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Pavlich concussions not linked

Pavlich concussions not linked

A leading concussion expert says Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich’s spate of recent head knocks are not linked and do not make him any more susceptible to concussions in the future.

Pavlich and Michael Walters are in doubt for Saturday night’s match against Essendon at Domain Stadium after sustaining concussions in separate clashes during Sunday’s win over Melbourne.

Walters was substituted out of the game in the second term and Pavlich did not return to the field after his collision with Demon Colin Garland shortly before half-time.

It was the second time since last July Pavlich had been concussed. Both incidents came after he received a significant head knock the previous week.

Pavlich clashed heads with St Kilda’s Sean Dempster on July 19 last year, the impact severe enough for the Saints defender to be substituted out of the match. Pavlich was cleared that day, but sustained a concussion in the following week’s match against Carlton when he was accidentally elbowed by Nick Graham.

The champion Docker was also left dazed and bleeding after colliding with Sydney’s Ted Richards late in the first quarter on Anzac Day this year, only to return to the ground during the second term. But his clash with Garland eight days later was a further setback.

Dr Gary Couanis, who was one of three speakers at last year’s Concussion In Sport symposium in WA, said Pavlich had simply been unlucky.

“If there’s been an event that’s been expertly diagnosed as a non-concussive event then the two are very unlikely to be linked,” Couanis said.

Concussion is a growing issue in the AFL.

Geelong’s Jimmy Bartel and Tom Lonergan, Bradley Hill (Hawthorn) and Neville Jetta (Melbourne) are among players to have missed games because of concussion this season.

But Adelaide’s Brodie Smith and Sydney’s Luke Parker played the week after head knocks.

Couanis said Pavlich’s concussions didn’t make him more susceptible to being knocked out.

“Scientifically speaking, there is no confirmed evidence that once a concussion has resolved, that it affects the threshold of future concussions,” he said.

“If he passes the test, then what’s happened in the past shouldn’t really be factored into it a great deal. As soon as he passes the test by the club doctors, then he should be cleared to play.”

Pavlich said it was important to make the right call for the club and his future.

“Seeing the kids at home and knowing I’ve got a long life to live beyond my AFL football career, certainly my mental health is going to be crucial going forward in jobs and things I want to go into,” Pavlich told Channel 7.

“While it is a combative game, it’s physical and I love the competitive element of it, I’ve got a long life to live post my career.”