Questions have been raised over why St Kilda star Rowan Marshall was allowed to remain out on the field in his side’s win over West Coast, after copping a late brutal knee to the back of the head.
Marshall bravely put himself at the front of the contest and ended up with Eagle Bailey Williams’ knee to his head with just minutes to play on Saturday night.
The Saints big man was left sprawled on the Optus Stadium turf for a few moments before making his way to the next ruck contest.
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But it was there that the confusion began as both the St Kilda trainer and doctor had made their way to that side of the field and umpires stopped play.
Two-time North Melbourne premiership winner David King questioned why Marshall was then allowed to waive the medical assistance away – despite the clear blow to the head.
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“I just can’t understand how Rowan Marshall is still on the field at the moment,” King lamented.
“We stop the game for a blood rule. And they’re assessing now whether there’s head trauma and he’s still out there.
“The game should be stopped. He should be off the field now.
“I think the doctor is having a conversation with the umpire.”
Frustrated Eagles players including Tom Cole were seen putting their hands in the air questioning why play was stopped, while boos loudly rang out around the ground.
Marshall was seen giving the medical staff the thumbs up and waving them away, before club officials were seen reviewing the incident on the bench.
But no further action was taken as full time sounded.
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“Is that a situation where the player should be overruled?” commentator Adam Papalia asked.
“100 per cent,” King replied.
Marshall wasn’t the only Saint to cop a blow to the head, with Darcy Wilson slung to the ground in a tackle that’s left Rising Star favourite Harley Reid in hot water.
But like Marshall, he was able to play out the contest.
St Kilda assistant coach Corey Enright, who fronted the post-match press conference due to Ross Lyon’s illness, said both players were fine.
When asked if Marshall was concussion tested, Enright replied: “Nah, (Marshall) bounced back pretty quick from that”.
“So we’ll obviously look at him through the week, but he seems fine,” he said.
Enright confirmed Wilson didn’t need any concussion assistance after that Reid tackle.
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“We looked at him, he was fine, he finished the game strongly,” he said.
St Kilda did come away with a big injury concern as star Max King was subbed out of the contest after a crunching tackle by Eagle Tom Barrass.
“We don’t know exactly (how King is),” Enright said.
“It’s a jarred knee. It’s early.
“We’ll go back to Melbourne and scan and we’re quite hopeful at this stage.”
Source Agencies
