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We all understand that rules are not perfect. Each weekend we are left scratching our heads about one decision or another, but the most confusing for players and fans is the collision rule.
Just a couple of weeks ago we were all perplexed about how Jack Viney could be suspended, despite the sickening clash and severe injury to Tom Lynch.
Commonsense prevailed when Viney appealed successfully, but just two weeks later the weekend discussion has again been dominated again by ‘the bump’.
The match review panel will today scrutinise the collision between Sydney’s Daniel Hannebery and Essendon’s Michael Hurley. It wouldn’t surprise many if Hannebery has a case to answer, but it wouldn’t surprise others if he doesn’t.
Nobody wants head injuries. Nobody wants to see players concussed, and nobody wants players to suffer from brain injuries in later life. The head should be sacrosanct, and anyone who targets it should be open to the full wrath of the tribunal panel.
But that does not fit this, and many other situations and incidents each weekend.
Players are taught to go for the ball. Pull out of a contest and you are instantly branded soft for your lack of courage. Get that reputation and your AFL career won’t be a lengthy one.
When two players go for that same ball clashes will sometimes happen, and players will sometimes be injured. All you can hope for is that the injuries won’t be serious.
Last Friday Hurley went down for the ball, and as a result was effectively leading with his head. Hannebery also had eyes for the ball, but arrived a split second later than Hurley. In that split second, does your body react even before your brain has time to tell it and brace itself for a collision?
That could be the case, even though I don’t know what Hannebery’s story is in this instance.
He had two other options. If he’d lead with his head like Hurley, the two heads would have clashed at speed with sickening consequences. If he’d pulled out, he may have found himself on a collision course with the twos, or even lower.
If you think it’s confusing for us watching from outside the white line, imagine how tough it is for the players.
The players all want some sort of clarification, but the problem is, how do you clarify such a rule?
“You’re not allowed to bend down for the ball?”
Is there any other way to ensure there might not be a clash of someone’s head and another’s hip or knee?
Some have suggested it was simply poor technique from Hurley and good technique from Hannebery.
We’ll find out later today whether Hannebery has a date at the Tribunal or not, but regardless, it is simply part of the game. Collisions will happen, and injuries will happen.
If a player uses illegal tactics on another, he should be penalised, but please, let’s not make the game a small step up from touch football. And let’s not make the players even more unsure about what they can and can’t do.
If we do that, the game will be the one concussed and suffering.
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