Harrison Petty clears vestibular migraine scare at Melbourne Football Club

Harrison Petty’s Melbourne Football Club scare at the MCG in Round 6 was later diagnosed as a vestibular migraine, not concussion, and he returned to play a fortnight after the incident. The defender had dealt with multiple concussions before, which made the episode more alarming while doctors worked through the tests.

MCG Spin and the Miskick

Petty said he was fine before taking his kick on the last line of defence, then felt the ground tilt around him. The ball sprayed off the side of his boot, the miskick handed Will Ashcroft a goal, and Petty went down on one knee as teammates rushed in.

Ed Langdon, Xavier Taylor and Blake Howes helped him before Demons doctor Jacob Jewson and physio Zach Nelson took him off the ground. His day ended just before three-quarter time in Round 6.

Tests After April 19

After April 19, Petty visited a neurological physio and went through a battery of tests. He also saw a neurosurgeon, a dizziness expert and a cardiologist before specialists settled on vestibular migraine and cleared him of concussion.

He said he had never had a migraine before April 19, even though migraines run genetically in his family. At 26, he called the episode confusing because it felt different from the concussions he had dealt with in the past.

Back in Defence

Petty has played two games since the incident and has resumed his return to defence under new senior coach Steven King and new backline coach Jared Rivers. He said he has enjoyed being back at the other end of the ground after spending a few years injured, and added that he wants continuity in his game even if he has to move forward for the team.

For Melbourne, the practical outcome is simple: the scare did not become a concussion case, and Petty was able to return after further checks rather than stay sidelined longer. For a defender with that injury history, the round-by-round progress now is about holding his spot and building that continuity in defence.