Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield has vented his anger at the AFL tribunal for not suspended Carlton duo Ed and Charlie Curnow.
The Curnow’s escaped with a $1000 fine each for making contact with an umpire, after Dangerfield’s teammate Tom Hawkins was given a week for a similar incident.
The 2016 Brownlow Medallist has taken aim at the tribunal jury for its lack of consistency in dealing with the related matters.
“I think it was farcical to be honest,” Dangerfield told SEN’s Time On
“It’s been a couple of years running that Tom’s wore the brunt of the MRP and that’s fair enough with the jumper punch last season, and now the umpire contact this year.
“And then the following week or the following weeks, the same thing has happened and it hasn’t been consistent.
“I think we’re all scratching our heads as to where the consistency is because I’m a little confused as I think the majority of the AFL world is.
“Tom fronted up, handled himself incredibly well and copped his right whack.
“And then all of a sudden the next week the same thing happens and all of a sudden there’s a change in the adjudication.
“Seriously, it’s absolutely ridiculous.
“What are we supposed to do as football lovers when there is no consistency?
“I haven’t spoken to Tom about it but I would be right in saying that it’s just ridiculous, what’s he to think?
“I would be pretty annoyed if I was him. Ed Curnow’s a wonderful guy and I have a huge amount of respect for Ed, but we’re talking about the incident here and it’s the same as Tom’s yet it’s a different outcome.
“I just don’t agree with it.”
Dangerfield has hailed AFL head of football operations boss Steve Hocking’s decision to appeal the sanctions and believes these sort of decisions filter down to the grassroots level.
“The industry made it clear last week that umpire contact is not going to be tolerated and we understand as AFL players that we are role models for the community, and what’s accepted at AFL level does seed down to the lower levels,” he said.
“So now we’re saying it’s ok to touch umpires because obviously that’s been the ruling of it.
“I think it was a wise move. I think there was fair uproar throughout the day and late last night with the decision when it was handed down.
“I think it was a clever move.”
Listen to Patrick Dangerfield's scathing assessment of the AFL tribunal in the player below