Brereton labels Bedford ban the most disheartening AFL ruling he has seen in 42 years

UPDATE

Toby Bedford's three-match suspension for rough conduct was overturned on Thursday night.

EARLIER

Dermott Brereton was left genuinely disheartened by the AFL Tribunal’s decision to uphold GWS tagger Toby Bedford's three-game ban for his tackle that concussed Richmond’s Tim Taranto.

The tackle occurred after Taranto received the footy at the stoppage in Sunday's clash at the MCG, with Bedford tackling the Tiger from behind.

The Giant wrapped his arms around the Tiger, keeping his arms pinned to his body as he brought him to ground. Unfortunately, Taranto’s head hit the ground as the duo’s momentum drove the tackle into the turf, leaving him concussed.

Brereton simply feels that Taranto was unlucky to be concussed in the tackle as he considers Bedford’s perfectly reasonable in the circumstances.

The Hawthorn great thinks players are now being banned based on whether their opponent gets concussed or not, and he described that as the most seismic shift he’s seen in AFL footy since he made his senior debut in 1982.

“Previous to this point in time, I would have had confidence in saying, ‘No, we will be back to where we should be (and Bedford would get off)’,” Brereton told SEN Afternoons.

“But I just don't know. I just don't know anymore.

“I was having a good think about it, my first game was back in 1982 and that was at senior level. So, I've been involved longer than that, but that would give me 42 years in the AFL system of being a player, an administrator, a sometimes coach and a media employee.

“This is, to me, the most disheartening period that we've struck, and we've come through a few hurdles along the way - the advent of new teams, I've seen the admission of four new teams, the rebranding of teams…

“But at the moment, in the fundamentals of our sport - this is the most seismic shift that I think I've certainly seen in 42 years.”

Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron was also handed a three-game ban after Round 19 for his tackle on Liam Duggan which left the Eagle concussed.

With both incidents technically correct tackles that unfortunately resulted in concussions, Brereton is certain the duo wouldn’t have been sanctioned if their opponents got up unscathed.

“The league is now telling us, if tackle a player accordingly, appropriately, with the rules and if he doesn't get concussed, it's play on, ‘Nothing to see here’,” Brereton said.

“But if he does get concussed with the tackle - that to their description is applicable and illegal – you will get three weeks.

“It is the most disheartening decision I think I've seen in 42 years and the most confusing by far.

“It's actually really got me down for our sport because I absolutely love this code. It’s changed somewhat, but we (fans) love it.

“But this is not what our sport is meant to be.”

Both Bedford and Cameron will hope to have their three-game bans overturned at the AFL Appeals Board.