This is what Chris Scott said about Tom Stewart, after Stewart sent Dion Prestia into next week with his decision to run past the ball and hit Prestia in the head with what can only be described as an intentional hit.
“I’ve known Tom for a long time and he is a scrupulously fair player and just a fantastic, strong character – fundamental to what we do at Geelong. When my time’s come and gone, I’ll look back and say I was honoured to have known and coached Tom Stewart.
“That’s partly because when I spoke to him post-game, he just said: ‘I’ve just made a horrible error and I feel terrible about it … I ran past the ball and I chose to bump. I didn’t mean to do it, but gee it was terrible execution and I’m going to pay the price for it’.
“I wouldn’t usually be this expansive, but I think it speaks to the man. He knows he’s done the wrong thing. Was it deliberate? Of course it wasn’t. He’s made an error and, as people do that I admire, he’s prepared to stand up and say ‘I was wrong’.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
“It doesn’t help then the idea of restorative justice still exists. Like they (the Tigers) lose one of their best players, but we don’t run away from that fact. But he should have some comfort in the fact that it’s not him and it was an error of execution and nothing more.”
Sorry, Chris, but like I’ve been saying to my Geelong-worshipping father all week, the “good guy” defence ain’t it.
The vision of Dion Prestia being cradled in the arms of the Richmond trainer, struggling with the basics of movement like a newborn giraffe, was one of the more disturbing things I’ve seen on a football field.
It was Brent Staker’s eyes rolling back in his head, before his head hit the ground, after Barry Hall slammed his fist in his face. It was Andrew Brayshaw’s jaw being shattered by the wild swinging arm of Andrew Gaff. It was the 70s and 80s.
It was worthy of being sent from the ground.
Worse, perhaps, was the fact that the officiating umpire reported Stewart immediately for his hit on Prestia, who was in such a bad way that a Richmond team-mate had to take the free- kick, and play was allowed to continue around Prestia, and the team of Richmond medicos, who were crosschecking the safety protocols of the unknown – consciousness and a neck injury.
Related
The three officiating umpires in that game need a couple of weeks in the VFL for that display of player care.
As for Stewart and the “good guy” defence, he could donate a retriever puppy per day to a Geelong orphanage, and it won’t remove him from the ugliness of the severe impact and high contact that left Dion Prestia needing time travel to re-enter this sphere from his current head space of Sunday the 3rd of July.
In the modern day, when the foundation of the game’s rules are being shifted so we can protect the players from the carnage that is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), should Chris Scott be going down this path of Angelic Tom and his impeccable character in the hope of minimising his suspension damage?
How many times have we heard that any decision to run past the ball and bump is a dangerous act? One that comes with severe consequences on the tribunal scale of MRP Lotto should you hurt the player you’ve lined up.
The difference for a report sent direct to the tribunal in “Careless” and “Intentional” as gradings, when placed alongside severe impact and high contact, is the starting point of one week.
And through the complete farce of the assessment in this case, Stewart is looking at a three-week ban, which isn’t nearly enough. This needed to start at a four-match ban, with the AFL’s prosecution lawyer working all levels of linguistic wizardry to ensure Stewart sits out a minimum of five.
As for the aforementioned restorative justice, Chris Scott is right to point out the lack of immediate justice for Richmond’s best player being taken out of the game by a dirty and unnecessary play, while the chap responsible for his departure goes on a 17-intercept-possession-rampage to be the difference between the two teams.
‘Richmond are the one that have suffered the penalty. [Geelong’s next opponent] North Melbourne shouldn’t get the benefit next week.
“They get no benefit whatsoever from losing one of their best players. That’s my version of restorative justice, that the victim should actually be [compensated] in some way.”
Is that Chris Scott acknowledging Tom Stewart should have been sent from the ground?
No. Sadly he continues and contradicts himself wildly.
“The idea of sending someone off and getting it wrong in a big game is a risk not worth taking.’”
But CTE is?
Because that is the reality when you run past the ball and choose to bump.
var request = new XMLHttpRequest();
request.open('POST', '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', true); request.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded;'); request.onload = function () { if (this.status >= 200 && this.status
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
That's right , i think . Not all that many red cards issued in soccer or rugby. Maybe that's because there's the threat of a red card there making players think a bit.
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
Garry Hocking another talented footballer who played dirty. I won't forget or forgive his knocking out John Platten early in the '89 G.F. , putting Hawthorn's star on-baller out of the game. Hawks scraped home in the end , but had they lost the missing Rat could have been the difference.
dargerovitch
Roar Rookie
Agree with you , Nick. Nobody says mouth guards are unnecessary yet how often do we see a player smacked in the mouth ? It's the vehicle safety belt argument. Without them potential effects are disastrous...Not sure if it's relevant to the Prestia - Stewart incident , but i wonder if all players should sport protective head gear like Angus Brayshaw and Caleb Daniel wear now , and as others in the past have done. Would look a bit odd with all the players helmeted , but we'd quickly get used to it.
