AFL hits back after claims of 'lunatics running the asylum' following suspension uproar
Updated . First published
The AFL has hit back at widespread criticism and claims of a crackdown on dangerous tackles in recent times.
A strongly worded statement from head office on Friday did not have a specific name attached, only credited to "the AFL", but made it clear administrators will not bend to pressure from high-profile commentators.
It was released hours after legendary former coach Mick Malthouse told Nine's Today "lunatics are running the asylum" following two players successfully having suspensions overturned at the appeals board.
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Both Greater Western Sydney and Brisbane were successful in overturning respective three-game bans to Toby Bedford and Charlie Cameron at the appeals board on Thursday night.
Head office maintains the bans should have been upheld but denied there has been a crackdown on tackles.
"In the AFL's view (shared by the independent AFL tribunal on Tuesday) the tackles by Cameron and Bedford were dangerous tackles, principally because both of the tackled players had their arms pinned (resulting in vulnerability) and were additionally brought to ground with excessive force," the statement read.
Zach Merrett of the Bombers questions the umpire. Getty
"But we accept the appeal board's decisions, albeit that they were made on a legal technicality involving a perceived technical deficiency in the tribunal's reasons.
"The AFL will reflect on those reasons and will address the deficiency in the conduct of further tribunal hearings this season. The AFL will also review the system at the end of the season, as we do every year.
"The AFL has made more than 30 changes to on-field rules and match review and tribunal guidelines over the past two decades to further protect the safety of players in the game. Not only is the game safer for the players but it as spectacular and the matches are as close as they have ever been."
The statement included statistics which claim of 18,508 tackles made in the AFL this season, only seven have resulted in charges from the match review officer.
Thursday's circus came a week after the appeals board knocked back a plea from the Swans to get Isaac Heeney off a one-game ban for striking.
The fact players can be suspended, then head to a tribunal on Tuesday and still be suspended, then head to an appeals board on Thursday and get off is what baffles many - including former player Nathan Brown who labelled the system a "joke" on Thursday.
At a media conference on Thursday league CEO Andrew Dillon defended the system.
"Our tribunal system is based on… prioritising the health and safety of our players, so that's the number one, two and three priority for the system," Dillon said.
Mick Malthouse was not happy after Toby Bedford's ban for the tackle on Tim Taranto was overturned. Getty
Legendary former coach Mick Malthouse is among many viewers baffled at the suspensions originally handed to both Bedford and Cameron.
The match review officer - Michael Christian - is cracking down on tackle techniques in a bid to limit concussions, but the shift has left players, umpires and fans confused as to what is and isn't acceptable.
In overturning the bans on Thursday, the appeals board said there had been an "error of law" from both the match review officer and the tribunal.
"Well, what does it mean? It means both players laid the perfect tackle and what they are saying is... concussions are consequences of the tackles, but they are perfect tackles," Malthouse told Nine's Today on Friday.
"Until the rule changes... and I don't know how that's going to happen because the lunatics are running the asylum at the moment. We had the sheriff come in last night and straighten it out.
"I don't think anyone knows. The players don't know, coaches don't know, supporters are up in arms.
"No one knows the rules, that's the trouble. I feel for the umpires. In fairness the umpires didn't award a free kick so I think they got it right.
"Michael Christian... he might have been great as a player but he's certainly mucking these up.
"If there is indecision, and the umpires don't know when to blow the whistle and the supporters don't know what's happening, we have got total confusion."
