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Hunter Clark was flattened by David Mackay.Credit:Getty

The complexity of the case lies in the fact that it appears very unlikely Mackay meant to bump Clark high. Rather,he was contesting the ball and the collision happened because he got to the contest fractionally late.

The issue of duty of care in a contest was covered in the tribunal case of Carlton’s Lachie Plowman recently,when it was deemed he should have tried to avoid a split-second collision that concussed Hawthorn’s Jaegar O’Meara.

Another issue in that case was whether Plowman bumped O’Meara,or if the contact was incidental to a marking contest. It was decided he bumped. This looms as an issue in the Mackay-Clark incident,too.

With the issue of the ongoing impacts of concussion growing steadily as time goes by,the AFL is becoming more cautious when it comes to head knocks,regardless of intent.

St Kilda’s injury list has ballooned,although the Saints hope James Frawley (shoulder),Darragh Joyce (concussion),Dan McKenzie (calf),Shaun McKernan (toe),Rowan Marshall (plantar fascia) and Leo Connolly (shin) are back soon after the bye.

Zak Jones (quad) and Dan Hannebery (calf) are longer-term injuries.

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