“A bucket of water and a sponge over the head and they’d ask - right to go?”

That’s the way it was Goulburn Workers Bulldogs president Joe Stevens tells the Post.

No medical test, no mandatory weeks off. Just a bucket of water and a sponge.

If only dealing with concussion was that simple.

It’s not.

But as Stevens points out, “There was no training or awareness when it came to concussion, not like what we have now.”

So what do we have now? Well it’s hard to ignore all the cries about concussion rules in Australian Sport.

In light of the Alex McKinnon spinal injury, there has been a lot of talk on what needs to be done to protect athletes.

And yes, there have been changes put in place, such as the mandatory weeks off in the NRL.

But these are elite athletes with sophisticated infrastructures around them.

What about the rest of us?

What about the weekend warriors and the pub athletes?

Will we still be using the bucket and sponge?

Goulburn loves its contact sports. The Workers Bulldogs, The Dirty Reds and Goulburn City Swans round off our teams in the three major collision codes; league, rugby and AFL.

What measurements are in place here locally?

Not a whole lot… But gears are in motion.

Nick Rushworth of Brain Injury Australia explains a focus on educating grass roots about the dangers of concussion rather then prevention is key.

He hopes to bridge the gap between community sport and the professionals with a campaign to be launched this year, alongside Sports Medicine Australia, on concussion education and management.

“Our elite sports are getting their act in gear in terms of managing, but it’s going to take time and effort for this message to filter down to the pub competition, mums and dads, coaches, to amateur play.

“We’re aiming to fill the gap and make sure everyone knows the basics of concussion,” Mr Rushworth said.

"For example, one in 10 concussions involves loss of consciousness and that wearing a scrum cap or a helmet will do next to nothing to prevent a concussion." Mr Rushworth points out the importance of education, and encourages people to follow the five R’s.

“Recognise the injury; Removal from play; Referral to a doctor; Rest and then Return to play”.

“Most people don’t associate concussion with brain injury. But concussion is a mild brain injury.

“The vast majority of people will make a full recovery from concussion that is properly managed.

“It’s important to say that 90 per cent of people who receive a one off concussion through sport, 90pc of them will make a full recovery in seven to 10 days after the injury.

“So things like, particularly when it comes to kids, not returning a child to play on the same day as receiving a concussion, making sure they are taken out of the game and taken out of training, they may also be taken out of school until a full recovery.”

Procedures like this have already been installed at Goulburn’s Junior Stockmen Rugby League Club.

The Stockmen’s Troy Lacey explains new concussion procedures were put in place last year.

Players must now be cleared by a doctor before returning to play.

They must not return to play if there are signs of concussion such as dizziness or a headache.

They must then make sure a form, created and handed down by the NRL, has been filled out by a doctor.

“It’s common sense,” Lacey tells the Post.

“Before that, first aider made the decision to go back on or not.”

These procedures were established and encouraged in junior rugby league communities after the tragic death of 15-year-old Jake Kedzlie, grandson of NRL great Tommy Raudonikis, after he suffered critical head injuries while playing a match in Coffs Harbour in 2013.

They are important measurements and far different from a time when a player would happily return to play after a knock.

Or when a sponge on the head was the likely cure. Less sponges and more education is needed.

For our senior codes in Goulburn, this practise still needs to be taken.

Although there is a greater awareness, each code still relies heavily on interpretation. We know country footy is tough, but let’s not be silly about this.

As Rushworth points out: “Preventing concussion is bloody hard to do.”

“So properly manage and access concussion, right here, right now, with as many players as possible.”