Geelong star to miss AFL grand final with concussion
Anna Harrington |
Tom Stewart’s “shattering” concussion that rules the star Cat out of the AFL grand final is “hard to take”, says Geelong coach Chris Scott.
The brilliant defender was concussed in a first-quarter tackle from Hawks forward Mabior Chol in Friday night’s preliminary final, assisted from the ground and quickly substituted.
Geelong fought back from an early 21-point deficit to claim a 17.13 (115) to 13.7 (85) preliminary final win at the MCG.
But due to the AFL’s 12-day concussion protocols, Stewart was immediately ruled out of next Saturday’s grand final against either Collingwood or Brisbane.
It is certain to revive calls to change the pre-finals bye to a pre-grand final bye, an idea that AFL identities including Brisbane coach Chris Fagan have supported.
“I think generally in these situations you change your mind depending on what it means for you,” Scott said.
“So I’m very pro a week off before the grand final – if we can sneak that in this year.
“But given that it’s likely we’re not going to do that … I mean, in some ways, in a perverse way, it’s black and white – so we know, he knows.
“Yeah, it’s a shattering situation for him.”
Scott made it clear he wasn’t a fan of the pre-finals bye but didn’t want to offer a “strong opinion” on the timing of the bye.
“But maybe if there has to be one – before the grand final would be better,” he added.
Stewart is the first AFL player to miss a decider through the 12-day concussion protocols, introduced in 2021.
Adelaide AFLW star, and then-captain, Chelsea Randall missed the Crows’ grand final loss to Brisbane through concussion that year.
The Cats were trailing Hawthorn by 21 points in the first quarter of Friday night’s game at the MCG when Chol tackled Stewart in Geelong’s defensive 50.
Stewart, who was also clutching his right wrist, needed immediate treatment and was assisted to the bench before being ruled out of the game through concussion and replaced by substitute Jhye Clark.
Because Chol pinned both arms and went into Stewart’s back, he could also face scrutiny from the match review officer.
The change forced fellow defender Jack Henry, who was on the bench after being treated for an ankle injury, to quickly return to the fray to cover for Stewart.
Henry was injured earlier in the first quarter when teammate Connor O’Sullivan landed on his left ankle, but returned and played out the game.
“It looked like Jack Henry might have been in doubt for the rest of the game as well,” Scott said.
“Fortunately, the feedback we got was that it was a little bit of a nerve situation there that looked bad temporarily but came good.
“So that’s a good news story – they’re ultra-confident that he will be fine to train in a couple of days.
“So that’s the good news on the injury front but the Stewart one’s a bit hard to take right now.”
Scott indicated ruckman Rhys Stanley could come into the grand final side for Stewart, allowing Mark Blicavs to go down back.
AAP
