The AFL has ticked off on Carlton’s management of Jacob Weitering in Friday night’s semi-final win over Melbourne as the Blues this week prepare for selection “heartbreak.”
Weitering early in the fourth term looked dazed and unsteady on his feet after he appeared to cop an accidental knock from Demon Joel Smith to the back of his head.
Despite this, the star defender remained on the field and played out the remainder of the match to help drag his side over the line in the thrilling win.
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The Blues had already insisted the contact was made to Weitering’s throat, saying he had trouble breathing but was under no risk of concussion.
The club confirmed he passed a precautionary concussion test post-match.
And in a statement released to Channel 7, the league also cleared Carlton’s handling of the matter.
“The AFL is comfortable that, in circumstances where Weitering relevantly suffered an impact to his throat and neck, he was properly assessed and managed,” the statement read.
Patrick Cripps was himself left bruised and blooded on Friday night after he copped a bump from Kysaiah Pickett, but the Blues skipper returned to the game also without undergoing a concussion test.
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An issue earlier this season, Port Adelaide copped a $100,000 fine from the AFL for not giving a concussion test to Aliir Aliir after a nasty head knock with Lachie Jones in the club’s Round 20 clash with Adelaide.
Both Aliir and Jones missed the following week after entering concussion protocols.
It comes as Channel 7 also reported the Blues’ impending selection “heartbreak” for Saturday’s preliminary final clash against Brisbane, with both Harry McKay (concussion) and Jack Martin (suspension) to return to the side.
Sam Docherty is hopeful of playing despite dislocating his shoulder against Melbourne, while there’s also a watch on Blake Acres after he appeared to aggravate an existing collarbone injury.
