Praetorian
Club Legend
you can, sometimes as a doctor you have to make the tough decisions on behalf of your patient and be firm, if they ignore you then that's there own prerogative.Think it’s been established he had no issue going back on and it is more around the lack of communication during recovery. He physically chose to go back on himself and AFL has signed off on the protocols the Dees took.
Dees then paid for all his care and gave him 10-12 weeks away from the club to recover, not sure what more they could have done. People are just fishing for issues a bit here.
If you have issues with protocols take it up with the AFL as it would apply to all clubs.
Our club ****s up a lot and does a lot of idiotic shit but you can’t blame the club on his injury.
I just don't think allowing someone with clinically obvious rib fractures (and who appeared very distressed with pain) back into a heavy contact game is ever all that wise, even if they are an elite athlete. The rib cage is literally their to protect your lungs and upper abdominal organs, even if his spleen wasn't ruptured you're just risking further significant injury the next time they get hit. Thankfully he avoided contact but running around with an elevated heart rate and blood pressure probably doesn't help any potential internal bleeding.
I work in emergency and have spent time working in major trauma centres. My advice for people with rib fractures generally doesn't include playing footy. Maybe that's why I don't work in sports medicine...
fair enough that his grievance seems to be with the communication and support from the club during his recovery though, we definitely ****ed up multiple aspects.