The AFL’s head-knock protocols have again come scrutiny after dynamic forward Nick Watson was initially left on the field for at least three minutes on Thursday night despite copping a heavy knock in a marking contest.
The brutal clash happened during the second term of the dour contest at chilly Launceston won by Hawthorn over Adelaide by nine points, 10.15 (75) to 9.12 (66).
The Hawks’ victory came on the back of an animated quarter-time blast from coach Sam Mitchell as well as four goals from surprise forward Blake Hardwick.
But the loss came at an extra cost for the Crows, who coughed up a 12-point quarter-time lead before losing star midfielder Izak Rankine to a calf injury during the third term.
The Watson incident dominated discussion during the half-time break. The courageous forward looked like he might be down for the count after running back with the flight of the ball during the second term.
He was accidentally collected across the side of the head by Crows defender Jordon Butts before crashing heavily into the turf.
Commentators were critical that a dazed-looking Watson was not taken straight from the ground for a head injury assessment (HIA).
But when asked about the time lapse after the game, Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said he had full faith in the club’s medical team.
“Westy [club doctor Dr Liam West] is probably on the more safer side of things,” Mitchell said.
“He went out to him [Watson] straight away, said that he had to come off eventually, but he went out to him straight away.”
Watson initially stayed on the ground after speaking to a member of Hawthorn’s medical team and indicating he was fine.
But the footage was reviewed soon after and Watson was escorted from the field and taken into the rooms. It was not known if the AFL review centre had intervened.
The small forward passed the HIA and returned to the field in the second half. He only had 12 possessions for the night but had 11 score involvements and finished with two goals.
Watson joked on Kayo Sports after the match that “the boys said I had a low bar in the concussion test to pass anyway”.
“I’m fine. I bounced back to my feet. I’m glad I passed it [the concussion test] as I struggle with it, even if I’m not concussed,” he said with a grin.
“The test took about 10 minutes, so I was filthy with that as well. I was just sitting in there trying to get back out. I missed the whole line meeting at half-time.”
Mitchell said he regularly pointed out how tough Watson was.
“Just because you can run fast doesn’t mean you will in contested situations,” Mitchell said.
“Sometimes I wish he would not be quite so tough. But his desire and ability to hit a contest at speed, not knowing exactly what’s going to come the other way, is so hard to play against.”
Mitchell laughed when told that premiership teammate Luke Hodge, now an analyst for Channel Seven, had never seen him angrier than at the start of the second quarter.
“I feel like I need to respond to Hodgey, and not to the press conference,” Mitchell said.
“But to the press conference, we just needed to perform at a high level, and to the standards that we knew were required to win a game like that, and we weren’t living up to.
“To Hodgey himself, I think, you know, he’s seen me pretty angry a few times, probably it was just at him some of those times, but he’s been just as angry at me.”
Hodge was in the rooms before the game to present debutant Cameron Nairn with his jumper.
Mitchell acknowledged he lost his cool because his Hawks were beaten in every aspect of the game when they were under siege during the first quarter – they trailed in kicks (57 to 44), handballs (49 to 36), inside 50s (16 to nine) and centre clearances (six to one).
“You can’t lose contests and tackles and clearances the way we were early, so I was pleased we got the response we needed to win the game,” he said.
Mitchell praised Hardwick’s ability to play as a forward in the absence of Jack Gunston, but said he was likely to return to defence in coming weeks.
“Blake is finally getting a little bit of credit outside of our walls, the way he has for us for a long time, but he’s a phenomenal footballer,” the Hawthorn coach said.
“His contest is outstanding, he is beautiful kick, and he’ll get a lot of credit for tonight, and so he should, but he should have for a lot of other weeks. Today he kicked four, regularly he’s stopping four or more.”
Mitchell noted Jarman Impey’s 12 intercept possessions, praised big forwards Mabior Chol and Mitch Lewis for their contested work on a slippery night, and said he was pleased that versatile Josh Weddle was able to save a number of goals by getting a fingertip to the ball on the last line of defence.
Hawks fans will be tuning into Box Hill’s VFL clash at Williamstown on Friday night to see the return of star midfielder Will Day after shoulder surgery. Mitchell would not be drawn on an AFL return date for him.
“I just want him to have fun,” Mitchell said. “He’s good at footy, and he’s going to come back into the AFL side as soon as the medical team thinks that is a good option for him.
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