07-05-2025
Jeremy McGovern: Player welfare must always come first but it doesn't make it less frustrating
Concussions are a part of footy that any player going in accepts the risk of — but nothing prepares you for how frustrating they can be.
I was subbed out of the game after a face planting into the opposition during a marking contest in our game against the Demons on Saturday and now find myself sidelined.
These days, any knock to the head means doctors immediately assess both the player and the vision to make a decision about whether or not you need testing. Then you do a SCAT (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool) test and they compare your results to your baseline score from the start of the season, while they also monitor your reaction and memory.
Back in the day, the AFL didn't mandate this as much as they do now, which has evolved along with the medical research around head knocks.
The player used to have a large say in whether or not they felt fine to go back out there, while these days it's in the hands of the doctors, whose priority is nothing but your long-term health.
Most of us feel like we would be fine to get back out there and definitely fine to recover by the following round. I fall into the category of feeling like I can play this week and a senior player of a side going through a tough time, that's where my frustrations stem from.
But the priority is player welfare and you have to respect that. The results of the SCAT often proves that players are not fine even when they think they are.
It takes out any guess work and puts full control into medical professionals who use a standard test based on research, rather than just asking a bloke if they're all good.
I have felt fine this week, aside from that feeling of wanting to be out on the track with the boys preparing for a game.
I remember the incident and it was bloody painful — my cheek was sore, I've still been in a bit of pain but I've been OK.
I did minimal amounts of physical activity Sunday and Monday and managed to get out for a jog on Tuesday.
From there, my return to training will depend on what symptoms I'm continuing to show. If all is going well I will be able to start progress back into full training, with the exception of full contact training until I've progressed through all the necessary steps of the protocol and the doctors are comfortable I'm ready to get back into it.
I've been taking a tonne of prescribed, batch-tested supplements as well as there's a lot of current research about how this fast tracks recovery, including fish oils, Omega threes and B12, all natural products.
The club doctors and dietitian have done me up a seven day pack to assist me while I focus on sleep and not doing anything to aggravate headaches.
It's probably one of the better recoveries I've had from a concussion, just mild pain and some trouble sleeping.
You often get really bad headaches and are constantly groggy afterwards. Bad knocks often come with ongoing neck pain and back pain, huge sensitivity to light and noise, as well as memory loss.
I can't wait to get back out there with the boys and no doubt I'll be feeling better soon.
We've got a good chance to compete on the road this week, I just wish I was hopping on that plane!
