Nick Riewoldt 'fearful for the game' as Kangaroos appeal big ban for sickening collision
Updated . First published
AFL legend Nick Riewoldt is "fearful for the game" if North Melbourne young gun Jackson Archer cops a three-week ban for an incident in round one.
The match review officer hit Archer with the long suspension after he made contact with the head of Western Bulldogs player Luke Cleary on Sunday.
Cleary dived on a loose ball as Archer was coming the other way, and the former had to leave the field on the back of a medicab in frightening scenes.
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While AFL rules actually punish the player who dives on a ball and makes contact with an opponent's legs, the MRO instead punished the player who kept their feet, in Archer.
St Kilda icon Riewoldt does not believe Archer did anything wrong.
"Both players were running for the ball... Jackson Archer comes in fast but as he approaches the contest his stride shortens, he doesn't brace (for contact), he doesn't jump, he doesn't slide, he doesn't protect himself - he is wide open," Riewoldt told Triple M Melbourne's Mick in the Morning.
Nick Riewoldt reacts to the Jackson Archer ban. Nine
"Luke Cleary falls forward with an opposition player behind him and collects his head onto Jackson Archer's knee.
"Now, Jackson Archer has been given three games for rough conduct. I don't understand what this guy was meant to do.
"He doesn't do anything – the only thing he does is slow down as he is approaching the contest. It's an unfortunate accident that Cleary's head has hit him in the knee.
"I'm just really fearful for the game itself if this guy gets three weeks for this accident. You can't legislate accidents out of the game.
"We don't want concussions - that point has been made – that's why players that are now bracing and protecting themselves are getting suspended.
"Jackson Archer is lucky not to have a broken leg - it's a violent collision. I would be sad if he doesn't get off this."
North Melbourne will head to the tribunal to appeal the ban.
Luke Cleary of the Bulldogs is taken from the ground on a stretcher. Getty
AFL greats James Hird and Jimmy Bartel, speaking on Nine's Footy Furnace on Sunday night, agreed the Kangaroos have a case.
"It's a very difficult situation - Archer is coming flat out, he hasn't got a lot (of options), what does he do, jump over him?" Hird said
"But the rule is you have the onus to avoid it.
"I think it's a very difficult situation to appeal, but it would be very stiff for Jackson Archer to get three weeks."
Bartel says Cleary could easily have been penalised instead, despite leaving the field on a medicab.
"There would be a lot of people thinking... where is the free kick to Archer?" Bartel said.
"We have been told to stay on our feet, don't go to ground to take the ball."
