We’re set for tribunal triple-header tribunal hearing on Tuesday night, beginning with Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron at 4pm followed by GWS’ Toby Bedford and Gold Coast’s Alex Davies.
The AFL handed down a massive 10 weeks worth of suspensions from Round 18 – including Cameron (three weeks) and Bedford (three weeks) – with Brisbane great Jonathan Brown expressing concerns for the “fabric of the game” amid the league’s increased focus on a duty of care.
Cameron’s driving tackle on Liam Duggan left the Eagle concussed after he hit the back of his head on the turf. Cameron used his body weight to tackle Duggan, who had both arms pinned, as he was eventually subbed out of the game with concussion.
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The Match Review Officer graded it as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
It came after Cameron controversially escaped suspension for “exemplary record and character” for a tackle on Jake Lever back in Round 5.
Bedford was meanwhile cited for a dangerous chase-down tackle on Tigers star Tim Taranto, who exited Sunday’s clash at the MCG in the fourth term with concussion.
The Giants tagger immediately tackled Taranto from behind after a ruck contest and drove the midfielder into the ground with both arms pinned.
It was graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
While some have argued Bedford had no other options than to execute the tackle the way he did, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson believes he could’ve tweaked his technique – even if it meant Taranto escaped the tackle.
“Maybe it’s a situation where if you think you’re going to put yourself at risk of driving a player into the ground, then you take another option,” he told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“It’s tough and I don’t like thew fact that that’s the case.
“But I think from early on Toby has decided: ‘I’m going to grab this guy and drop my weight on him so I can get him to ground’.
“Unfortunately, Taranto has hit his head on the ground and been concussed. But I think there’s a decision to be made there … he could make another decision and it might not be a great one in terms of whether Taranto can wriggle his way out of it.
“But at least thew concussion goes out of the concussion. That’s the risk with the game and we’re going to have to adjust, unfortunately.”
The Suns were handed two suspensions to Davies (three games) and Malcolm Rosas Jr. (one match).
Davies, playing his first AFL game since Round 11, was banned for colliding with Port Adelaide’s Lachie Jones in Sunday’s match at People First Stadium.
The Suns midfielder charged at Jones when he went down to pick up the ball and made high contact with him. Jones was eventually subbed out of the game with concussion.
It was graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
Source Agencies
