Richmond star Jack Riewoldt has offered a chilling insight into the moments that followed Dion Prestia’s concussion, as play continued around the felled Tiger for a number of minutes.
The clash between Prestia and Geelong defender Tom Stewart took place with five and a half minutes left in the first term, but play was allowed to continue even as Prestia lay helpless in the hands of the trainers on the wing before it was finally stopped after Geelong forward Tyson Stengle’s goal almost two minutes later.
Riewoldt said he and his teammates did not initially realise what had happened to Prestia, with the veteran forward disappointed play wasn’t stopped earlier.
READ MORE: Serena stunned by rookie in ‘crazy’ boilover
READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios fumes at ‘snitch’ in drama-filled Wimbledon match
READ MORE: Stalemate leaves Sharks with massive dilemma
READ MORE: F1 drivers turn on three-time champ after racist slur against Hamilton
“I was screaming at the umpires, I think there was probably a few of us saying ‘stop the game’ because clearly he was knocked out,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“I’m a bit flat about the minute-and-a-half of play after this; there were multiple times to stop the game. Blokes are kicking the ball over the top of him and the doctors. I thought that could’ve been handled a lot better.
“It’s the duty of care … you’ve got three medical people looking over a player that’s knocked out in the vicinity of play in the protected zone – it could’ve nearly been 50 metres (penalty), he was in the protected zone – and we continued to play that game.
“From a safety point of view I really didn’t like that.”
Riewoldt’s concerns echoed those of the Fox Footy commentary team, who were left baffled that the umpires had allowed play to continue while Prestia was being tended to on the wing.
“You reckon they might stop the game? Surely they stop the game now, it’s extraordinary,” former Melbourne skipper Garry Lyon said on the coverage.
“They’ve got their arm in the air, the trainers, which would indicate (play should be stopped). Why wouldn’t they stop the game? One of these umpires surely take control of it.
“All we care about right now is Dion Prestia, but they’re one down, Richmond. In terms of where the game sits, the Richmond doctors should stop the game here so they can even up. Well done to Geelong, but this is a farcical situation.”
Stewart revealed that he’d received Prestia’s number from Riewoldt before apologising to the Tigers star for his hit, and Riewoldt himself defended the Cats star’s character.
“He’s not a bad guy, I’ve had beers with him and I really like him, unfortunately he made a blunder and he’ll serve the consequences,” he said.
“He puts his hand up, he’s made a blue and he does what a good person does, he owns it and moves on.”
Stewart was sent directly to the tribunal for his hit on Prestia and was whacked with a four-match ban.
While Prestia suffered a concussion as a result of the play, he was luckily able to escape without any facial fractures.