BERNIE Vince says the way clubs deal with concussed players has changed significantly for the better since he first started his AFL career with Adelaide in 2006.
Vince recently spoke on Fox Footy about suffering concussion during a match and then returning to the field. But he was quick to point out that the incident occurred several years ago and would not happen in today’s environment.
“The incident I was talking about was a long time ago. If you listen to the whole thing (interview), I said how much the thinking around concussion had changed over the last few years,” he told reporters at AAMI Park on Wednesday.
“I think a good example of that is how we’ve treated our guys like ‘H’, Heritier Lumumba, and Angus Brayshaw, who have both spent a lot of time out of the game.
“I think that’s how serious we do treat it now, compared to the incident I was talking about, which was a long time ago. If you came back on, after getting a hard hit, it was almost like ‘this guy is tough’.”
But Vince said the scenario of a player 'faking' concussion and then coming back on the ground was a thing of the past.
“I don’t think it can happen now, because I saw an incident on the weekend with [Lion] Mitch Robinson, who thought he was OK and then I saw him watching it with the doctor on the bench, with a computer,” he said.
“I don’t think you can do it these days and you don’t really want to be doing it – you’ve got to put your health first.”
Vince said the approach to concussion was poles apart from a decade ago.
“When I first started, guys were getting knocked out cold and then coming back on,” he said.
“It’s changed a lot from then.”
Meanwhile, Vince, who is now in his third season at Melbourne, said he had loved his time at the club, after a fine career with the Crows.
“When I first moved, it was the fear of the unknown – not knowing the boys at the club and the city, but I’ve settled in really well,” he said.
“They’re a great group of young fellas here. I get on really well with them and I fit in really well.
“So I’ve loved my time here.”
When asked to compare the cities of Melbourne and Adelaide, Vince said he was a fan of both.
“Melbourne is a bit bigger and there is a bit more going on here,” he said.
“I’m from a little country town [in South Australia], but when I first moved [to Adelaide], I went ‘wow, this place is huge’. But after moving [to Melbourne], it’s (Adelaide) now the small little country town.
“I do love getting back there [to Adelaide] and I was back there over the break. It’s a great town.”
