The issue surrounding players’ on-field welfare has long been high up on the AFL’s agenda, with new rules and regulations recently put in place to limit head injuries.

But the debate still rages as to whether there is enough protection for players in the modern game.

Brisbane Lions Senior Coach Michael Voss, who was one of the hardest and toughest players of his time, believes the AFL currently have adequate measures in place to combat head injuries.

“These days we’re stopping the game when someone’s been hurt and protecting the ball carrier when he puts his head down,” Voss said.

“If you talk to the AFL, the welfare of players is really high up on their agenda. Concussion is a delicate issue and is being treated as a very serious matter.”

“But we play a contact physical sport, and the reality is that every player that walks out onto the field is at risk at some point in time.”

Voss also said there can often be a delicate balance between committing to and pulling out of a contest.

“This game is very brutal, and if players don’t put their head over the footy, they’re talked about and ridiculed in public,” Voss said.

“If we’re asking our players to pull out of contests, then they’ll get made an example of. Is that really the sort of culture we’re trying to build?”

“It’s a very brutal and intense environment, and the players go out there with the risk that they’re going to get hurt. But that’s the game we play.”