Nathan Murphy concussion, Collingwood, Craig Kelly interview, head knocks, medical panel

Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly has defended the decision to allow Nathan Murphy to continue his AFL career despite repeated concussion, saying player welfare is paramount.

Murphy was cleared to continue his career by an expert concussion medical panel late last year after suffering his latest concussion in the AFL Grand Final last September.

Kelly stressed on Tuesday the Pies put the wellbeing of Murphy before anything else in allowing him to continue his career.

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“With all the clubs, but with our club, our want to look after our athlete, make sure they’re safe, make sure there’s a safe working environment, is paramount,” Kelly said.

“If anyone says anything different, they just don’t have all the information.

“Ruben Branson, our doctor, is one of the best doctors in Australia in regard to sport, if not the world. The AFL system, the AFL doctors and what we’re looking at and learning about this concussion moment in our game, that’s happening around the world, is led by amazing doctors.

“The process of what Nathan went through, with his family, with the club, with the coaches, for him to make an informed decision to want to do the job he loves, everything’s been done.”

Kelly admitted Murphy’s situation could change depending on what transpires during the season, but stressed sensitivities around the defender’s medical history had to be respected.

“This is a really important point – I can’t ask any of you, and wouldn’t ask any of you, about your medical history. This is a person’s life, so I’m not going to disclose what happens with the conversations with the doctors, with confidential information we share in a very tight group of people,” he said.

“All you need to know is the amazing doctors and people have worked with all of us to get an informed decision. You’re not privy, and we shouldn’t share anything else with you. It’s not what we do.

“There’s a plan in place for every player in the AFL, in regard to concussion and how we deal with it, depending on the circumstances. My son’s had five or six (concussions), he plays for Essendon. It’s not much fun for him, or Nathan, or anyone who has it.

“So we have to have circumstances developed for every individual player to look after them. It’s no one rule, it’s a matter of dealing with the information that we get, when we get it.”