinkley response, doctor

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says it’s wrong to question their club doctor over whether Zak Butters and Tom Jonas required a concussion test following their head clash.

The Power pair collided in ugly scenes during the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s loss to Richmond, both bloodied and requiring medical assistance.

But after roughly six and eight minutes respectively, and amid some confusion from those externally, both players returned to the game. Port Adelaide told Seven the concussion protocols were followed in the incident.

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But given the violent nature of it, some analysts were asking whether the Power needed to be even more careful.

“If that was five minutes into the first quarter, both those boys are downstairs getting a concussion test,” former Essendon player Adam Ramanauskas said on ABC radio.

“The reality is the game is on the line. I don’t like it. That said, I’m not going to ever challenge a doctor but… I’m questioning the process.”

Zak Butters returned to the game but then required more medical attention due to bleeding. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

But when asked in his post-match press conference about the incident, Hinkley rejected any attempt to question Power doctor Mark Fisher’s decision-making.

“I gather there’d be some conversation around the collision, but people get cuts in games of football and they don’t get concussion,” Hinkley said.

“I’ve got a doctor who’s been with our footy club 25 years and the conversation between our doctor and our football manager during the game was these boys have got no issue with concussion.

“If anyone’s got a challenge on that and they feel more qualified than Mark Fisher, who’s a 25 year AFL doctor, feel free.

“I think you’d want to be really, really sure you’re not trying to umpire or make some calls from outside the fence when you have no knowledge, we’ve got a very experienced doctor who has the utmost respect in the AFL.”

He continued: “I trust the people who are running that part of our organisation in those facets of the game. There was an injury, there was a head clash, both boys were split open, both boys were bleeding, I can tell you all the facts, that’s what was happening, they both got bashed up.

“I spoke to both boys in the rooms straight after the game, they weren’t laying down and they weren’t fainting and they weren’t doing anything silly. They were talking to me very clearly, ‘I’m gonna have a big black eye, but I’m pretty good. Everything’s okay.’

“Both boys, they’re tough players too, we shouldn’t forget that, how tough, because that’s a hit. Those who don’t think the game is tough, that’s a hit.”

Ken Hinkley reacts after being questioned about the handling of Zak Butters and Tom Jonas’ collision.Source: FOX SPORTS

Hinkley was then asked a follow-up question about whether the timing of the incident impacted the decision-making.

“Well, I think you are questioning the doctor. I think you’re questioning the doctor, because he made the decision not to do that. You’re questioning the doctor or not?” he said.

“Are you questioning the doctor or not? Because he made a decision that didn’t need to happen?

“I’m not sure how much better I can answer it for you. Are you questioning a doctor of 25 years experience that he made a bad decision or he made a wrong decision?

“I’m not unsurprised that you’ve asked the question around how the boys were, that’s what I’m not surprised at all by how you asked me how they were. They were fine.

“Do you think a doctor of 25 years would take a risk with concussion with the seriousness of the injuries that go on now with concussion?

“I get what you’re saying, but I’m also saying back to you, I’ve got the most experienced doctor in the AFL making these decisions. Where do you want him to go? Go back to medical school? I don’t know.”

Butters was left bleeding from the cheek with Jonas cut above his right eye due to the collision.

Tom Jonas was cut above the eye. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph explained the AFL’s top doctor would speak to Fisher about the decision.

“Extraordinary bravery from Jonas and Butters to both come onto the ground so quickly again after almost a car crash-style incident there,” Ralph said post-game on Fox Footy.

“It looked like Butters had a broken nose, Jonas a cut above his head. Butters was off the ground for 6:20, Jonas 8:07. So why no concussion test? It’s set to be a significant discussion point this week.

“The doctor would’ve made a quick decision and assessed the players there. The AFL’s concussion protocols do say ‘a player who shows signs and symptoms of concussion must be removed from the field and tested’.

“We know the AFL has their concussion spotters in the ARC (AFL Review Centre), and sometimes they can directly refer those players to have a 20-minute concussion test.

“I don’t think it’s for you or me in the cheap seats to suggest they were concussed, and not all head knocks result in concussion.

“What we do know is the AFL through their chief medical officer will talk to the Port Adelaide doctor during the week, will say why was it you didn’t show an abundance of caution there, but you and I can’t make those judgment calls there. Those symptoms, clearly those players didn’t have those.”

Of the chat between the AFL and the club, Hinkley said: “I suspect they’ll (AFL) ask questions around lots of things, injuries, incidents, all sorts of things, but that’s a normal process for the AFL.

“It’s a collision that happens in a game all the time. Yeah, they’re never timely, they’re never great, you’re in a close game, you need them out there, but the game is played that way and we’re not surprised that sometimes you get people with cuts.”