While huge shirtfronts are almost a thing of the past in the AFL thanks to big suspensions, a huge hit earlier this year in a suburban league has brought the safety of local footballers into question.
In footage obtained by the Leader from May, Cranbourne’s Matt Fletcher was flattened by Berwick’s Madison Andrews, a hit that left Fletcher unconscious and in hospital, cost him three days of work as well as the next two games.
After Andrews returned from an overseas trip, he reportedly played a game before the tribunal handed him a four-week ban the next week. Two days later, this suspension was quashed on appeal.
What do you think? Are local footballers shown enough protection by league tribunals?
