AFL News: Beveridge blasts tackle rule change, CEO says players to blame, Hardwick fumes at umpires

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has blasted the AFL over changing its guidelines around tackling, believing the league’s decision-makers have “flinched” at media criticism.

The AFL on Tuesday issued a warning that players will no longer be rewarded with free kicks when they duck or shrug their heads in tackles.

It came after heated debate surrounding young Collingwood dynamo Jack Ginnivan and whether he was being umpired differently to other players.

But Beveridge has hit out at the change, saying the AFL has caved into external pressure.

“My point of view is let’s not change the game and the interpretations that’s been there forever,” Beveridge said.

“The reason why (Geelong captain) Joel Selwood gets a lot of head-high free kicks is because he’s probably the hardest at the football, a loose ball and at a contest in the competition, so he’s rewarded for it.

“If you’ve got techniques that ultimately entice a clumsy or undisciplined tackle then good luck to him and he deserves every free kick that he gets.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“He’s a prime example for me, because do we now look back and say well some of those ones he got over time they shouldn’t be there based on what’s just been put out?

“Reward the player who’s got his head over the footy … ultimately penalise the guy who hasn’t tackled how he should have tackled.

“I’m happy for the marginal ones to be play-on but let’s not change things again, because the umpires have got it hard enough.

“I think the pressure from the media comes around and probably the supporter bases as well and it’s another flinch.

“Just reward the player who’s hardest at the football and let’s no victimise that sort of behaviour because it should be rewarded not penalised.”

Beveridge said he was unsure how long this latest crackdown would last, highlighting previous examples this season of rules being adjudicated differently across different weeks.

“There are things and messages that have come through that have really only lasted two weeks,” Beveridge said.

“I’m always keen to keep the wheels in current motion and support the umpires in decision making.”

The league says a player with the ball, who is deemed to have a prior opportunity, and attempts to shrug, duck or lift an arm will be called for holding the ball.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan argued on Tuesday night “it’s the same rule, clarified” and coaches and players have been trying to “exploit” it.

While Beveridge was vocal in his disapproval of the AFL’s change, Geelong coach Chris Scott and Hawthorn counterpart Sam Mitchell both backed in the clarification.

“My care factor for what the rules are has reduced enormously over time,” Scott said. “I kind of see it as a badge of honour to understand it better than anyone else.”

Mitchell argued when the AFL makes rule changes they usually “work for the better”.

McLachlan blames players, coaches

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has accused players of “exploiting” umpires over the contentious head-high rule.

The AFL has issued a warning players will no longer be rewarded with free kicks when they duck or shrug their heads in tackles.

McLachlan said the AFL was clarifying its position on head-high contact after heated debate surrounding young Collingwood dynamo Jack Ginnivan and whether he was being umpired differently to other players.

The league says a player with the ball, who is deemed to have a prior opportunity, and attempts to shrug, duck or lift an arm will be called for holding the ball.

Jack Ginnivan. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

“It’s the same rule, clarified,” he said on AFL 360 on Tuesday night.

“I think it’s just been really made very clear that if you contribute to the high contact – if you duck or raise your arms or drop your knees – then if you haven’t had prior you’re not going to get holding the ball and it’s a ball up and if you’ve had prior and you’re tackled that’s holding the ball.”

He said coaches and players are trying “to drive a truck through them and use them to their advantage”.

“I don’t like it. I don’t like the exploitation of the rule. The rule is there to protect player’s heads and they are actually putting themselves in harm’s way. So the secondary part is just as bad as the first.”

Hardwick unhappy with Nankervis treatment

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has called on AFL umpires to give Toby Nankervis a fair go, claiming the premiership ruckman is being treated harshly by whistleblowers.

Toby Nankervis (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Nankervis gave away a game-high six free kicks in last week’s upset loss to North Melbourne, which left the Tigers precariously placed in eighth spot.

The triple-premiership big man did not receive a single whistle his way, and was also reported over contact with the Kangaroos’ Flynn Perez. The report was later thrown out by the AFL’s match review officer.

Nankervis is on the wrong end of a 22-49 free-kick count this season, which includes a 1-13 tally over the last four weeks.

Hardwick said the Tigers took their gripes to the AFL umpiring department this week.

“The fact of the matter is Toby gives away a free kick and sometimes the opposition don’t,” Hardwick told reporters on Wednesday.

