Fair enough

[saynta]

New AFL footy boss Brad Scott is moving to end confusion over head-high hits, with three controversial incidents last season now examples of clear-cut bans.
Jon Ralph



Match review officer Michael Christian is set to remain in his role next year as the AFL attempts to provide players with greater clarity in its crackdown on head-high bumps.

The league’s revamp of the head-high rule means a trio of contentious bumps that saw players reported in 2021 would all be cut-and-dried suspensions next season.

Patrick Dangerfield’s Round 1 head clash that broke Jake Kelly’s nose and left him concussed as well as David Mackay’s accidental clash with Hunter Clark would both be clear-cut suspensions.

So would Lachie Plowman’s collision with Hawthorn’s Jaeger O’Meara, that saw the Carlton defender suspended for two weeks after it was judged he did not attempt to spoil or mark the ball.

Former Carlton coach David Teague said the incident was “in the spirit of the game” and the Blues appealed the decision but failed to have it overturned.

McKay escaped suspension for his hit on Clark, which caused extensive damage to the St Kilda defender’s jaw and still has him in modified training given the explosive nature of the hit.
Patrick Dangerfield and Jake Kelly collide. Picture: AAP Image/Matt Turner
Patrick Dangerfield and Jake Kelly collide. Picture: AAP Image/Matt Turner

The league is fighting concussion battles on multiple fronts, with campaigner Peter Jess believing retired premiership player Daniel Venables deserves $10 million in compensation as he works with the league on a payout.

West Coast premiership star Brad Sheppard might miss the entire 2022 season due to concussion issues, with a decision only weeks away.

Christian and former AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking worked closely, with the AFL official rubber-stamping all decisions as part of his role. But the pair were at odds over at least one case this year.

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The Herald Sun understands Christian will continue in his role in 2022, with new AFL football manager Brad Scott set to provide guidance to the one-man match review panel.
Lachie Plowman crashes into Jaeger O'Meara. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Lachie Plowman crashes into Jaeger O'Meara. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Scott has made clear the league is keen to crack down on all incidents where a player bumps and makes head-high contact that injures a rival.

“In most instances there is a player who is late to that contest,“ Scott said this week.

“If you’re late and you hit the player in the head, you’re going to be in trouble. There’s broad acceptance of that amongst the clubs.”

The league’s challenge will be to provide a set of parameters and wording to players to ensure they are clear on their responsibilities to opponents.

Commentators have grown frustrated that players who forcibly bump rivals to the head – but do not injure them – are often treated differently to those who bump but concuss or injure rivals with the exact same force.

[Impatient Sainter]

Totally agree its a good move, they have to protect the players from head high contact.

[Devilhead]

Mackay should have got weeks at the time

How the fk Christian is still in his role has me stumped

[Yorkeys]

Impressive common sense. Perhaps Brad is the really smart one.

Seriously, most welcome approach. Hope there is more of it.

[Otiman]

If only he wasn't such a thug to begin with.

[Bowey Boy]

Who threw Lenny into the fence?

[Kate]

If they were serious Michael Christian would be gone. He has never been consistent and plays favorites.

[CarlD]

If they were serious Michael Christian would be gone. He has never been consistent and plays favorites.

Has been underwhelming in the role. Some of his attempts at rationalising why players were or were not charged were "interesting" to say the least.

Would have been good to be a fly on the wall in discussions between Christian and Hocking to hear how much of the charge/non-charge decision-making was driven by Hocking.

[Impatient Sainter]

If they were serious Michael Christian would be gone. He has never been consistent and plays favorites.

Imagine being the sole judge/magistrate in the country? Its an impossible job - one that he is never going to please or get the approval of 100% of the public. If anything the media play a huge role in the inconsistencies, far too many experts with varying opinions and influence.

Either way Christian has an extremely difficult job and he gets a large majority of his decisions correct. The current system is not perfect but is a vast improvement on anything they have had in the past.

[The_Dud]

All this does is move the line, but there will still be grey-area, contentious decisions and upset supporters

[saynta]

Mackay should have got weeks at the time

How the fk Christian is still in his role has me stumped

It was a dog act and I don't give a rats that the Tribunal cleared him. A wrong decision, evidenced by Scott changing the rules to make sure pricks don't get away with murder.

Christian is an arsehole but what would you expect from former filth players and yes he should have been sacked.

[shanegrambeau]

....


The league is fighting concussion battles on multiple fronts, with campaigner Peter Jess believing retired premiership player Daniel Venables deserves $10 million in compensation as he works with the league on a payout.

...

Meanwhile.....

Ears prick up in someone's kitchen
Phone rings at Paddy McCartin's joint...

Howya goin' young fella...? Lookin' for a manager?