We know, as recently as the past 2-3 years, that coaches instruct their key forwards to crash into the backs of vulnerable defenders.
They have publicly told us this:
"Damien Hardwick has issued a blunt warning to any defender thinking about standing in Tom Lynch’s space: Do so at your own peril.
Hardwick defended Lynch post-game, telling reporters there was nothing in the action. He doubled down on Wednesday ahead of the club’s main training session of the week, backing the ex-Gold Coast captain to assert his physical authority on the Power and warning any defender who decides to stand in his space.
St Kilda’s Ben Paton had 12 staples and eight stitches after Lynch crunched him in a marking contest last week.
According to Hardwick, the clash was an example of Lynch paying his teammates back for an earlier 50m penalty.
“It’s just a part of his game,” Hardwick said before the Tigers trained.
“He was by far the best player on the ground on the weekend. That aggression and exertion was part of it. He was disappointed in the 50 (metre penalty), no doubt about it.
“You look at his influence after that event. He tried to pay us back which is really important. What he brings to the side is bringing the ball to the ground.
“There was a massive contest where young (Ben) Paton got his head split. That’s what Tom brings. He brings aggression and if someone wants to take his space, good luck.”"
And in response, Ken Hinkley gave this reckless statement...
"We expect key forwards to play that way and Dimma does too."
Hinkley pointed out he has an overtly-aggressive forward, Charlie Dixon, in his team.
"Charlie ... is not dissimilar (to Lynch). He crashes packs. He hits things. He likes it, he enjoys it," he said.
So as serious as concussion is, and as sacrosanct as the head supposedly is - we have coaches instructing their players to perform dangerous acts that directly put other players at risk of serious head trauma.
Frankly, it's quite sickening really.
So let's say a guy like Sean Dempster, who was a regular victim of these directives from coaches like Hardwick - who has to retire early due to the brain damage it has caused him, decides he wants to take legal action.
Why wouldn't the coaches be personnally liable for this?
The coaches are telling their key forwards to cannon into packs with knees and forearms and smash anyone that is unlucky enough to be performing their job by standing there. If you don't crash into that bloke, you lose your job.
And even more terrifying, is that the same coaches who know that the opposition forwards have been instructed to do the same thing - send their defenders out and instruct them to stand there and take it like a man. And if you don't stand there and get pollaxed, you lose your job.
This is an incredibly unsafe workplace.
How long before a coach is personally sued by one of their own players? Or an opposition player?
They have publicly told us this:
"Damien Hardwick has issued a blunt warning to any defender thinking about standing in Tom Lynch’s space: Do so at your own peril.
Hardwick defended Lynch post-game, telling reporters there was nothing in the action. He doubled down on Wednesday ahead of the club’s main training session of the week, backing the ex-Gold Coast captain to assert his physical authority on the Power and warning any defender who decides to stand in his space.
St Kilda’s Ben Paton had 12 staples and eight stitches after Lynch crunched him in a marking contest last week.
According to Hardwick, the clash was an example of Lynch paying his teammates back for an earlier 50m penalty.
“It’s just a part of his game,” Hardwick said before the Tigers trained.
“He was by far the best player on the ground on the weekend. That aggression and exertion was part of it. He was disappointed in the 50 (metre penalty), no doubt about it.
“You look at his influence after that event. He tried to pay us back which is really important. What he brings to the side is bringing the ball to the ground.
“There was a massive contest where young (Ben) Paton got his head split. That’s what Tom brings. He brings aggression and if someone wants to take his space, good luck.”"
And in response, Ken Hinkley gave this reckless statement...
"We expect key forwards to play that way and Dimma does too."
Hinkley pointed out he has an overtly-aggressive forward, Charlie Dixon, in his team.
"Charlie ... is not dissimilar (to Lynch). He crashes packs. He hits things. He likes it, he enjoys it," he said.
So as serious as concussion is, and as sacrosanct as the head supposedly is - we have coaches instructing their players to perform dangerous acts that directly put other players at risk of serious head trauma.
Frankly, it's quite sickening really.
So let's say a guy like Sean Dempster, who was a regular victim of these directives from coaches like Hardwick - who has to retire early due to the brain damage it has caused him, decides he wants to take legal action.
Why wouldn't the coaches be personnally liable for this?
The coaches are telling their key forwards to cannon into packs with knees and forearms and smash anyone that is unlucky enough to be performing their job by standing there. If you don't crash into that bloke, you lose your job.
And even more terrifying, is that the same coaches who know that the opposition forwards have been instructed to do the same thing - send their defenders out and instruct them to stand there and take it like a man. And if you don't stand there and get pollaxed, you lose your job.
This is an incredibly unsafe workplace.
How long before a coach is personally sued by one of their own players? Or an opposition player?
