The rules say thisIt doesn't matter if he did or didn't does it? The concussion was the result of the bump so same difference (in the eyes of the tribunal and by the rules as I understand them)
AFL Tribunal Regulations said:Contact shall be classified as High where a Player’s head makes contact with an object such as the fence or the ground as a result of the actions of the offending Player.
What that deals with though is the classification of the offence once it has been established to be rough conduct.
It doesn’t automatically deem something to be a reportable offence just because someone’s head hits the ground as a result.
I’ve also never seen it applied to a bump to the body which has knocked a player over and their head has hit the ground. On a literal reading it would apply to that situation. But the causation is pretty remote and arguably not for the better (when compared to more direct causation eg a sling tackle).
It might be a thorny issue for the Tribunal at some point (whether this case or another)