Andrew Gaff would have had an interrupted sleep last Saturday night, because someone would have been under strict instructions to wake the Eagle about every four hours. This guards against the onset of a subarachnoid haemorrhage, which if left unchecked and untreated likely would have resulted in his death.
Can you imagine what might have happened if Gaff had died? I can.
The resulting knee-jerk would have transformed AFL from the tough, uncompromising sport it is into something that more closely resembles Gaelic football.
I don’t want to see the AFL softened. I want to see contact. I want to see courage. Fit, hard athletes competing to the utmost of their abilities. When that happens, people will occasionally get injured, and we should all accept that.
However, a strike to a player’s head, for any reason, is never acceptable. Such actions are in direct contrast with the competitive spirit in which our game should be played.
The problem with actions like Tom Jonas’ is that they are not tough. They are not competitive. They are certainly not courageous.
To launch your forearm and elbow into the back of someone’s head, someone who cannot defend themselves, is weak. It is soft. It’s an admission that you cannot beat this person in a fair contest.
Unfortunately, it’s behaviour that will continue to occur for as long as some less-evolved AFL commentators continue to insist that it’s a part of the game and that it’s okay.
It’s a blight on an otherwise wonderful game. Luckily, it’s a very solvable problem.
The first step is for AFL commentators and coaches to stop defending those who do it. Next, clubs should punish players who engage in thuggish behaviour.
Clubs already impose sanctions on players for poor behaviour off the field, is it really that much to ask for them to impose similar sanctions for deplorable actions on the field?
Thirdly, perpetrators of strikes to the head which result in a concussion must face immediate consequences. So when a player is concussed as a result of contact to the head, the umpire must remove the perpetrator immediately. Not just from the field, from the ground. The player is then referred directly to the tribunal.
I want to be very clear here that I’m not suggesting all reports should result in the removal of players from the field. On balance, I’m against umpires being able to hand out ‘red cards’ for reportable offences, because umpires can get it wrong, and it adds more pressure to what is already a difficult job.
Players should only be removed in the specific circumstances where a strike to the head has resulted in a concussion.
Perhaps most importantly, we should all call strikes to the head which result in concussion what they are. Cowardly actions.
There is precedent for this. Danny Green has had success in educating people about the risks associated with ‘king hit’ punches, which he refers to as coward’s punches.
There’s symmetry between a king hit and thuggish actions against unprotected players on an AFL field.
I hope that not just the AFL, but the fans accept this view as well. We shouldn’t have to face our Phil Hughes moment before such acceptance occurs.
Most of all, I hope that we don’t lose our courageous game because we lacked the courage to make a sensible reform before someone dies.
Simoc
Guest
I think a quality coach removes the offending player from the ground immediately and for the rest of the game. If you lose blame it on him and leave him out. We have weak coaches across the board, when they're defending cowardly acts on the field. They let the whole game down with their wimpy defensive after game waffle.
KJ
Guest
I agree Hinkley is part of the problem. He said Jonas plays "close the line" and "is a good guy". Such BS as he is a low thug and deserved to be punished as such. Hinkley gave Jonas a high five a few weeks back when Jonas came in late and hurt Dangerfield. Another low act sanctioned by the coach. Surprise surprise it started a mellee. Exactly what the AFL and normal punters don't want to see. Stamp out the low acts and the thugs. They are a throw back to the dark ages of AFL. Anyone who protects them, especially coaches and commentators, need to go the way of the dinasours that they are.
Kevin lee
Guest
Hodge is very lucky Wingard wasn't injured. Could have ended Wingard's footy career and his own.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
How many did vickery get for knocking cox out? Not saying what Jonas did was good but there seems to have been a bit of trial by media here. If this is the example being set it needs to remain consistent and if it does that then I'm all for long sentences.
BigAl
Guest
and fine the offending club...
BigAl
Guest
Hinkley was almost duty bound to defend his player, but I think offending clubs should be fined in these situations, which would give Hinkley a little wriggle room to be critical of the player - i.e. express his "disappointment...".
