Brisbane have been fined $30,000 by the AFL and have a suspended $10,000 fine hanging over their head for breaching the league's concussion protocols concerning Harris Andrews.
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The Lions were issued a 'please explain' from the league regarding their delay in having co-captain Andrews assessed for concussion after a third-quarter knock in Sunday's win over Sydney at the Gabba.
"The ARC (AFL Review Centre) medical spotters issued a mandatory off-field assessment (including SCAT6) notification to Brisbane in relation to the third quarter incident involving Andrews," the AFL said in a statement.
"There was a delay in Brisbane actioning the notification from the ARC with Andrews being removed during the last quarter of the match for a SCAT6 which did not identify signs of concussion and he returned to the field.
"Andrews was subsequently concussed in a separate incident late in the fourth quarter of the match.
"Having considered Brisbane's submissions in relation to the management of Andrews on Sunday afternoon, the AFL has determined that the club was in breach of the AFL concussion protocols and have sanctioned the club $40,000."
That penalty includes a $20,000 fine to be paid immediately and included in the Lions' soft cap, plus the activation of a $10,000 suspended fine for delaying a concussion test on Sophie Conway during last December's AFLW grand final.
The remaining $10,000 of the fine is suspended and only payable if there is another breach in either the AFL or AFLW before the end of 2025.
The Lions submitted they had missed the message from the ARC as their doctors were busy attending to players, including Andrews, during and after the three-quarter time break.
"The AFL requires strict compliance of clubs to the concussion guidelines to best protect the health and safety of our players," AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said in a statement.
"Brisbane fully cooperated with our inquiries in relation to this matter and has admitted its breach and is committed to working with the AFL to improve its processes"
"The AFL also acknowledges its role in the important task of improving player care and the new measures that have been introduced this week, including extending notifications from the ARC medical spotters for mandatory off-field assessment including SCAT6 to club GMs of football, are part of those efforts."
Andrews has already been ruled out of Saturday's match against Gold Coast.
Carlton were slapped with a reprimand for their handling of star forward Harry McKay's head knock against North Melbourne.
Adelaide were cleared of any wrongdoing in how they dealt with Jordan Dawson's concussion last Friday night against Essendon.
Australian Associated Press
