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Port Adelaide teammates Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones are treated after they were involved in a nasty collision against the Crows on Saturday night.Credit:Getty Images

After conducting a preliminary investigation that will continue through the week,the AFL revealed that both players – despite coach Ken Hinkley’s post-match comments – were subject to a head injury assessment under the AFL’s concussion protocols,but only Jones had the SCAT5 test,a standardised tool used by medical professionals to evaluate potential concussions. The test gives doctors guidelines to follow in assessing a patient.

Port Adelaide said Jones passed a concussion test but was subbed out with a migraine,while Aliir played out the rest of the game. Players who are diagnosed with concussion must be in the concussion protocols for a minimum of 12 days,meaning they are removed from the match and also miss the following game.

In a statement the AFL said acting football operations manager Laura Kane and chief medical officer Dr Michael Makdissi had been in contact with Port Adelaide and established that both players underwent head injury assessments.

“Aliir and Jones had a heavy collision which resulted in both players undertaking head injury assessments[HIA] and Jones being substituted from the game after a SCAT5 test and Aliir returning to the game after his initial HIA,” the statement read.

“Over the coming days the AFL will continue to have dialogue with the Port Adelaide football department and their club doctor to closely monitor the management of Aliir and Jones.”

Last night Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley defended the decisions made by the club’s medical staff,led by experienced club doctor Mark Fisher and said the club had not conducted a head injury assessment (HIA). However,the AFL said that was not accurate.

“Mark Fisher is an incredibly experienced doctor and he makes the right decisions that he needs to make. The doctor made the right decisions based around both players. He was really,really clear and certain to me,” Hinkley said on Saturday night.

“I sat and spoke to Aliir and Aliir,[he] was clear as he could be. The doctor was very,very comfortable that the situation was well and truly OK,and he was able to go back on. He went back on and played the whole game,so I don’t think there were too many problems with Aliir other than he got beaten badly.

“I can understand from your point of view because as soon as he came off I was absolutely surprised myself how clear he looked and how bright he looked. I don’t think Aliir had an issue,himself. He was the same Aliir that I was talking to before the game as I was talking to when he was on the bench.

“Lachie didn’t fail a concussion test,but he didn’t come back on and we subbed him. In fact,he was subbed out with a migraine. He’d done the concussion test and he passed the concussion test. That’s about all I can give you.”

The AFL’s concussion guidelines,released in March,give a spotter in the AFL’s Review Centre (ARC) authority to determine that a HIA must be conducted.

The guidelines read:“A HIA form must be completed for any case of suspected concussion on match-day,including incidents notified by the concussion spotter in the AFL Review Centre to the club bench.”

Appearing on Friday at the inquest into former Tiger Shane Tuck’s death,Makidissi revealed that club doctors sometimes ask him for his opinion on an incident during games.

Concussion awareness advocate Peter Jess said the incident reinforced his constant calls for an independent medical body to overlook the concussion management system to protect players.

The Senate Inquiry’s report on concussion and repeated head trauma in contact sports is due to be tabled on Tuesday.

Port Adelaide were cleared after a review of their decision to allow Tom Jonas and Zak Butters back to the field last year following a head clash in round 13 of that season.

The AFL reviewed the sideline assessment and the use of Hawkeye vision and their evaluation of the players before releasing a statement.

“Ultimately,there was no clinical indication of concussion that warranted further investigation and testing,thus the club doctors allowing both players to return to the field,” the statement read.

“The AFL is satisfied that the club complied with the AFL’s concussion guidelines in the management of the players.”

Port Adelaide,which have lost their past three matches,play Geelong at GMHBA Stadium in round 21.

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