The AFL has been required to backflip on its initial findings from an investigation into last week's incident involving Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz that saw play between the Magpies and Dockers not brought to a halt as he required medical treatment in the middle of Optus Stadium.
Schultz suffered a concussion after a collision with Fremantle's Jordan Clark and was left lying on the ground for some time before attempting to rise to his feet. Play continued as Schultz required the help of club medicos, with players, coaches and fans all questioning why the it wasn't stopped.
The AFL provided a statement in the wake of the match, detailing that the officiating umpires were not aware of Schultz and therefore did not halt play.
A new statement from the AFL's general manager of football Laura Kane has revealed that the initial statement was "incorrect", with the league's leaders "given the wrong information from the umpires".
Footage including the microphone audio of the officiating umpires obtained by The Age reporter Caroline Wilson on The Agenda Setters confirms the umpires were aware of Schultz and chose to continue play, forcing Kane to comment.
"The statement we released was incorrect, but we were given the wrong information from the umpires," Kane said.
"Got an injured player in the middle. I'm watching."
Exclusive vision and audio of the umpires acknowledging Lachie Schultz's injury, obtained by The Agenda Setters. pic.twitter.com/uas5GevK5s
โ 7AFL (@7AFL) May 13, 2025
"It's inconsistent with the vision. They (the umpires) were going off memory and not the vision and we should always look at the vision.
"All the field umpires from the game have all been coached this afternoon that they should have stopped the game.
"Having said that, this is on me. It's the footy department that runs umpiring and that sits with me."
The footage and audio show one umpire stating, "Injured player in the middle," with another confirming.
An umpire later asks, "How are we looking?" and earns a response of "We're OK."
An umpire can also be heard saying, "We haven't been told" to halt play. An offical then explains to a player one the field that "We can only stop the play if the ball is toward us or if they instruct us to stop."
It is understood Kane spoke with the four field umpires involved on Tuesday.
Schultz has since entered concussion protocols and will miss this week's fixture against Adelaide at the MCG.
