Gerard Healy believes the Tribunal nailed the decision to clear Willie Rioli of rough conduct.
The West Coast forward collided with Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell in a marking contest at Optus Stadium on Sunday and was initially hit with a one-game suspension.
However, the Eagles appealed and were ultimately successful in their challenge.
There have been plenty of opinions in the aftermath, including that of Healy who believes the Tribunal got it “spot on”.
“There was mixed emotion in the AFL community with this Tribunal decision,” Healy said on Sportsday.
“It’s very line-ball these scenarios so the Tribunal in some respects were in a non-win situation.
“There’s been a massive revolt from some prominent names in the media and from many of the public.
“I’ve got to say, I thought the Tribunal got it right.”
Healy referenced the bump by Brisbane’s Mitch Robinson on Port Adelaide’s Xavier Duursma which landed him a one-match ban.
He also touched on how retired Adelaide player David Mackay was successful in beating his rough conduct charge for a collision which left St Kilda’s Hunter Clark with a broken jaw last season.
“Simply put, Mitch Robinson had time to change his attack and should have been suspended and Willie Rioli didn’t and should have been let off,” he added.
“That’s how I saw it last night (Tuesday), that’s how I still think.
“Willie Rioli was one metre away and his arms extended for the mark and in no way was he aggressive in his attempt to protect himself. It was simply that, an instinctive attempt to get his head out of the contact zone.
“The head still remains sacrosanct and we’ve come a hell of a long way. The threat of quadriplegia and players ending in a spinal ward and now concussion is ever-present.
“But it’s still a game of collision where accidents happen.
“I consider ‘Free Willie’ to be the same as David Mackay last year. I thought the Tribunal was right, I thought both were accidents and I think the decision was spot on.
“It’s interesting that the AFL didn’t appeal.”
Rioli will be free to play in West Coast’s Round 2 clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium this Sunday.