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'That's the concern I have with women's football'

Sydney Swans great Tadhg Kennelly has expressed concerns about the AFLW following a number of scary collisions in recent weeks.

Melbourne Demons player Meg Downie was stretchered off the field against Collingwood on Saturday night after being KO'd by a brutal high bump.

And it was just one of a number of scary incidents in the season's first two weeks.

Downie lost consciousness after the hit. Image: Getty
Downie lost consciousness after the hit. Image: Getty

Kennelly says AFLW players are more susceptible to collision injuries because they are playing at such a high intensity without any training on how to protect themselves properly.

"This is uncharted ground and it takes time and a lot of coaching to get used to protecting the head," Kennelly told Fox Sports.

Kennelly (L) in his final season. Image: Getty
Kennelly (L) in his final season. Image: Getty

"I have a concern — it's a small concern — but I know how difficult it is coming from the other side of the world and protecting your neck and head. It took me a long time to get over it and get it right. That's the concern I have with women's football.

"There are a lot of girls who haven't played a whole lot of AFL football at the top level and not as fulltime professionals.

"It takes time and a lot of coaching to get used to protecting the head."

Kennelly was forced to defend his position on Twitter after a number of criticisms that he wasn't supporting the new league.

Melbourne Demons women's football operations manager Debbie Lee said she agreed that women's players need more education and technique-specific training.

"It seems to me like people are trying to make it a gender thing. It's not a gender thing," Lee told News Corp.

"These girls are athletes. There's concussions which happen in the men's teams as well because of the competitiveness and that will happen in the women's league because of competitiveness. Obviously there needs to be more education around technique, but at the end of the day it's a competitive sport and you are going to clash with your opponent."

Downie is stretchered off the field. Image: Getty
Downie is stretchered off the field. Image: Getty

However Lee believes the physicality seen in the opening two rounds is the same produced in state leagues and exhibition matches.

"People need to have a look at how these girls play at VFL level," Lee said.

"It's not that they've gone to another level. They've always played their footy like this. Granted the adrenaline may have kicked in because they have a crowd of 7000-plus."