North Melbourne's George Wardlaw Enters Concussion Protocols After Training Incident

Rising Star contender George Wardlaw will miss North Melbourne's next two matches after sustaining a concussion during training on Thursday. The 20-year-old has been a standout player this season and was set to continue his strong performance streak.

Incident Details

Date of Incident: Thursday
Initial Injury: Shoulder
Subsequent Injury: Head knock leading to concussion
Assessment: Tested in line with AFL's concussion guidelines

Impact on Games

Missed Matches:

Round 16: North Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs
Round 17: North Melbourne vs. Gold Coast Suns

Expected Return: Round 18

Club Statement

North Melbourne's footy manager, Todd Viney, confirmed that Wardlaw will miss at least the next two matches due to the league's concussion protocols. Viney emphasized that the player's health is the club's top priority.

Player's Recent Performance

Round 14: 30-disposal game against Collingwood
Round 15: Strong performance against Melbourne

Team's Recent Form

First Win: Round 13, ending an 11-game winless streak
Recent Matches: Narrow losses to Collingwood and Melbourne

Summary Table

Aspect	Details
Player	George Wardlaw
Age	20 years
Injury	Concussion
Initial Report	Shoulder soreness, then head knock
Matches Missed	Round 16 vs. Western Bulldogs, Round 17 vs. Gold Coast
Expected Return	Round 18
Recent Performance	Career-best 30 disposals in Round 14
Team's Recent Form	Win in Round 13, close losses in Rounds 14 and 15

It's a blow for the Kangaroos, who have been improving after a tough start to the season. With Wardlaw out, the team will need to adjust their strategy for the next two games.

While George Wardlaw's absence is significant, North Melbourne's recent form suggests they have the resilience to cope. Wardlaw is expected to return in Round 18, hopefully continuing his impressive season.