Footy legend Malcolm Blight is “staggered” by the Match Review Officer’s decision to suspend Adelaide’s Matt Crouch for one week.
The Crows midfielder made contact with the head of Carlton’s Jack Carroll during a ground ball contest during the final quarter of his side’s dramatic two-point over the Blues at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Crouch did win the ball but was still banned by MRO Michael Christian who opted not to suspend Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters for a fairly similar action against Fremantle.
Not comparing the two incidents, solely looking at Crouch’s, former Crows coach Blight could not quite believe his eyes and ears regarding Christian’s explanation.
MRO OFFERS CLARITY ON CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE IN BUTTERS AND CROUCH INCIDENTS
“I’m still staggered by it,” the two-time premiership coach said on SEN’s Sportsday SA.
“One of the things we were taught was as you come to the ball, turn your bum and protect yourself.
“When I saw it I thought that looked perfect to me, seriously, it looked perfect. He’s going to get a week for it?
Matt Crouch has been handed a one-match suspension following this incident with Jack Carroll.
— AFL (@AFL) April 14, 2024
Full Saturday Match Review findings: https://t.co/xObEgPT9Om pic.twitter.com/GCqwAOvuFw
“I heard some audio from Michael Christian about how he elected to bump. I find this really strange.
“I’ve listened to Michael Christian play this role for many years, I worked with Michael Christian at Channel 10, he’s a terrific bloke and I think his assessment of football is pretty good, 99 times out of 100.”
Despite having a great respect for Christian and his role as MRO, Blight vehemently disagrees with the ruling of the Crouch incident.
He also feels that some of the younger players around the competition are getting the technique wrong when attempting to pick up the ball.
“I absolutely 100 per cent disagree with this one,” he continued.
“You don’t lead with your head and open up, like a lot of young players are starting to now. You turn your body to go and pick the ball up.
“I don’t get on this soapbox very often, but I think it was nearly the most perfect thing you’ve seen a player do. You’re not going to bump, you’re going to protect yourself to pick up the ball.
“Wrong! Michael, Michael, I hardly ever go crook at him.
“Some guys now are starting to lead front on, and when you go to pick the ball up front on, all sorts of horrible things can happen.
“If I were the Crows, I’d take this one on and I think we’ve got to get some sort of plan here now. If you’re going to open yourself up by picking the ball up off the ground with your head just open - we’ve got to stop people doing it.”
As a result of his suspension, Crouch will miss Friday night’s clash with Essendon at the Adelaide Oval as the Crows look to make it two wins on the trot.