NOT GOING back with the flight of the ball might be the smartest decision of an AFL player's life, according to veteran Geelong defender Harry Taylor.

The 30-year-old says it's time for supporters and those inside clubs to have realistic expectations when it comes to what should be expected of players in the heat of battle.

Taylor said he understood that showing courage was part of the game but a more informed conversation was needed on the issue.

"One knock and that could be the end of your career. You could have some pretty bad repercussions for the rest of your life," Taylor said.

He said if a player did not go back with the flight as hard as some expected then they should not be criticised.

"There is clearly some [work on] technique that needs to happen but to berate someone and belittle someone for not going back with the flight … it might be the smartest decision they have ever made in their life," Taylor said.

Taylor was concussed after copping an accidental elbow to the head in a marking contest in the dying minutes of the memorable 2009 clash at Etihad Stadium between Geelong and St Kilda.

He has also plays alongside Tom Lonergan, who lost a kidney after backing back into a marking contest in 2006, and recently saw from close proximity teammate Lachie Henderson concussed when he went back with the flight of the ball against Fremantle.

Taylor said courage came in many forms on a football field but most commentators only picked up on the obvious such as when a player put his head over the ball or flew recklessly for a mark.

Although Taylor said he wasn't sure what the answer was he said the issue was worthy of discussion.

"How we address it I'm not entirely sure. I just think the conversation needs to open up a bit more about it," he said.

The long-term effects of concussion have become a much bigger concern for players with a growing understanding that repeated head knocks may affect players later in life.

Taylor said he practised his technique to minimise the chances of getting hurt but he did think about the risk too. 

"I am in that vulnerable position reasonably often. I try to practice good technique a lot to avoid being too open I guess but it does go through your head for sure," Taylor said.  

"Courage is an important part of our game but your health and your livelihood post-football is by far more important than going back in one contest."

He said it was time for people to stop questioning players' courage.

"It's really easy when a player doesn't go back with the flight or they don't put their head over the ball to criticise them," Taylor said.