West Coast coach Adam Simpson has defended the club’s handling of Josh Kennedy after the veteran forward copped a heavy head knock during Thursday’s AFL defeat to Richmond.
Kennedy took an accidental knee to the head from Noah Balta as the Tigers defender flew for a mark during the first quarter at Metricon Stadium.
The 33-year-old Kennedy staggered from the field and briefly returned to the action, but was soon ruled out for the rest of the match.
The AFL has since ticked off on the protocols followed by the Eagles’ medical staff.
“I was made aware of it after the game,” Simpson told ABC Perth on Saturday.
“I didn’t see any of the incident, so, I mean, we always back in our docs, they’re first class.
“I’m not quite sure if he came on for too long but I think it was pretty quickly realised he wasn’t right, so they got him straight off.”
Simpson conceded he is “not expecting” Kennedy to feature in Tuesday night’s crunch clash with Essendon, but the spearhead could play four days later against the Western Bulldogs.
“He’s OK, he’s pulled up well and today he was walking around telling me he’s fine to play,” Simpson said.
“They all do that, but he genuinely is feeling pretty good.
“The first thing that runs through your mind is worst-case scenario.
“In the past, you probably just think I’ll be fine and I’m right to play next week.
“But witnessing and seeing some players in our industry who have got longer term effects (from concussion), we’ve got to be really careful with what we do, both on game-day and when they come and return to play.”
Young forward Oscar Allen will return from a week out with a hip injury to replace Kennedy and will get the chance to team up with Jack Darling in attack against the Bombers.
“In the last 12 months we’ve seen some real good signs with Oscar,” Simpson said.
“He’s a 20-year-old key position player, which don’t normally come along in their early 20s…
“He’ll play this week and it will be the first time he’ll play probably as a permanent forward if Bailey Williams stays in the side.”