MORE than 100 locals gathered in Hamilton for a concussion information evening in Hamilton on Monday night, with plenty of football clubs represented.

It comes after the AIS released its Australian Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport this month, outlining a 21-day symptom free period before resumption of competitive contact/collision sport for community and youth sport.

Local neurologist, Michael McVeigh told The Spectator that it was important to seek medical advice and following direction during recovery.

“I do see people occasionally with post concussion symptoms and I am aware it can be quite a serious ordeal for some people, but the reality is most people don’t go and see a neurologist, so I thought it was important to spread more awareness among clubs and people,” he said.

“It is quite common, I think it is a great initiative to create community awareness leading into the new football season.

“It can be very difficult, at least on a sporting field there are trainers who have the skills and knowledge to diagnose a concussion, so people who experience symptoms at work should still flag any issues and know who they can go to.

“Typically for the symptoms early on, it would be a general practitioner someone sees first, and it is only if symptoms continue that they may see a neurologist or get a referral to a concussion specific facility.”

A common theme of the night was to ensure you don’t get a second knock during your initial recovery, with evidence showing recovery takes a lot longer if there is another concussive event before the person is completely recovered from the initial TBI (traumatic brain injury).

“Most cases of concussion are mild and people recover quickly,” McVeigh said.

“And for people with prolonged symptoms, there is help available.”

Robbie Frawley was one of the guests of the night with the former local sharing his own experience, giving an insight into the six-and-a-half year recovery from back-to-back concussions on consecutive days.

The 37-year-old said raising awareness was the most thing to ensure people had the information to aid their recovery and prevent them from going through a similar ordeal.

“It is super important to have these things,” he said.

“You are not going to remove concussion, people are always going to get knocks, but you can inform yourself on how best to manage it so in three or four weeks time, so you can get back to normal, as opposed to doing not quite the right thing and delaying your recovery.”

Frawley also has a podcast and enjoys helping others and said having that support was necessary to ensure recovery was as smooth as possible.

He shared information about being unable to return to full time work for at least six months, and the impact it had on him, but felt it was important to share his story to educate others.

“It is still challenging, but for me it took so long and time and effort to get back to 100 per cent, that I really feel for anyone who is stuck along that pathway and I would like to assist in any way I can,” Frawley said.

“I think we are all good at thinking it won’t happen to us, but it is why nights like this are important.

“You have to slowly change the culture and how you treat something.

“It is improving, the stigma is being reduced as well.”

The AFL medical team is currently reviewing the AIS’ new guidelines and is expected to implement them ahead of the upcoming season.

It would mean players would need to be symptom free for 14 days before they can return to contact training, with a further week needing to pass before they can return to competitive games again.