LEIGH Adams' football future is in doubt after his latest concussion but he won't be in a position to decide whether he plays on until he meets with his doctor in two weeks' time, North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow says.

The courageous Kangaroos forward was concussed playing for North's VFL affiliate Werribee in a practice match against Footscray on Saturday.

Having built his game around burrowing in at stoppages, Adams has suffered several concussions during his 104-game career.

Swallow said at the AFL captains' day on Wednesday that Adams, 26, would decide in a few weeks' time whether it was in his long-term interests to retire.

"It's a bit of a shame 'Patchy' (Adams) got another concussion, and I think it's a bit too early to really call what he's going to do and a bit unfair I think (to ask) Leigh what he's going to do.

"He's going to have a couple of weeks where he just goes in and trains and I know he's got a doctor's appointment in a couple of weeks so he'll get a bit more information (then).

"Hopefully he can rebound from this and he'll be all right, but as players I think everyone in the back of their mind has got to be thinking long-term and where they want to be.

"So it will probably come down to his decision in a few weeks' time but I haven't got any inside information on that."

Swallow said players had become more mindful about the short- and long-term effects of concussion in recent years after the landmark studies in the United States on retired NFL players and the more stringent match-day protocols introduced by the AFL.

"I think not just as players but as a competition, we were probably a bit unaware (about the effects of concussion) and some of the guys that got sent back onto the field five, 10 years ago probably shouldn't have been playing,” he said.

"But it's great that the League has identified this and we're starting to get some really good data on that and we've got some good protocols in place now.

"We only send guys out there who are fit and healthy, which means guys can (be) healthy for the rest of their lives."