“The same thing happens from time to time. We look at players walking across the line every time during the round and there’s 50 of those a game, and Toby got pinged for three of them. “We spoke to the umpiring department about that and hopefully we’ve got a better result this week.

“At the end of the day, they (the AFL) accept mistakes are made, like we do as coaches as well.

“Toby gets done for a report and a 50-metre penalty that gets withdrawn … you know, he gets treated harshly.”

Nankervis faces a huge battle against rising Fremantle ruck force Sean Darcy at Marvel Stadium on Friday night in a contest that will help shape both sides’ finals prospects.

Richmond have lost three of their last four matches, with poor goal-kicking costing them dearly over the past fortnight in defeats to Gold Coast and North Melbourne by a combined margin of just six points.

Hardwick is hopeful Richmond stars Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch will return from their respective hamstring injuries against Brisbane in round 20.

Cats must improve to win flag: Scott

Geelong coach Chris Scott is adamant his team need to improve if they are to win this year’s AFL premiership, saying it’s “inevitable” that bad luck will rear its ugly head.

The Cats (13-4) sit on top of the ladder on the back of an eight-match winning run, and they are set to start as favourites in each of their final five games – against Port Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Gold Coast, and West Coast.

A top-two finish is well and truly Geelong’s for the taking, with a deep run in September beckoning.

But Scott is adamant his team can’t expect to win the flag if they merely maintain their current form.

“If we improve, I believe that (we can go all the way),” Scott said ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Power at Adelaide Oval. 

(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“If we stay where we are, I don’t think that will be good enough. We would expect the best teams to all get better over the next couple of months. If we don’t at least keep up with that, we’re going to be in trouble.”

With a new wave of COVID-19 hitting AFL clubs, Scott is bracing for some hits. He’s also well aware that injuries can play a huge role in the fortunes of a team.

With all that in mind, Scott is determined to ensure his team have enough depth to get them through any challenges. “There are things that are often beyond your control,” Scott said. 

“I’m not oblivious to the role luck plays in that as well. History is a pretty good guide. You kind of need to flush the last six weeks, you need to nail it.

“You’re kidding yourself if you think that with the whole COVID situation and the way the world is working at the moment (that everything will be smooth). If you think that everything is going to be perfect for the last couple of months, you are setting a pretty high bar.

“We don’t want to price it for perfection. We understand we’re going to have some issues, so we need enough depth, we need enough contingencies to adjust when the inevitable bad luck comes.”

The Cats will be without Sam Menegola (concussion) against Port, but Brandan Parfitt could return after recovering from a broken hand and COVID-19.

Fremantle defender Alex Pearce. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Pearce set for timely return

Fremantle expect key defender Alex Pearce to return from injury as coach Justin Longmuir rejects suggestions his AFL side’s keys have been unlocked.

Pearce is tipped to return from a calf injury which ruled him out of last Saturday’s 17-point loss to Sydney. The Swans used patient possession-based tactics in their win, recording 127 uncontested marks to Fremantle’s 70.

But Longmuir dismisses suggestions that ploy is how to dismantle his fourth-placed outfit. “A lot probably gets made of the way Sydney chipped it around especially in that third quarter,” Longmuir told reporters on Tuesday, referring to the Swans’ 3.4 to 0.4 third term.

“We were way too slow to react and adjust and we didn’t have the right energy we needed to. We covered that off but there were other aspects to the game I was more disappointed in.

“Outside of stoppage they won the one-on-ones and the critical contests … so that was pretty disappointing. It’s a real quick fix, the defensive stuff. I think we have proven we can defend that type of ball movement all year. It has been one of our strengths and we just had an off quarter.”

In addition to Pearce’s likely return, versatile tall Rory Lobb was expected to overcome a shoulder injury and play against Richmond on Friday night at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

And despite the eighth-placed Tigers’ loss to last-placed North Melbourne, Longmuir remained wary of Damien Hardwick’s side team.

“Their best is up there with the best in the comp,” he said. “They have proven that they can score heavily, then when they don’t quite get it right they can get scored against.

“So they will be striving for a four-quarter effort and we need to produce the same.”

The Dockers are one win shy of top spot on the ladder but also just one win ahead of seventh.

“They’re all important (games), aren’t they, and they have all got great meaning and ramifications.

“We don’t try and get caught up in the outcomes and ladder positions.

“We need to get back to playing our brand of footy for longer so that is what we’re working hard at.

“But it’s an exciting time of the year and the ramifications are high and we understand that, but we just need to make sure we remain really focussed and process orientated.”

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