bumsonseats
Premiership Player
Umpire decisions in this thread discussion, are making the "wrong call" according to hindsight and MRP rules. However, they're making decent calls according to "the spirit of our game", from 100+ years of AFL/VFL existence.
Now let me make it clear, the spirit of the game is not about causing people to end up in hospital with 3 day comas, but it's about playing tough and acknowledging that injuries and accidents can occur. All AFL players know this.
The game has changed.
We dont accept players being taken out off the ball.
We dont accept jumper punches and tummy taps.
And certain tackles are now considered dangerous.....and they are defined in the laws of the game.
Concussion wouldnt have been considered an issued 15 years ago, but a lot more is known about brain injuries now.
Look at the NFL and the effect knocks to the head are having on players long term health.
The AFL would be negligent if they did not do something. There will always be accidents, but you can mitigate the risk and send a signal that this type of tackle is not acceptable. The laws of the game provide the basis, and the umpires and the MRP are there to enforce it.
Do I think that Grundy should have got suspended....probably not.
But as per the laws of the game, it is pretty black and white and so the MRP have made the only decision they can as per the laws.