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.
Jimmy Drama
Guest
Nice new profile pic Ben!
baid
Guest
good article. the game is definately being manipulated to stop players from bumping into each other. and at the rate that footy is being managed these days we will probly be having this same discussion in 15 years because the afl wants to get rid of tackling. by then the bump will be long gone and players will be wearing bibs to keep them in certain zones on the feild. its sad to see footy so controlled and regulated by chumps trying to design the game to be attractive to women, rather than let the game evolve itself like every other sport in the world. all the afl cares about is getting women to like the game so they let their kids play and the afl get more money.
BigAl
Guest
Pretty much agree with that summation Ben. However what 'the true footy fans want' is hardly relevant in this day and age ! - surely common sense and decency should dictate this. And if this is not enough for some, just take a look at what is happening in the US re NFL long term head injuries - and the resultant compensation payouts !!!
Ben Somerford
Roar Guru
Tom, I don't think it has much to do with technique TBH. It just seems given the speed of the modern game and the size of the modern player, it is pretty unrealistic to expect players who elect to bump to be good enough to avoid head-high contact. It will inevitably occur every now-and-then if you opt to bump. So the reality is players are better served not bothering to try to bump. Clubs (not only the players) get punished for head-high hits, so coaches will demand players not bump, therefore taking it out of the game. The player's instinct will become NOT TO BUMP. And what I'm saying is that's a strange point to ponder, because I wonder if the true footy fans really want a game without bumping (especially in the wake of Monday's Cats-Hawks cracker).
Wayno
Guest
And then the match review panel go and tip petrol on the fire after each round with their bewildering inconsistency. If those incharge of policing this can't get it right how can you expect the players to?
Cugel
Roar Rookie
From what I've seen, they're usually very cheap shots i.e. the victim is unaware of the impending collision, and often not in possession. Little merit in encouraging that IMO.
Gibbo
Guest
anyone else remember the good old days when ducking your head was a crime for which you were punished? now it wins you a free kick and the bloke you headbutt gets weeks on the sidelines!!!
Tom
Guest
'And that emphasises the point you can’t expect a player to make all those calculations in a split-second.' This isn't really how an athlete's mind works though. You could equally argue that the rules on a tackle are over complicated. You have to get below the shoulders, above the waist, you can't push in the back, you have to wait until the player has the ball and you can't hold on too long after he's released it. But players don't stand around with an abacus or pen and paper calculating the speed and movement required to make a fair tackle. They learn the proper techniques so they can do it instinctively. Same with the bump. If we keep suspending the players who make contact with the head then like Pavlov's dog they'll learn not to do it anymore, and junior coaches will focus more on teaching the next generation how to bump properly.
BigAl
Guest
Obviously has to go ! - to much . . . room for error.