Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has reacted angrily to the idea that crucial defender Aliir Aliir was not properly examined after colliding with teammate Lachie Jones.
After sprinting back with the flight of the ball, Aliir collided with Jones in a marking contest, leading play to be stopped early in the second term of the Power’s 47-point Showdown loss to Adelaide on Saturday.
Both Power players needed assistance getting to their feet and appeared to be out of the game, but Aliir did not receive a head injury evaluation and returned to the pitch just minutes later.
Jones cleared a head injury evaluation but was replaced before halftime owing to a migraine.
“It was handled by the right people, and that was the doctor.” “The doctor made those decisions with both players in mind,” Hinkley explained.
“He was very clear and certain to me, and Aliir was as well, with Aliir in particular.”
“I can tell you because I sat down and spoke with Aliir, and Aliir spoke to me as clearly as he could.”
“The doctor was very, very comfortable that the situation was well and truly OK, and that he (Aliir) was able to go back on.”
Aliir went on to finish the game, lining up on Taylor Walker as the Crows’ experienced forward ran riot.
Walker scored seven goals to lead his team to a thrilling victory that resurrected their finals aspirations while also earning him his first Showdown Medal.
“He (Aliir) went back out there and played the whole game, so I don’t think there was too many problems with Aliir other than he got beaten badly,” Hinkley told reporters.
“But he was getting beaten by Taylor Walker for a fair bit of the night.”
Last season, the Power were investigated after captain Tom Jonas and on-baller Zak Butters collided heads late in a match against Richmond but did not receive head injury examinations.
Hinkley also supported Power doctor Mark Fisher’s decision at the time.
Jones was evaluated following the incident with Aliir and sat out the second half.
“Lachie did not fail a concussion test, but he did not return.” “We substituted him,” Hinkley explained.
“In fact, he was basically subbed out at the end due to a migraine.” But he’d already taken the concussion test and passed it.”
The Power have now lost three successive matches after winning 13 straight to go into second place.
The Power are one win clear of the Brisbane Lions with four games remaining, so second place — and a home final in week one — is still up for grabs.
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