AFL set for huge change to in-match concussion protocol

The AFL will today tell club bosses its ARC concussion spotters will most likely be given powers to remove players from games.

In what looms as a significant escalation of authority, Laura Kane will this afternoon propose rules that would see ARC doctors act independently of club medicos.

Sources said the rule was highly likely to be introduced before Opening Round.

The NRL has been using independent doctors in its review “bunker” for several seasons.

Under current rules the AFL’s ARC doctors can only order players to come from the field for a concussion test or instruct clubs to watch vision of potential head injuries.

But club bosses will today be told that the AFL will now most likely take the decision out of their hands.

Today’s meeting will be introduced by Andrew Dillon but steered by football boss Greg Swann and general manager of football operations Kane.

The suite of match review and tribunal changes, as revealed by SEN, will also be discussed with clubs.

As will the range of new rules recently tested in practice matches.