Another round of footy; another round of serious head injuries.
For a sport with a reputation of being dangerous, there could be little worse than the spate of injuries across the AFL so far this year.
I believe it will get worse, though, because too many influential people are completely okay with it. David Mackay’s bump on Hunter Clark in Round 13 presents a perfect example of this attitude. Here are a few points to consider.
1. Mackay was running at full, unchecked speed. The definition of reckless is to act without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action. It doesn’t matter if he was going for the ball or the bump, Mackay entered the contest at a tremendous speed, with no hope of pulling up or avoiding a very heavy collision.
That is simply not okay, and anyone who defends it needs to think more about it.
2. Mackay should be charged with high contact. Watch the vision. Mackay’s shoulder strikes Clark’s head. There should be no debate about whether this was high contact, because Mackay did not possess the ball.
It is baffling that the AFL did not charge Mackay immediately, and their statement that the incident wasn’t covered by the current rules is puzzling and weak.
3. This was no accident. Kane Cornes and others who talk about “accidental” contact being removed from the game are wrong in this case. Mackay was fully intent on crashing into his opponent, his insignificant turn at the moment of impact being nothing more than an involuntary reaction.
Mackay had a choice, as all players do in these situations. He may have nurtured a small hope of “getting there first” early on, but from about five meters out, his run was purposeful and he knew a huge crash was coming.
4. “Getting there first” is not enough. Whenever the ball is not in a player’s possession, all players around the ball have a duty to consider the safety of others. One commentator noted both Mackay and Clark had a hand on the ball “a split second” before the crash.
So what? Why is it illegal to kick the ball off the ground when another player’s hands or head are right by it? What if my foot got to the ball a split second before your hand? If you don’t want your head kicked, don’t put it down by the ball, right? Of course not.
It’s dangerous, just as crashing recklessly through the ball is. If you don’t get to the ball early enough to take possession, the onus is on you to keep yourself in check.
5. “Football Action” is not an excuse. I am really sick of hearing the phrase “football action” used to excuse dangerous play. Yes, rough contact, especially in trying to possess the ball, is a part of the sport. Bodies are going to hit each other. But those collisions don’t need to be reckless or at speeds so great that jaws are broken and skulls cracked.
There are great examples, even in recent weeks, of completely acceptable tackles and crashes that resulted in an injury. This is not one of them, though, and the distinction between reasonable and reckless needs to be made, especially amongst football actions.
6. We don’t want this in the game. We’re hearing commentators say Mackay “had no choice” and it was “a fair crack at the ball.” Cornes asks, “How far do we go in eradicating things we love about this game?” Really? You love players having broken jaws? That is just nonsense. No one teaches youth players to do what Mackay did. It’s neither safe nor skilful.
A sport can be rough and risky, without being stupid and senseless. With no change in direction and culture, fans and players will walk away from this beautiful game. The beautiful will be overcome by the ugly.
If we want to keep this sport alive and grow it, we need players to think about the fine line between gutsy and reckless. It’s time for the cultural leaders of the football community to acknowledge that reckless play is harming players and the sport itself.
Vicboy
Roar Rookie
When the sub is activated they look quick. Without interchange, they would be slower again. Would love to know if any of the top 8 are planning re “sub” for the GF. Eg Geelong’s Clarke’s pace could be a big factor after the game opens out.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Can kick a bloke in the head in the maul and all is good though,
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I remember choppy hitting Rhett Biglands, who had lined choppy up, and Biglands had to have a nap afterwards. Then they rule changed Choppy out of the game
Macca
Roar Rookie
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/video/960105/teague-speaks-on-the-second-half-of-2021?videoId=960105&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1623986296001 Teagues comments right at the end of this interview re the tribunal and head high contact are absolutely spot on.
Mat P
Guest
Biggest problem I had with the discourse surrounding this incident is how a lot of commentators glossed over Clark's injuries like he'll be right in a couple of weeks. It only takes one bad knock to derail a career, just ask Daniel Venables who hasn't played since R9 2019. So I was among the minority who would have been fine with Mackay receiving a suspension. I felt his actions were unreasonable and lacked any duty of care. There was already another Adelaide Crow shoulder to shoulder with Clark (potentially blinding Clark from the oncoming Mackay), who actually hooks Clark's left arm as they get to the ball. Mackay who had the much longer approach, had time to assess and other options available. Unfortunately the usual hyperbole and over-reaction drowned out any reasonable argument.
Macca
Roar Rookie
As I said above; If two cars crash at an intersection and one driver was wearing a seatbelt and swerved at the last minute and walked away without injury and the other driver was unaware of the oncoming car, wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and got terribly injured is the first driver more at fault?
Macca
Roar Rookie
SO you do have an issue with Henderson not being charged? And you think Henderson was legitimately trying to mark a ball that was definitely going to carry to him at chest height? :stoked:
Macca
Roar Rookie
I remember my brother and I were down the pub one night (at the end of the night) and this big fella, who fancied himself and was a major league B&F ruckman in his day, challenged my 5'10" brother to a hip and shoulder challenge to see who would be left standing. The both went back about 10m, charged towards each and at the last minute my brother to a quick side step and the big fella, expecting contact, fell flat on his face. Only 1 person there didn't think it was one of the funniest things they had seen
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
It's not the same, you're analogy isn't right. Sure you slow down for the corner, but not any inch or cm slower than you have to, and sometimes there's another rider going for that track space, winner takes the Choccies, 50/50, you're gonna win it or bin it, if I'm to be the best I'm taking that space, probs gonna crash but you know, risks have been weighed, chance for glory assessed and accepted. God speed Brendo, the outcomes no longer in my hands, what happens happens from here. That's sport.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I started senior footy at 18 standing 6'3", weighing in at 85kg as a wingman, and progressed to CHF/B and 95kg - when and where?
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I woulda had a crack at that in my youth :stoked:
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I disagree with everything you just said.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Union? Meatheads R Us? Hairdos with Sprigs?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I was weighting in line at the roadhouse topside of Glen Innes once. The console operator said, "Sorry about the wait". I answered, "I'm only 86 kilos"
Macca
Roar Rookie
As I said I don't have an issue with Henderon not being charged, I do have an issue with the logic behind a player blocking metres behind the ball feigning to take a mark in a spot the ball would never have carried to being deemed to be "in the marking contest" while a player who arrived 0.08 seconds after the ball was deemed by the head of the tribunal not to be "in a marking contest" - regardless of whether you believe the outcome was right surely the inconsistency of logic is cause for concern. As for the free kick being paid or not, again it is a concern that of the 3 incidents the 3 field umpires (there is no shortage of no officiating umpires over ruling these days) deemed the 2 that ended up at the tribunal fair while penalising the one the MRP thought was fine - again their is an inconsistency of logic regardless of the outcome. "You cannot expect every player to know where every other player is." No but I do expect a player to know that there is a player coming from his front left as he chases a loose ball.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So Clark contributed by not looking! When l go thru a roundabout l engage the eyes of the driver to the right before proceeding.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Pulling out will reduce the standing of a game full of pregnant possibilities.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Gee, what are his coaches doing, and how does he keep up?
Macca
Roar Rookie
I started playing senior football at 17 standing almost 6’2″ and weighing 75kg and played most of my career playing as a key defender on much bigger players (and slowly progressed from 75kg to 85kg over 15 years) – tell me where and when.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Not sure what ¼ and what position this happened in the game. —— I cordially invite you to a hip’n’shoulder at the defensive side of your CHF. I will be contesting the ball at 28kmh and l weigh 92kg. RSVP with your acceptance ASAP. All ball contestation rules will followed. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: