The AFL landscape is rapidly changing on the back of legal threats against the AFL and some clubs in regard to concussion.
On a weekly basis, we’re now seeing players concussed by head-high bumps or sling or pinned tackles. Rightly so, the AFL has upped the penalties and are now penalising the action, not the outcome.
But each week, and we do it again tonight, we end up at the tribunal on a Tuesday and an independent tribunal is making a mockery of the MRO system.
It’s time for the AFL to be strong in their stance and remove the AFL tribunal because, at the end of the day, it is the AFL who will and are facing the ongoing consequences of legal action.
They should determine the direction of the game, not a part-time panel. Turn the MRO into a MRP, so get some members in there and speed up the process and have the clubs support it.
While we’re making changes to the AFL, it’s time to also change the Brownlow Medal eligibility.
So far this season, Brownlow candidates Tom Green, Zach Merrett, Taylor Adams, Will Day, Jy Simpkin, Lance Franklin and Kysaiah Pickett have been suspended. We are only at Round 5.
There is every chance we could have the winner this season be ineligible. I’m not condoning these actions regarding high bumps and sling tackles but these actions were deemed as football actions only 12 months ago.
Many Brownlow Medallists would have done these types of acts 100 times over across their career. I propose the ineligibility be moved to three or more games suspended in that season.
These are not acts of thuggery. Thuggery has nearly gone out of our game. These are split-second decisions by aggressive AFL players.
Yes, they should be suspended. But losing the Brownlow Medal is a bridge too far.