World Footy News

The AFL today detailed its participation at the Fourth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport, to be held in Zurich commencing Thursday.

Several AFL Medical representatives – including AFL Medical Commissioner Dr Peter Harcourt, Prof Paul McCrory, Assoc Prof Gavin Davis and Dr Michael Makdissi - will attend the two-day conference in Switzerland that will see leading medical experts from around the world gather to discuss world’s best practices in relation to the management and research of concussion in sport.

The conference, held every four years, is attended by prominent sporting bodies from around the world including FIFA, the NFL, the NHL and the IRB. With four medical representatives in attendance – three providing keynote addresses across a range of issues - the AFL will have the most significant representation of all sports involved.

AFL General Manager Football Operations, Adrian Anderson, said the conference would assist in the ongoing development of the AFL’s world-leading concussion management policies to safeguard the welfare of players.

“The AFL has been at the cutting edge of concussion management and research for quite some time now,” Mr Anderson said.

“We have a number of leading experts providing the AFL with world’s best practice in terms of concussion management. The AFL’s commitment to concussion management is illustrated by its representation at what is regarded as the most respected symposium on concussion in sport in the world.”

Mr Anderson said the AFL would continue to assess its own policies following the conference.

“We are always looking to remain at the cutting edge and improve our practices in what is a dynamic, ever-changing environment,” Mr Anderson added.

“The last conference held four years ago was an invaluable source of information sharing and provided us with improved knowledge in the planning of our own guidelines to provide protection for players and to ensure their treatment is managed properly.

“We will carefully consider any recommendations that emerge from this year’s conference if there are opportunities to further enhance our procedures and guidelines for treating and managing concussion in the AFL.”

The Fourth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport commences in Zurich on Thursday November 1, concluding Friday November 2.