The AFL will eventually have to consider broadening helmet use to combat concussion, says Carlton coach Mick Malthouse.
Malthouse, whose involvement in the league as player or coach stretches back more than four decades, said attitudes to head knocks had changed enormously, including his own.
“You used to say to blokes: `Grow up, get out there again,’” he said.
The league says its current medical advice is that there is no definitive evidence that helmets prevent concussion or brain injuries.
But Malthouse tips that will change with advancing technology and it will come down to whether the AFL is willing to accept it.
“It’s going to have to come back at some stage to the medical people to say: `We’ve now developed this (helmet) model that can fit over the head that softens the blow,’” Malthouse said.
“That will come along at some stage.
“We’ll accept it or we’ll say: `No, our game was built without it and we don’t want it.’”
The AFL on Wednesday announced it would host a concussion conference, also involving the NRL, ARU and FFA, in Melbourne on March 20-21, to update the codes on the latest research.
Malthouse said rule changes in recent years to protect players with their heads over the ball were welcome, but more could be done.
Already, concussed players may not return to the ground.
But Malthouse said it would ease pressure on doctors to hurry their diagnoses if a substitute could be used temporarily, instead of leaving a team down one interchange player.
“At the moment we all panic about the time that player’s off,” he said.
The veteran coach would also like a rule prohibiting players from picking up the ball unless they are on their feet, which he believes would make the game safer and more attractive.
Both suggestions have previously been rejected by the league.
Martin
Guest
I have learned from the responses above that helmets don't prevent concussion, oh what a bummer. So perhaps we have to think outside the square for a solution. How about players stop sprinting to the ball, I mean why don't they just casually walk around the footy field, and if any player is running too fast then they are penalised in some way. After all, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose; rather, it is the joy of participating that counts.
Brendon
Guest
I've ridden competitively in speedway motorcycles for over 15 years and can tell you that even the big helmets we wear haven't stopped me being knocked out, I've been knocked unconscious 4 times in 15 years and sometimes you just can't help it, it's the whiplash that get's you, not really the big knocks that helmets protect you from. I think that the players are able to make the decision for themselves as to if they play or not. I don't think there is much you can do about concussions in a 360 degree contact sport like AFL, I'm also not sure Malthouse' suggestion of not picking the ball up unless you are on your feet would be to hard to police, imagine how many penalties there would be. Just leave it alone, nothing you can do, unfortunate, but true
Australian Rules
Guest
It's the old egg analogy... If you pad an egg with bubblewrap, and then throw it around the room, the inside will still be scrambled.
Fred
Guest
The soft Nathan Burke style helmets will do pretty much nothing to stop concussion. Concussion is largely caused by the brain hitting the side of the skull. It helps to think of a car speeding along and then suddenly hitting the brakes on full. The people inside (if not wearing seatbelts) will continue at the same speed and then hit the front of the car. Its similar to how concussion is caused ... a players head is suddenly stopped by the ground/another person and the brain keeps travelling at the same speed and hits the side of the skull. The best way to fix it is to reduce the amount of heavy collisions involving the head. The AFL is correct when its new rules continuously go along the lines of protecting the head.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Head gear doesn't protect you from concussions in rugby, it only protects your hair and ears from opposition boots or from gettin colliflower ears from scrummaging.
Pollock
Guest
No reason why AFL players could not wear the helmets (padded) that they wear in rugby. The St Kilda player Bourke(?) used to wear one similar. The advantage of the padded helmet is that it doesn't matter if not everyone wears one, unlike an American style helmet that is a one in all in approach. Don't know if they the complete answer but would surely help, bit like air bags on a car no guarantee but better than nothing. It is a culture not to wear helmets and if a few of the higher profile players start wearing them it would have a flow through effect. No need to make it compulsory but some real leadership from the players would surely have a positive effect. My young fellas play rugby and heaps of the kids wear them mainly because they see the Wallabies and Super 15 players wear them.
Reccymech
Roar Rookie
I'm in two minds on this issue. Part of me, which lives in the past, having played and now 'hung up the boots' relishes the contact sport......err...make that a collision sport (ballroom dancing is a contact sport). The other, more pragmatic side says: as this is the players place of work and under any state and/or federal Duty of Care Legislation the employee (the players) must have a safe place of work (as far as practicable), and that the employer (The AFL) has a duty to ensure that the workplace (the 'paddock') is a safe workplace. Does The AFL make a decision to allow the players their own decision making, therefore abrogate any of their (The AFL) reponsibility for the sake of the viewing public, and ratings? Or, rule changes, ie the head is sacrosanct - no contact et al? Or compulsory head gear? No real easy answer. This could all be a lawyers playground in the upcoming years.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Hard helmets would probably do more harm than good in our game. I can't see them ging down that path, it may eb an option for the rugby codes. And no current helmet provides protection against concussion. Concussion is about the brain movement inside the head, unless you get some sort of slow cushioning helmet designed to slow the decelration of the head on contact, concussion isn't going to be significantly less with helmets. I'm not trained at all in medicine, the above may be completely wrong. But that is my understanding based on a small amount of reading. Helmets provide protection from skull injuries, but not from concussion and brain injuries.
vocans
Guest
Helmet technology will have to be very good. Especially if they are not to cause facial injuries to players coming in contact with them. I don't want helmets unless they're absolutely necessary, and I don't want them full face like grid iron. I don't like gloves either (but that's another matter). Perhaps we need to stop being so fulsome in our praise of players who blindside themselves by running back with the flight of the ball, and so on? Sometimes it's better to recognise the other guy's in a better position and the role turns to one of defensive action. I'd much rather players act wisely in such situations than have all kinds of accoutrements on their bodies. The game is special for it being a contact sport and it being your unappended body and your skill on the line, not paraphernalia.