Ben Griffiths [merged]

[one-eyed]

Another head blow for Griffiths

Sam Landsberger
Herald Sun
25 April 2017

BEN Griffiths’ career is set to again be interrupted by concussion with the Richmond forward suffering a head knock on his return from concussion on Saturday.

Teammate Jack Riewoldt said this month that Griffiths had already suffered more than five concussions and his history of blows was “extremely scary”.

Griffiths, 25, suffered the injury in the Tigers’ VFL win on Saturday — his first appearance since a nasty concussion sustained against Collingwood in Round 2.

Tigers football boss Neil Balme said the club had to be over conservative managing the 200cm forward.

“It’s hard work — it’s not looking good for him, but we’re not quite sure where that will go either,” Balme said on 3AW on Monday night.

“We’re probably over conservative but I think that’s the way we need to be.

“They’re almost subjective things, concussions. That’s the hard thing with it.”

Tigers utility Nick Vlastuin sat out last night’s match against Melbourne with concussion.

“We encourage our doctor to be really conservative,” Balme said.

“So in reality five years ago he (Vlastuin) probably would’ve played, but he was a little bit tender or ginger after it so we didn’t even put any sort of pressure on him to play.”

Griffiths, who wears a helmet, has suffered concussion injuries in four of the past five seasons.

“With his history it’s extremely scary,” Riewoldt said.

“(Griffiths) has had multiple, multiple concussions. Definitely over five.

“We just need to make sure that certainly his welfare is the thing that is put first and our doctors are certainly going to do that.”

Melbourne hard nut Angus Brayshaw suffered yet another head knock in the VFL on Saturday while St Kilda warrior Sean Dempster retired this month due to a history of head knocks.

Two Demons have also retired in recent seasons due to blows to the head — Rohan Bail and Heritier Lumumba.

Balme was hopeful Vlastuin would be fit for Sunday’s trip to face Adelaide.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/ben-griffiths-suffers-another-head-knock-in-comeback-game/news-story/c50b38f9d503b9236dcb96bc758fe9bb

[Simonator]

I think he's gotta hang up the boots. I always was a believer in him but concussions really are a scary thing, so much unknown about them and in a sport like afl he can't be expected to compete properly with the weakness of being concussed so quickly. Shame really.

[tdy]

If you've had one are you more likely to have another anybody know?

[Simonator]

Supposedly you are more prone.

[Tigeritis™©®]

He wouldn't of lasted 5 minutes in the old days. Imagine him playing footy in the 80's when defenders actually punched or elbowed the head on purpose.

He's definitely a better option than Elton but how can anyone be sure he's not going to go down with the first marking contest in the game, then we are always a key position player down from then.
I really don't think we can take the risk with him.

I guess most players can take the hits but some just aren't cut out for it.

[Owl]

Reckon he might be done.  He was putting on a decent show this year before that too, was actually using his body on the packs and getting some air for marks, using his big kick more.. just our friggen luck

[🏅Dooks]

Hopefully hes done. For his sake and the sake of the team moving fwd.

[Diocletian]

[Tigeritis™©®]

 
Done & dusted?  Took me a while but I am a little slow. 

[(•))(©™]

Good way to offload a bloke, that's for sure.

[georgies31]

Good way to offload a bloke, that's for sure.

Come on with all due respect players welfare is number one priority no need for that.

[eliminator]

Player welfare needs to come first. It looks a real possibility he will retire due to injury.

[WilliamPowell]

That he actually doesn't  need a direct knock to the head to suffer an concussion  (like what a happened against the pies) is the scariest thing

Personally, I think it's time to seriously consider giving it away. Ben's long term health is paramount here

[tony_montana]

Maybe one of the resident docs on here can confirm but my understanding is once you cop a concussion that brain trauma is visible in cat scans for life. Imagine copping 5

[Cheese]

Needs to retire. Too many head knocks. Dents the confidence and mental state with the possibility of getting another one. Give him an off field role. For his lon term well being.