ScottD
Roar Guru
There are three completely different issues here and they are being conflated. Issue 1 : Stopping people from illegally taking other players out off the ball Issue 2: Stopping head contacts through stupid behaviour; Issue 3: "In game" outcomes to ensure that a team doesn't gain an advantage in the game due to an illegal act. There is no doubt that this act was deliberate however the outcome may not have been. No one can mount a credible argument that running 3m past the ball to take a player out with a bump is anything but deliberate. A deliberate act of foul play (deliberately taking a player out whether on or off the ball) should be dealt with on the spot by the umpire with the video referee able to call an event to his attention. But this requires an clear view to be formed as to whether something was deliberate or careless or stupid. The off field assistance is therefore probably required. Lots of other international sports have red or yellow cards. There is no real reason why AFL can't have one if it is serious about removing deliberate foul play. These sports have however different dynamics to AFL and it is clear that using a red/yellow card system does slow the game down. So I'd suggest that a RED card for deliberate foul play that results in serious injury is appropriate (think Staker, Brayshaw) which means it would be rare, and otherwise introduce a minimum ban for a new "deliberate" classification so say "deliberate and high" might be a 10 week penalty with a small (1 wk) discount if there is a mitigating factor.
MaccaRB
Guest
Interesting reading the various comments regarding yellow/red cards. My advice, watch the forthcoming Rugby tests between Australia & England, commencing this saturday evening and see how offences, for both categories of cards, are dealt by the officiating ground referee, the 2 assistant referees (sideline) and the match review referee. This should give you an insight into how these cards are used and determined by the match officials. Hopefully, no red cards will be issued. Players awarded a red card are also subject to penalties from the post-match tribunal, too.
Clear as mud
Guest
not often. they also bought in the sin bin, which gets overused. and then adopted "on report" as a third possible intervention. no reason AFl couldn't have exactly the same graduation.
Clear as mud
Guest
it shouldn't be legal in this application. weak as the real issue in the gradings now is that reckless is gone, so if the options are careless and intentional, vote fr intentional!
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Well Mud there you go and how often is there a controversy? I do know that in recent years there has been a focus on the shoulder charge which is pretty much a send off offence.
Clear as mud
Guest
Rugby League has had sendoffs msince i was born. St George were Premiers...
Clear as mud
Guest
he was only injured because Stewart was second to the ball and otioise in that situation so decided to bump a guy who had been midair a second earlier. playing that funny shaped red thing. that we allegedly prioritise access and protections towards - the player getting or disposing of the ball. who just happened to be a much smaller guy. whatever Stewart was thinking, the action was pretty peasweak, even a legal bump in that situation is a cheap shot with a typo on the o.
Unreal
Roar Rookie
Come on Brett, "can only be described as an intentional hit". It was intentional to bump which is legal and happens every game. It wasn't intentional to hit the head which is why he got 4 weeks. Ned McHenry accidently broke Wil Powell leg the other week. Does Will get red carded because of this accident? Contact sports involve contact which will inevitably cause accidents.
Paul
Guest
Well Written article Brett its fair in every way except for the Tigers loosing more than their best player 3 minutes of 17 men v 18 and the Stewart playing out the game. In reality its a grubby act that should be a send off for the entire game then 4 weeks give me a break Dions out for at least 2 matches so that should be on top of the minuim 3 match ban 5 weeks is fair free kick Geelong again The Umpires and Geelong just show whats wrong with the game today throw in the Afl lying about no wonder the numbers are down I went ti tue game and was definitely disappointed with the lack of care for Dion !!
Baffled Brett
Guest
Stewart gets 4 weeks but that is no help to Richmond. He is guilty and should be also rubbed out for the next match of Geelong v Richmond , that would be compensation to Richmond.
PPat
Guest
Maynard got 2 weeks for a late, wound up, AIRBORNE, swinging punch to the head from BEHIND that concussed Lloyd. Prestia is only contacted high because his head lowers to a height BELOW a grounded Stewart and it's apparently the worst act of all time? Give me a break. A lot of salt from Richmond fans both at home and in the media. Geelong would have still won if Prestia played, it's purely hypothetical and utterly RIDICULOUS to suggest otherwise and even worse to try and set a precedent on it at the tribunal. Geelong were up by more at that stage of the game anyway. If anything the Cats lost percentage by him going off. I pray Prestia wakes up from his coma, get's out of hospital and can walk again soon :unhappy:.
Luke
Guest
But still have a premiership. Only way to punish me s to remove the player from the game
Luke
Guest
Deliberate act = removal of player. It will likely remove the deliberate act. 15 minutes of one less player and that particular player cannot return. It was a cowardly act. Even the player himself saw the harm done.
Luke
Guest
I think he deserves 4 weeks, plus the red card. By taking Prestia out early in the game, he removed their current best onballer and yet he could play and as such, was one of the best afield. If he wants to do a deliberate action like that, he should also be off for the day. It’s only fair.
Alfred
Guest
What's more concerning is that Chris Scott didn't inquire into Prestia's well-being. He instantly went in to bat for his sniper player.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Micko it seems people who have grown up playing sports without yellow and red cards have the biggest issue, its fear of the unknown. Soccer, Rugby Union and League supporters don't have this issue as they know it is rare to be sent off and generally an extreme situation. The only issue I have really seen is some guys are lucky to only get a yellow card and not a red one.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Mr Right, I commend you for your stance on this incident. Being a Cats supporter shows the courage you have to stand behind what your truey belief is in the best interest of players and the game itself. Rugby league is a greater contact sport than AFL. They are effectively ahead of the curve when compared to the AFL and have had the red card send off rule in place for over 25 years. More recently they have had the sense to ban the shoulder charge (which is how league supporters describe Stewart's action on Prestia) and tackling a player whilst they are in mid air. It astonishes me that Rugby league is more advanced on player welfare than AFL in relation to dealing with these issues. To highlight what you say, there have been 3 PLAYERS sent off for a shoulder charge in 7 YEARS! The only real errors I have seen is a player receiving a yellow card (10 mins suspension) rather than a red card.