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- Banned
- #1
This is a related but separate point to the cripps debate, so deserves it's own thread separate to that shitfight. but yes, it does involve the cripps decision.
The AFL have tried and failed for years to get the MRO system to consistently apply a standard that allows players to attack the ball, but stops them from bumping the head. And not just in a bumping motion, but also stopping players from running front on into a player bent down in an attempt to gather the ball. But they've been frequently been thwarted by the inconsistent rulings of the mro, including tonights verdict where cripps escaped on a technicality that he was never asked if he thought it was a bump or not. A technicality that can only exist because the afl has tried to define certain situations where head high contact causing a concussion is essentially allowed.
My proposition is this: With all that the afl know and continues to learn about concussion (both morally and financially threatening), are they eventually going to close these kinds of loopholes and just say "**** it, you cause a concussion, it doesnt matter how or why, whether its a marking contest or a lose ball, its treated the same and is a suspension. if that means you miss a couple games here and there, bad luck". The only arguable loophole remaining would be where the player isnt immediately concussed or the cause is unclear, such as the cotchin-shiel incident, where shiel continued to play and then copped another bump from astbury which could also have caused the concussion. In that case, astbury probably would get the suspension under tighter rules (tbh im not sure why the afl didnt cite that one in the first place but i guess they had to pick between the two).
Personally i think yes, sometime within 10-15 years once theres a few big court cases or incidents. But i dont think it's going to ruin the game or remove tackles, high marks etc. Players are rarely concussed in marking contests as it is, and often its friendly fire, so players will still go for them. And few players are concussed in general play collisions either. Most concussions are in tackles and bumps, and players really only avoid suspensions in those cases based on technicalities or inconsistent applications of the rules.
in short, its going to happen, but the sky is not going to fall in.
The AFL have tried and failed for years to get the MRO system to consistently apply a standard that allows players to attack the ball, but stops them from bumping the head. And not just in a bumping motion, but also stopping players from running front on into a player bent down in an attempt to gather the ball. But they've been frequently been thwarted by the inconsistent rulings of the mro, including tonights verdict where cripps escaped on a technicality that he was never asked if he thought it was a bump or not. A technicality that can only exist because the afl has tried to define certain situations where head high contact causing a concussion is essentially allowed.
My proposition is this: With all that the afl know and continues to learn about concussion (both morally and financially threatening), are they eventually going to close these kinds of loopholes and just say "**** it, you cause a concussion, it doesnt matter how or why, whether its a marking contest or a lose ball, its treated the same and is a suspension. if that means you miss a couple games here and there, bad luck". The only arguable loophole remaining would be where the player isnt immediately concussed or the cause is unclear, such as the cotchin-shiel incident, where shiel continued to play and then copped another bump from astbury which could also have caused the concussion. In that case, astbury probably would get the suspension under tighter rules (tbh im not sure why the afl didnt cite that one in the first place but i guess they had to pick between the two).
Personally i think yes, sometime within 10-15 years once theres a few big court cases or incidents. But i dont think it's going to ruin the game or remove tackles, high marks etc. Players are rarely concussed in marking contests as it is, and often its friendly fire, so players will still go for them. And few players are concussed in general play collisions either. Most concussions are in tackles and bumps, and players really only avoid suspensions in those cases based on technicalities or inconsistent applications of the rules.
in short, its going to happen, but the sky is not going to fall in.