Garry Lyon cannot see eye to eye with the AFL Tribunal after they overturned Charlie Cameron’s one-match suspension by playing the ‘good bloke card’.
The Brisbane Lions forward had his initial ban rescinded for a heavy tackle on Melbourne defender Jake Lever due to “exceptional and compelling circumstances”.
Tribunal Chairman Jeff Gleeson found that Cameron has an exemplary record and as such deemed to use the Tribunal’s discretion to get him off.
Cameron’s positive work in the Indigenous community and as a role model helped him beat the charge of rough conduct, but it must be pointed out that the Lion has had five previous charges including three for rough conduct.
It led to a discussion between SEN’s Sam Edmund and former Demons captain Lyon.
“It was (Brisbane’s player advocate Adrian) Anderson highlighting Charlie Cameron’s exemplary character on and off the field that swayed the Tribunal,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“On-field he said he’s played 207 games and never been suspended, although it must be said he’s had five financial sanctions.”
Lyon chimed in: “You can’t just gloss over this.”
Edmund continued: “He’s had five fines and three of them for this very charge - rough conduct.”
Lyon added: “Hang on, I said before on the surface with 207 games and exemplary (record), that sounds okay.
“I didn’t like it because of the concussion climate we’re in, on the day that Nathan Murphy was medically retired.
“Then it comes to light that he’s been fined five times and now you’re telling me three of them are for this similar thing.
“Well, come on, that’s a joke. C’mon Jeff, wake up Jeff.”
Edmund wonders if the Tribunal’s decision to play the ‘good bloke card’ has opened a can of worms for other clubs to use similarly if their good blokes are to find themselves in a similar situation this season.
“After a 45-minute deliberation, Jeff Gleeson emerges to say that Cameron’s off-field character combined with what he said was a charge at the lower end of careless anyway, Lever’s clean bill of health, and the fact Cameron had never been suspended was enough to downgrade this to low impact and a fine,” he said further.
“The question is - the good bloke card, does it open Pandora’s Box?
“If you’re a player’s advocate, surely you are compelled, in fact, you’d be negligent not to explore this avenue for players for the remainder of this season.”
Lyon simply couldn’t agree with the process in which the decision was reversed, questioning whether Cameron truly has an exemplary record.
“For me, the exemplary record is a furphy,” Lyon said.
“That’s a furphy from Jeff.
“Let’s be clear on this, the issue with Charlie Cameron is you can go and argue that it was low impact, knock yourselves out on that, I don’t have a problem with that. If that’s how you get yourself off then do that.
“Don’t get yourself off on a good record when you’ve been fined five times and three times for the same thing, that’s my point.
“That’s not exemplary behaviour. That’s called a recidivist.”
David King was also critical of the AFL and its Tribunal, suggesting that the “protection of the head stance the AFL hierarchy were so bullish on 8 weeks ago has expired”.
He described it as a “balls up”.
The protection of the head stance the AFL hierarchy were so bullish on 8 weeks ago has expired. Non reports, ridiculous explanations, bizarre tribunal outcomes and now, complete confusion going forward for all! Confusion doesn’t change behaviour.
— David King (@davidking34) April 16, 2024
What a balls up.
Cameron is free to play in Brisbane’s Round 6 clash with Geelong at the Gabba on Saturday night.