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Sickening clash floors Schultz as players ask why play didn't stop?
SEN • May 9th, 2025 8:52 am
- Schultz collapsed after the hit
- Play was not stopped despite medics on field
- Coaches and players wanted play stopped
- Schultz will miss at least a week
Darcy Moore said things “didn’t feel right” when play continued despite a terrifying concussion to Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz.
In the aftermath of a fourth quarter collision with Freo’s Jordan Clark, Schultz was visibly shaken and struggling to get to his feet as medical staff tended to him.
As he received medical attention, play continued for almost 20 seconds during which Jamie Elliott kicked a goal, but the lack of action from the umps didn’t sit well with the Collingwood captain.
“First things first, when you see an incident like what happened with Lachie Schultz, just competing so hard, it’s just so rattling to see,” Moore said after his side secured a 97-83 victory in Perth.
“We were pretty concerned at how severe he looked, how disorientated he looked.
“It’s a reminder, I suppose, for everyone watching at home, everyone at the stadium, just the risks that the guys take in stepping out here, and what they’re prepared to do.
“We love ‘Shooter’, he’s one of our favourite teammates, he does that stuff week in, week out. It’s pretty rattling to see.
“When the game is on the line, to have one of your heart and soul players experience that it’s pretty rattling.
“To be able to kind of brush that off in a sense and then deliver and get the four points on the road on a short turnaround sums up our group at the moment.”
With the safety of players front of mind, Moore added that players from both teams felt that Schultz should have been taken from the field before play continued.
“Players on both teams thought the game should’ve been stopped at least for 20 seconds to let him off the ground,” he added.
“Obviously, a lot of the Freo guys are connected to Lachie as well, so that was really our first concern, because of just how nasty it looked.
“It felt like … well, he was right in front of me, so I could see how much he struggled walking, so it just felt like, 20 seconds — it was a set shot anyway — it felt like it was right in that moment (for play to stop).
“It felt like, out here in the moment, (when) someone’s in a state like that and we’re still running around chasing the footy — it didn’t feel right.”
It is the second time inside 12 months that Schultz has suffered a concussion meaning he will miss at least one match.
Collingwood face Adelaide in Round 10.
COACHES AGREE
After the siren both Craig McRae and Justin Longmuir agreed that the umpires made a mistake in not stopping play.
“Ideally you could stop the game,” McRae said. “We were all just worried about his welfare, and we called for the stretcher, and our doctors were trying everything they can to sort of just get Lachie OK.
“My love and care for Lachie is paramount, and his well-being is paramount.
“We want to protect our players, and you don’t like to see your players laying on the ground.”
As a former Docker, Schultz is a popular man in Perth. Regardless, Longmuir agreed with his Collingwood counterpart.
“It would have been nice if it had been stopped,” he said.
“I hope he’s okay. I know he’s had some concussion issues in the past, and it’s never great to see anyone in those moments, let alone someone who I’ve worked closely with and have a lot of respect for.
“Fingers crossed he recovers well.”
