Footy thinks it is doing all within its powers to minimise the incidence of concussion. But is it? Really? Incidents in the past two rounds have only added to the confusion. | Analysis | GregBaum
Cordy was trying to shepherd Bruhn away from Ed Richards when they collided. All were moving at high speed when Cordy and Bruhn met head-on, shoulder to shoulder.There was no remonstration, no free kick was paid and the match review officer did not grade the incident, but instead sent it directly to the tribunal, which fairly swiftly cleared Cordy. It was nothing to see here, play on.
Why? It can only be because the head is supposedly sacrosanct — it’s a mantra now — and any head injury makes everyone jittery. In that light, MRO Michael Christian wasn’t making a referral, but a plea. What do we do here? The ball carrier must expect contact. This we all accept. But must an incidental like Bruhn expect contact? He plainly did not see Cordy until the last split second. He tried to sidestep, but Cordy went with him. The contact was shoulder to shoulder, but because of the speed involved, Bruhn flipped and his head hit the ground first, and so it was good night for him.We thrill to the contact. We marvel at the courage. We fear for a diminished spectacle if any more curbs are introduced.
AFL doesn’t allow third-party interference in ruck contests or marking duels. It’s not allowed beyond five metres at ground level. But within five metres, the gloves come off. Mostly it’s harmless: a block, a nudge. It’s also part of the game, which would be unimaginable without it. But it was unimaginable without king hits and shirtfronts once, too.
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