Suspensions for accidental contact are getting too much

[PerthBoy86]

I'm a bit sick of how accidental contact is resulting in more and more suspensions which often shape games or seasons for teams.

I get how the league wants to stamp down on injuries, especially concussions, and I'm for making the game safer - within reason - but at the end of the day we have to accept it's a contact sport and accidents and injuries happen all the time. If you don't want to risk any chance of a concussion play lawn bowls.

Like I think suspensions should not be given for anything accidental at all, unless gross disregard for a player's safety is shown. Thing is, there is too much subjectivity regarding things like that. Carelessness, intent, even malice.

I think most of the time it is accidental or reckless or most. Its just most of what I see getting suspensions is just due to the rough and tumble of Aussie rules, they try to come up with reasons why the player should be penalised.

Keep it for things that are clearly deliberate, dirty etc. I just feel all these rules are giving the umpires, MRO etc more and more power to dictate the outcome of games. With the infiltration of betting into the game, its hard not to be suspicious.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Ok then I'm going to start kicking air. And if any part of you should fill that air, it's your own fault.

 

[joe444]

All we know is that the AFL gave the MRO more discretion this year to ensure things like the McInerney/Starcevic incident from last year would not be a suspension (or less of one) this year.
link-https://www.facebook.com/AFL/videos/mcinerney-receives-three-match-ban/1179913196983864/

 

[PerthBoy86]

Ok then I'm going to start kicking air. And if any part of you should fill that air, it's your own fault.

Like I said some duty of care has to be shown, but most armchair players haven't played the game at any level, or under 16s at most, they think its so much easier than it is (esp when seen in slow mo).

 

[maskmcgee]

Like I said some duty of care has to be shown, but most armchair players haven't played the game at any level, or under 16s at most, they think its so much easier than it is (esp when seen in slow mo).

Actually the tribunal who decides the penalty is only made up of former AFL players.

 

[Gone Critical]

Like I said some duty of care has to be shown, but most armchair players haven't played the game at any level, or under 16s at most, they think its so much easier than it is (esp when seen in slow mo).

I reckon having played the game gives you a pretty good idea. Andrews might not have intented to knock him out but he threw an arm/elbow back in the general direction of a player in the full knowledge he could give him a bit of a whack. Playing most of my footy in the 70s 80s and 90s, when thuggery was much more allowed, throwing an errand elbow or fist was commonplace. Most didn't connect but the player throwing at a minimum was careless to the risk involved.

The Andrews incident wasnt an accident, it was careless swipe with a bad outcome. Deserved weeks.