Fremantle midfielder David Mundy says the long term mental health of players is far more important than a game of football.
Mundy said strict concussion rules in the AFL were working well by looking after players.
Skipper Matthew Pavlich and forward Michael Walters will be assessed this week, after being ruled out of the second half of Freo’s 68-point win over Melbourne due to concussions.
“Pav’s and Sonny’s mental health is more important than one game or quarter of football,” Mundy said.
“Head knocks in general are quite a concerning part of the game, it’s not something we’ll ever be completely rid of.
“The approach of the AFL Players Association and AFL , being really cautious and not letting players come back on, has been a great step forward.”
Tagging out of fashion
Mundy said Pavlich and Walters seemed fine this week but would still need to pass a test.
“(They’re) just like normal around the club today,” he said.
“It’ll be up to the doctors and medical staff (as to whether they play).”
Mundy was very confident Fremantle had the depth to cover both players should they be ruled out.
"We've seen in the last few years without Pav, we've managed," Mundy said.
"Chris Mayne has been playing fantastically well at the moment so we've got no issues there. Our depth through the midfield and across our entire team, with guys pushing up from Peel, is really spurring our group on and so we know we know if we lose one or two soldiers along the way that someone will step into the breach."
Fremantle have played 16 matches without Pavlich since the start of 2012, winning 12 and drawing one. Walters has missed 20 matches since the start of 2013 and Fremantle have won 14 of them.
The pair missed four games together in the past two seasons and Freo have won all four. They beat Melbourne, Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions in 2013 and the Demons again last season.
In 2013, the AFL introduced stricter concussion rules including not allowing a player, with medically diagnosed concussion, be allowed to return to the field on the day of injury.
Fremantle plays Essendon at Domain Stadium on Saturday 9 May. Bounce down is at 6.10pm.
