With Patrick Dangerfield referred directly to the Tribunal for a bump on Jake Kelly that resulted in a concussion, the expectation is that he will be suspended for at least three weeks.
The injury to Kelly was caused by a head clash during the bump and Kane Cornes hopes we leave some wriggle room in the game for accidental injuries.
“I understand that he will be suspended and I understand why, but I still think there is room for accidents in AFL footy,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“I just think it’s going to be a dangerous area we get to if we rule out complete accidents.
“It’s all well and good for us to go on Seven or Fox or Channel Nine and watch it 15 times in slow motion. This is one of the fastest and most powerful athletes we have in the game running at full speed with an opponent running at him at full speed and he’s tried to protect himself, I think.
“What I’m concerned about is it’s going to lead to the end of the high mark and you might think that’s a long bow to draw, but I watched Dan Houston drive his knee into Curtis Taylor’s head yesterday and he got up and he couldn’t walk and he’s going to miss 12 days.
“No one will say anything about Houston, but I think that’s more dangerous. Where are we going to get to with accidents? Are the AFL going to say leave your knees down when going for a mark?
“These are just the areas we’re going to get to if we’re ruling out accidents from the game. I watched Callan Ward get absolutely cleaned up because of a knee to the head in a marking contest, so I think it’s dangerous areas.”
Garry Lyon disagreed, saying the key factor is whether the player is going for the ball.
“That’s alarmist nonsense from you I’m afraid,” he said.
“If Dangerfield was going for the football and the two clashed heads, play on, there will be head knocks in the game. You fly for a mark and your sole intention is the mark, so be it.”
Tim Watson added that by choosing to bump, Dangerfield loses the ‘accidental’ pass.
“That wasn’t an accident though. I reckon the difference here is that he went the bump. Had he followed through and thought to tackle rather than bump … and yes it was a legitimate bump, but heads clashed and in the act of bumping he doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt,” he said.
Cornes responded, pointing out the difference between the Dangerfield bump and Zac Williams, who received a week for a high hit on Hunter Clark in the AAMI Community Series.
“He was trying to protect himself, it wasn't a Zac Williams bump. He was running flat out, he turned his body and they hit heads,” Cornes said.
Dangerfield would miss games against Brisbane, Hawthorn and Melbourne if he receives a three-game ban.
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