Byron Schammer of Fremantle is bumped from the ball by Mark Lecras of West Coast. Slattery Images
Two rounds into the new AFL footy season and five players have already been suspended for head-high bumps. It’s a large figure and it makes you wonder if ‘the bump’ has a place anymore in the modern game.
Right now, the policing of the bump has never been so strict, with the AFL desperate to protect the image of its code.
But this is nothing new as ‘the bump’ was a widely discussed topic last year, after head-high hits from Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin and Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd late in the season.
Players are nowadays expected to exorcise the notion of a ‘duty of care’ towards their opponents and be aware of the risks associated with bumping.
If they get it wrong and make contact to the head, they can expect to be penalised with a suspension.
West Coast coach John Worsfold (who had defender Shannon Hurn suspended for a bump this week) made the point at a press conference in Perth on Thursday that it was difficult for players to juggle these responsibilities in a ‘split-second’.
“I think players are aware but it is such a split-second thing, when you are going in to win a loose ball as you get to within a metre or two of it, you realise the other player is going to be there first, it’s very hard to avoid contact, it’s almost impossible,” Worsfold said.
So are the AFL’s demands too much to ask for in the fast, modern game where decisions are made in a split-second, especially when a player’s priority is surely contesting the ball for their team, given all the scrutiny which comes if a player shies away from a contest?
Worsfold continued: “We tell the players to go hard for the ball and then they’ve got to be aware if there’s going to be front-on-contact take action and avoid it if you can.”
It is a lot to fathom in a split-second.
At another conference in Perth this week, Fremantle coach Mark Harvey discussed the topic, too.
When asked if he thought it was worth bumping anymore Harvey responded: “You’ve got to pick the right moment and naturally stay away from the head region.
“If you can catch them unaware or if it’s within the vicinity of where the ball is, certainly if you could strike do it, but we all know the consequences if you get it wrong.”
Harvey’s answer was rather long-winded. And that emphasises the point you can’t expect a player to make all those calculations in a split-second.
So surely then the answer is no, don’t bother bumping, it isn’t worth the trouble.
Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury and Hawthorn’s Brent Guerra spoke during the week that they had learned not to bump anymore and preferred to opt to tackle.
Guerra said: “You can’t do that anymore and that is the way the game’s going.”
Clubs can’t afford the penalties imposed on players such as suspensions and free-kicks against, so these players (Guerra is a good example of a past, serial transgressor) have had to learn.
It is an interesting trend. You dare say, those suspended in Rounds One and Two may also need to temper their approach.
The funny thing is Monday’s clash between Geelong and Hawthorn, which resulted in four players receiving suspensions with two the direct result of head-high bumps, was celebrated as a great game of good, old, fashioned footy which was tough and hard.
Yet it seems players are being told they can no longer play footy like this.
AFL footy certainly appears to be heading down a strange and confused path right now.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Eddie McGuire's latest bold idea has dropped - for North Melbourne to take over the outskirts of Melbourne and use it to rejuvenate the…
Does he have a point?
For all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the now-traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG, there has been one thing conspicuously lacking over…
Old mate summing it up better than anyone possibly could!