Scott
Guest
The commentators stuck by hodge last year for his hit on Wingard, which I personally believe was worse than Jonas hit, and perhaps one of the most dangerous things I've seen on a footy field. I don't mind Hodge and am not taking a cheap shot at him like others have, but it was ridiculous how the after game commentary supported him. That was an immoveable object. He could have so easily paralysed t
Lroy
Guest
Im intrigued by all of this. A year or so ago, a crows player hit a guy with a raised elbow in one of the most cowardly things I have ever seen, it was as bad as the Tony Locket elbow on the Swans player 15 years ago.. on this occasion..the victim didnt need plastic surgery to fix his face and wasn't hospitalized. the culprit got a couple of weeks. Ivan Maric, king hit Dean Cox in a ruck duel a few years ago It was the classic coward punch... f--all happened to him because Cox wasnt knocked out.. If he had of done that on the street he would be looking at a long term JAIL sentence. Barry Hall king hit Bret Staker of the ball in an incident that should have resulted in a 16-20 week suspension.. he got bugger all.... again, if he did that in Kings Cross the big man would have done time. The only reason this latest incident has garnered so much attention is because Gaff was KO'd. This happened BECAUSE the AFL has been so lenient on cheap head high shots in the past!!! Cheap shot at the head = 6 weeks. KO the player, another 6 weeks... split his face open = another 6 weeks. raised elbow resulting in any of the previous 3 = LIFE. Just noticed, Staker, Gaff, Cox.. what do they all have in common??? They play for the Eagles... so I guess the message is if you coward punch and Eagles player, well, they just have to suck it up right??
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Anyone who has ever played the game realises there are so many opportunities during the course of a game to put cowardly or cheap shots on people, perhaps more than any other game it relies on players doing the right thing, a 360 % contact game requires plenty of trust in teammates and actually trust in the opposition to do the right thing, sometimes it just goes wrong.
Kris Hateley
Roar Rookie
Rose's article was particularly disappointing.
Kris Hateley
Roar Rookie
That's a reasonable point Vocans. I agree some concussions can come on sometime after the initial contact. I am calling for an immediate send off when the victim has been obviously concussed because they are being stretchered off the field. I accept this does nothing for other concussions. Perhaps there is a case for that but it is much harder to enforce. This is very very simple to enforce.
Kris Hateley
Roar Rookie
I agree that the majority of the commentary around this incident has shown little support for Jonas. His coach, however is a good example of someone not dealing harshly enough with Jonas. Hinkley insisted on referring to Jonas as a good guy. Good guys do not bludgeon defenseless professionals in the back of the head. However Jonas's hit is not the only example of cowardly behavior which is often excused by the media. Another commentator here picked up on Rance's inexplicable knock to the back of an opponents head a few weeks ago. I believe Brown also offered some excuses for May's high hit on Martin a few weeks ago. In short whilst the article was picked up on this latest example of poor on field behavior it is not the only one and excuses are regularly given by those in the media, the AFL itself and particularly past players.
mds1970
Roar Guru
One of the most disgusting grub acts I've seen on a field at AFL level. Jonas should be rubbed out for a very long time.
paul cotton
Guest
I think Rances hit on watts was just as cowardly. watts was prone on the ground & rance did a rabbit blow to his neck. Where does paralysis often come from - neck damage- I was amazed at how many commentators said oh he was just frustrated etc etc coz the tigers were being beaten- cowards act should have got 6
Vocans
Guest
Only problem with your concussion proviso is it takes 20 minutes to check. Either we ignore it or we penalise every assault-type hit. It's time to call it assault, which is what it is. Make it seriously recognised with serious consequences on the day and later, and most of it will end. We also need to be protecting against it being used to cheat, and not only by those in the game, but also match fixers. Prevention is better than cure. Having said all that the game is moving away from sideways approving of assaults. Professionals are into plying their trade. Skill is preferred to illegal biff. Keep the game tough by keeping this out of it.
Vocans
Guest
Cam Rose here more than implies it by recommending to hit back . . . harder.
Kurt
Guest
Agreed Marshall, this article is something of a strange strawman. Literally no one in the media or in any way connected with the game has done anything other than condemn this incident. It was a very low act and will cop an appropriately lengthy penalty.
Marshall
Guest
Who were the commentators saying it was tough? I've seen nothing but negative reactions across media & press.
anon
Guest
Jonas should be thrown out of the game for the rest of the season. That was assault.