Dekota Baron cleared by doctors, but ARC pulled her from game
ARC overrode Gold Coast doctors' decision to allow Dekota Baron back into play after she passed a head injury assessment.
Gold Coast forward Dekota Baron was hit hard in the first quarter against Richmond in an AFLW match on Saturday. Team doctors checked her and cleared her to continue playing.
Minutes later, the ARC (the league's match official body) stopped the game and ordered a mandatory head injury assessment. Baron completed the 15-minute test and passed it, returning to the field.
She played a couple more minutes before the ARC halted the game again and ruled her out for the remainder. Coach Rhyce Shaw said he was surprised by the decision.
He noted that the doctors had assessed and cleared her, but the ARC saw something different. Baron, a Rising Star nominee, was visibly upset when she left the field.
- 15 minutes on sidelines
- Head injury assessment time
- Rising Star nominee
- Baron's award nomination
Why it mattersIt highlights tensions between team medical staff and league authorities over who has the final say on player safety during games.
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