‘Extremely serious' concussion concerns mount for George Wardlaw amid North Melbourne injury ‘carnage'

7NEWS

29-06-2025

Fresh concerns surround George Wardlaw's future after the North Melbourne youngster suffered his third concussion in 12 months.
The Kangaroos went down in an ugly 85-point loss to Hawthorn on Saturday, with injury carnage only adding to the fallout.
Wardlaw copped an innocuous head knock and will miss North's blockbuster Thursday night clash against the Western Bulldogs, which doubles as the club's centenary celebration.
Speaking on Saturday night, Roos coach Alastair Clarkson said Wardlaw is 'OK' and could remember the game.
But there are now questions over how the 21-year-old should be managed given he missed games last season with concussion.
'When there's repeat concussions, and particularly in the last few years, you've seen players that gets independently assessed by a concussion panel,' Xander McGuire said on Channel 7's Sunday Footy Feast.
'I'm not saying that's where George Wardlaw is just yet, but that's something that could foreseeably happen when you have so many concussions in a short period of time.
'So three in 12 months — three in 35 games — for a young player is something that will be treated with extreme caution by the club.'
While Wardlaw is officially in the AFL concussion protocols, meaning he must sit out this week's game, McGuire reported North officials will meet on Monday morning to discuss the next steps.
'Now given the state that North Melbourne's in right now and not really in finals contention, you do question whether they're rushing back within that 12-day protocols or if you maybe give him a bit more time to get himself entirely right,' he said.
'But this is something that will be taken extremely seriously and not just brushed off as another just routine concussion.
'And North Melbourne are gonna look at this and go 'this is a guy that's missed due to soft-tissue injuries with his hamstrings', but the concussion is arguably becoming an even bigger concern for Wardlaw.'
Geelong great Cameron Ling is adamant Wardlaw will need to adjust how he plays to protect himself.
'He will have to definitely. He's got to adjust his technique,' he said.
'Even the way he approached that tackle (when he was concussed), he has to learn to protect himself. I love his endeavour and keenness to get involved but you've got to protect yourself as well.'
The Wardlaw concussion was just one of many injury problems for the Kangaroos, who sent several players in for scans on Sunday.
'It has been carnage, to be honest,' McGuire said.
'I haven't seen the likes of this, the number of players from one side that have gone in one day, I don't think ever.'
Harry Sheezel got crunched late in the defeat to Hawthorn and had a shoulder injury looked at.
'He gave us a thumbs-up on the way out so I think the news is good there,' McGuire said.
'That was just to check any major structural flaws — but he should be right to go on Thursday.'
Finn O'Sullivan pulled up late in the game with calf soreness while Luke Parker copped what he described as a 'significant knock' to his body'.
Luke McDonald also sustained an AC joint injury, which is likely to keep him out for a couple of weeks.
'He was optimistic that he would be able to get up for Thursday night,' McGuire said.
'But speaking to some other people at North Melbourne over the last couple of hours, they're not as optimistic as the former captain is.
'It doesn't stop there.
'My understanding is Zac Fisher was also in at scans this morning for a check-up.
'We know he has a history with soft-tissue injuries, namely hamstrings, so we hope there's no recurrence of that.'