'Hit him fair and square': Brendan Fevola argues Dan Houston should be cleared to play after controversial bump
Carlton great Brendan Fevola believes Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston should have his rough conduct charge thrown out at the AFL tribunal following his controversial bump on Adelaide's Izak Rankine.
During the Power's 22-point victory in the Showdown on Saturday night, Houston laid a big bump on Rankine as he moved back with the flight to catch a deflection from a teammate.
The next day, match review officer Michael Christian sent Houston directly to the tribunal, having classified the act as careless conduct of severe impact and high contact.
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Brendan Fevola argued Dan Houston's bump was a footy act. The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick
Speaking on The Fox's Fifi, Fev & Nick, Fevola argued that Houston's hit on Rankine was "fair and square" as he did not make direct contact with the head.
The 204-gamer also claimed that all AFL players understand that contact is a key part of the game and therefore, playing professional football comes with inherent risks.
"I don't think he should get anything," Fevola said of Houston's punishment.
"The reason I say this: we're big on concussions and head [injuries] but, you know what, AFL footballers know that you may get concussed in a contact sport that has been played for over 150 years.
"You go out there and you know you're going to get hit, somewhere, sometime, in one of the games you're going to play.
"He hit him fair and square. In all our rules of the game, if you elect to bump and you hit someone's head — you're done, you're suspended. Fair enough, you've got to elect to tackle.
"But in the rule book, it doesn't say you can't hip and shoulder.
"If you hip and shoulder a player, hit him fair and square, don't touch his head, and his head hits the ground… Well, that's just unlucky.
"Rankine got knocked out when he hit the ground."
Medal staff assist Izak Rankine of the Crows following an incident with Dan Houston of the Power. Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images
With two weeks until the AFL's finals get underway, the grading applied to Houston's offence is not a good combination if the 27-year-old, who is out of contract at the season's end, wishes to play another game in Power colours.
"There's been an outcry of all these experts saying, 'Throw the book at him'. Everyone's saying 4-6 weeks," Fevola said.
"Port Adelaide is second on the ladder so they've only got three games left if they win all their games up to the grand final.
"So, if he gets suspended for this, he may miss a grand final."
With Port Adelaide staring down the possibility of losing Houston for the finals series, Fevola urged the club to appeal any ban handed down by the tribunal.
In an attempt to have the incident downgraded, Houston could argue that he made shoulder-to-shoulder contact which knocked Rankine over before his head made heavy contact with the ground.
Izak Rankine is knocked down after being bumped by Dan Houston. Mark Brake via Getty Images
"[Houston will] get four weeks. But then [Port Adelaide] will find a loophole that will get him off," Fevola said.
"A hip and shoulder is not a reportable offence.
"If you take that out of our game, our game is stuffed.
"It's about contact. If you go out and expect to not be hit, it's not our game.
"Don't be changing rules for the sake of people getting head injuries, because you know [as an AFL player] the risk of heading out onto a footy ground.
"I know that when I go out and play local footy now — I'm thinking I don't want to be knocked out — but I know that could happen."
