Carlton’s Jordan Boyd has been handed a three-match ban by the AFL Tribunal following a tackle that resulted in Port Adelaide player Darcy Byrne-Jones being concussed. The action was classified as careless conduct with severe impact and high contact. Despite Carlton’s attempts to contest the impact grading, the Tribunal agreed with the initial assessment.
The Blues argued that an earlier collision between Byrne-Jones and Adam Cerra could have been responsible for the concussion, and therefore Boyd should not be heavily sanctioned. Carlton’s medical chief, Dr Matt Chamberlain, stated that while the clash between Byrne-Jones and Cerra was “significant”, there were no immediate signs of concussion. Chamberlain also conceded that he could not definitively rule out that Boyd’s tackle caused Byrne-Jones’ concussion.
Representing the AFL, Sam Bird, argued that the potential for significant injury resulting from the tackle was enough to uphold the charge against Boyd. The Tribunal eventually decided that the tackle was more likely to have caused the concussion, stating: “We are satisfied on the balance of probabilities Boyd’s tackle caused the concussion.”
In their judgment, the Tribunal compared the two incidents involving Byrne-Jones and concluded that Boyd’s tackle had resulted in a more significant impact. They stated: “We uphold severe classification. Both of the player’s arms were pinned throughout the tackle, which meant he could not use his arms to protect his head at all. Excessive force was used in the second part of the tackle, which resulted in the player’s head making significant contact with the ground.”
The Tribunal’s decision means that Boyd will miss games against West Coast, Collingwood, and St Kilda.
In the ongoing tribunal case that could significantly impact Sydney Swans’ push for a place in the finals, club captain Dane Rampe is contesting a rough conduct charge that led to Western Bulldogs’ Lachlan McNeil suffering delayed concussion. The Swans’ key focus is proving that Rampe didn’t opt to bump McNeil during their recent victory over the Bulldogs. The incident has been categorised as careless conduct with high impact and high contact, a grading that carries a two-match suspension.
Sydney’s representative, Duncan Miller, described the incident as a regular part of football and claimed that Rampe didn’t demonstrate a lack of reasonable care, which underpins a careless grading. Miller advocated for the charge to be dismissed.
Speaking in his defence, Rampe detailed the events leading up to the contact with McNeil. He stated that he saw Taylor Duryea, who was in possession of the ball at the time, make eye contact with McNeil. This prompted Rampe, who was on “high alert” as a defender, to close the space around McNeil. Rampe further explained that he had no intention of making contact with McNeil and that the collision occurred when McNeil turned into him as he tried to move towards the space outside McNeil’s right shoulder.
Sam Bird, the AFL’s representative, questioned whether McNeil was a realistic option for Duryea to pass to. Rampe asserted that McNeil was indeed a viable option. Bird then queried why the pass didn’t go to McNeil, to which Rampe responded, “Because I did my job.”
The Swans expressed objections to several questions concerning whether a player who was looking at the ball, rather than at an opponent behind him, was in a vulnerable position. If unsuccessful in their defence, Rampe will miss crucial games against Fremantle and Essendon.
The case continues and this post will be updated with the results.
UPDATE: Rampe 3 Weeks? Cleared to play.
“We uphold severe classification. Both of the player’s arms were pinned throughout the tackle, which meant he could not use his arms to protect his head at all. Excessive force was used in the second part of the tackle, which resulted in the player’s head making significant contact with the ground. The significant head contact with the ground caused a serious injury, being a concussion.
“The fact that concussion was not evident immediately after the tackle is in our view not to the point. The fact is he did suffer a concussion as a result of the tackle.
“The last issue is the appropriate penalty. In our view, the appropriate penalty in this matter is three weeks, which is the base penalty.”
We find there was accidental contact between the two players which Rampe could not have reasonably avoided.
We find McNeil turned into Rampe and contact occurred.
Rampe did not initiate contact, he did not change direction to make contact with McNeil.
As McNeil turned into Rampe and realised they were about to collide, Rampe reasonably braced for contact.
In those circumstances, we dismiss the charge.
