Hawthorn captain James Sicily and Richmond youngster Rhyan Mansell are both staring at heavy suspensions, after being sent straight to the AFL Tribunal for a pair of controversial incidents on Saturday.
Sicily was cited for a rough tackle that concussed Brisbane midfielder Hugh McCluggage at the MCG, and led to initial fears of a significant neck injury.
Mansell, meanwhile, collided heavily with Fremantle’s James Aish during the last quarter of the Tigers’ win at Optus Stadium, with the Dockers wingman also sustaining a concussion.
Match Review Officer Michael Christian graded both incidents careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, the same as what Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey receive for his high bump on West Coast’s Elijah Hewett in Round 12.
The grading carries with it a minimum sanction of three weeks in what is set to be a bumper Tuesday night at the Tribunal, with St Kilda’s Dan Butler also a chance to attend if the Saints opt to challenge his one-match ban for a contentious dangerous tackle on Sydney’s Nick Blakey.
The trio of incidents have all triggered heavy debate over the current state of the game, with confusion rife over what constitutes a dangerous tackle and whether a player bracing for contact in expectation of a collision is still protected under the laws.
Former champion Jason Dunstall said on Thursday night he would be ‘horrified’ if Butler received a suspension, while Cameron Mooney told Fox Footy on Saturday Aish was just as responsible as Mansell for his injury.
“The problem with players now in today’s game in my belief is they are not bracing for the contact anymore because we are so gone the other way of protecting players, which we should,” he said.
“In our day, and I hate saying that, that’s both players bracing for each other and making contact, because they both know what’s coming.
“Nowadays, players are going ‘players aren’t allowed to hit me anymore, I’m free to go at it how I want’.”
Mooney also defended Sicily, saying the Hawks captain executed a ‘fantastic lunging tackle’.
“I honestly just feel so bad for the players at the moment,” he said.
“To me, that is just a fantastic lunging tackle by a player who’s desperate to make sure the opposition doesn’t get rid of the ball.
“He’s tackled him [McCluggage] around the waist and his momentum has obviously dragged him down, and unfortunately on the back of that, he’s then hit his head on the ground.”
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Your right, they have the stand rule to speed the game up and give 50m penalties, then allow players to hang on opponents after a mark has been awarded to purposely slow the game down. :shocked:
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
He plays for Freo, they train them soft. :silly:
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
The reality is Ryan should have been penalised twice and given 50 m, one for holding onto the player deliberately trying to slow the game down after the whistle was blown for the mark an 2 for staging. Obvious the Freo team went to acting lessons in their week off with Walters taking the biggest dive and rewarded with a goal!
Birdman
Roar Rookie
The 'second motion' is McCluggage's weight shift, not something controlled by Sicily.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Garbage.
poider
Roar Rookie
Piffle. Should have been a 50m penalty resulting in a shot at goal for Baker.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
There were two motions in the Sicily tackle so he deserves a solid couple weeks off
Irie
Roar Rookie
Hypocrisy Don, sheer bloody minded, short-sighted, institutionalised hypocrisy
Irie
Roar Rookie
I presume you're jesting about it "not supposed to be a contact sport".....?
mrl
Roar Rookie
It’s not supposed to be a contact sport. There is an offence could “rough conduct”.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Sicily didn't have sufficient control over his tackle to be entirely culpable for the outcome. There are also contributory inputs from Tyler Brockman and McCluggage himself which were also pivotal. It would be a travesty if Sicily is suspended.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I don't get how deliberately striking a player doesn't get cited but a footy action constantly gets sanctions. Why is Baker not rubbed out for his elbow to the rib?
Irie
Roar Rookie
If it's not it's a disgrace
Ando7369
Roar Rookie
Aish first bloke I’ve ever :laughing: seen concussed by wind
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Mansell should do, otherwise coaches will have to say ‘Don’t go hard for the ball, just wait until they pick it up and don’t tackle too hard’ :shocked: More worried about Baker, the sly dog Ryan should have been penalised 50m, whistled had blown and he purposely hung on to try and slow Baker down. You did that a decade ago - Baker wanted to break free.
poider
Roar Rookie
Agree, Though the W.A. imposed JDG & Victorian loading tax may apply. i.e. Zero weeks plus 3 equals a three match penalty.
Barnburners
Roar Rookie
Sicily tackle will be ruled out and free to play round 15. This is a contact sport!
Realist
Roar Rookie
Mansell will get off. He only had eyes for the ball and it was an accidental collision with Aish being the unlucky one.
Irie
Roar Rookie
Why not Brockman too? After all he influenced the result just as much as Sicily....