Gameday Medical Decisions

[Spirit of the Demon 211]

When my brother played suburban footy in the '90s the coaches would often put the better players under pressure to play on when they were injured. I saw players go back on the ground after suffering concussion or having niggles and I put it down now to a lack of professionalism on the part of coaches and medical staff.

I was really surprised however, at what happened with Ben Cousins on Thursday night. The prize recruit with a history of hamstring problems is getting treatment at three quarter time (Peter Larkins says that RFC staff were working on his hamstrings), the game was lost and yet a decision was made to put him back on the ground. Sheer stupidity on the part of all concerned.

Wallace and his staff should have taken notice of the type of player that Benny is - a perfectionist with his football and the type who plays through the pain barrier to perform for his team. This was an accident waiting to happen. It was a shocking call from Richmond.

I certainly hope our people wouldn't succumb to putting a player at risk in circumstances!

[Chook 14,628]

If, however, you as a coach were told that Ben Cousins, a guy with a history of hamstring problems, had a minor knee complaint that had been rectified, would you place further pressure on those on the field by keeping a guy who (as far as you knew) was healthy on the bench for a whole quarter, thereby minimizing the amount of recovery time the entire rest of the team would be able to enjoy?

[Whispering_Jack 28,097]

The question is whether the coach was getting an accurate diagnosis. From the sound of it (ie. Doc Larkins) there is some confusion over it.

[pringle 42]

I would not listen to anything Peter Larkins says. The media is always sensationalizing things. No-one I have heard comment on this has anything to do with the Richmond medical team and therefore any pictures seen during match do not necessarily represent the truth to the matter. Things are not always as they seem and to blame the coach or medical staff on tv evidence (or based on anything doc Larkins says) is presumptuous.