Hawthorn player Will Day was forced off the field with cramp during Saturday’s match at adelaide Oval, sparking renewed debate about the AFL’s rules regarding player injuries and game stoppages.
Day was escorted from the ground by a club physio. the incident drew comparisons to a previous concussion suffered by Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz against Fremantle in Perth earlier this year, which had led to criticism of umpires for not halting play for safety reasons. Former Port Adelaide player Kane Cornes commented on SEN, suggesting that teams might exploit such delays, noting that Day was “60 metres from the ball” when he experienced the cramp.
Adelaide star Ben Keays expressed a desire for greater consistency in the application of game-stoppage rules. “We have had some games where players limp off with an ankle injury and play goes on,” Keays told SEN. “Playing with a man down can hurt you. Whatever it is, it just needs to be consistent.”
Former North Melbourne player and West coast coach Adam Simpson urged the new AFL football boss, Greg Swann, to address the issue. Simpson proposed that the rules could be adjusted to allow an umpire’s coach, positioned in the stands, to provide guidance to the umpires on the field regarding the severity of an injury. “he’s only cramping, let it go,” Simpson stated.
Adding to Hawthorn’s concerns, Day returned home wearing a moon boot on his foot. the club indicated that the foot was stomped on during the match, and it is the same leg that underwent navicular surgery earlier this year.
