AFL tells clubs to inform players they could be banned for a dangerous push
The AFL says players risk suspension if they push an opponent into a marking contest despite a Collingwood star’s view that the game is at risk of going soft.
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The AFL has warned players could be guilty of rough conduct for pushing opponents into marking contests as Pies ruckman Darcy Cameron warned the game would go “soft” by suspending players for those incidents.
Cameron was involved in the incident that saw Kieren Briggs hospitalised with concussion and neck soreness after the Pies ruckman had his hands in his opponent’s back as he stumbled.
GWS defender Sam Taylor threw himself into the pack and eventually collected his Giants teammate, with the AFL taking no action against Cameron.
But AFL executive football boss Laura Kane wrote to clubs ahead of opening round to tell them the league was on watch for dangerous incidents.
“Recently, there has been discussion regarding pushes into marking contests,” Kane wrote.
“We will continue to umpire these instances as we have previously where a free kick will be awarded if a) a player unduly pushes their opponent in a marking contest or b) If a player pushes their opponent in the back in a marking contest.”
“Please note such conduct may also be subject to a charge of rough conduct as a reportable offence, if it constitutes a breach of the duty of care owed by the player to their opponent. Please inform your players of this ahead of your first match,” the memo stated.
Cameron told this masthead from the rooms on Sunday he felt for Briggs and extended his thoughts to the ruckman and his family.
Recent incidents saw West Coast’s Reuben Ginbey, Adelaide’s Dan Curtin and Port Adelaide’s Jordan Sweet avoiding sanction for pushing or nudging players into the contest.
Cameron’s eyes were on the ball and Briggs stumbled forward, with the 2024 breakout star conscious of Briggs’ diagnosis but adamant he did little wrong.
“I don’t think we need to change (the rule), I don’t think there is a worry there. Sometimes the arms slip up, and they make contact and players get hit so many times. If we start taking those things out of the game, the game goes soft in a way,” he said.
“I didn’t even realise I got him until I saw the big screen but my thoughts go out to him and his friends and family. You don’t want to see the stretcher come out.
But it is my craft, I am trying to stay close to him, I was almost on top of him in the end but it is pretty scary to see the cart come out but I am glad he’s OK,” he said.
“There are footy accidents and some things you can’t control. That is with injuries as well. Injuries and knocks. We want to protect the players but we can’t take the game away either.”
Briggs was initially diagnosed with a neck injury but coach Adam Kingsley said post-match he had been put into the concussion protocols.
Cameron has a contract to the end of 2026 but given his starring performances and runner-up finish in the Copeland Trophy he has suitors including West Coast.
He said on Sunday he was keen to stay at the Pies, content to leave any extension to his manager.
“Asked if he was keen to stay he replied: “Of course, Collingwood has been a great place for me. They took me in five years ago but my manager is working through that at the moment
“I let my manager do that, I still have a contract to the end of next year so I want to focus my attention on my footy.”
For Cameron the month of watching on during September was agonising given his key role in the premiership run of 2023.
“I want to build on (my form), I don’t want to be sitting watching finals again,” he said.
“That September went for a very long time, sitting and watching it. It was very depressing as those weeks went on. The extra two weeks of pre-season didn’t help either.”
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Collingwood can breathe a sigh of relief, for now.
Nick Daicos has Pies fans reaching for the rosary beads throughout the entire second half as he limped his way to the conclusion of a 52-point hammering at the hands of GWS.
But Collingwood coach Craig McRae confirmed it was just cramping that impacted the star midfielder and nothing more sinister.
“We were aware that Nick was cramping at halftime,” McRae said.
“I think he’s pulled up fine. It’s just a matter of now getting himself ready (for next week).”
Daicos was moved forward late in the third term and throughout the fourth as McRae tried to ease the load on teammates.
“We tried to take him out of the middle and let him get the minutes through,” he said.
“If he comes off the ground then there’s another load for others. Within reason we tried to look after him and look after others.”
It negated his impact on the rest of the contest with just four disposals in the second half after amassing 17 possessions through the first two quarters.
The use of a substitution was ruled out with Will Hoskin-Elliott taken out of the game midway through the third.
“Unfortunately Will had a sore back at halftime and we tried to see if we could get some more minutes out of him, but we had to reshuffle from that,” he said.
“It’s pretty hard to play this game when you’ve got a stiff back. We were probably going to make that call a bit earlier, but we just wanted to see it out. At that stage of the game it was in the balance.
“I think he should be fine.”
One certain casualty for next week is GWS ruck Kieren Briggs, who was taken from the field with a nasty concussion suffered in the opening term.
Adam Kingsley confirmed he was out for their trip to Melbourne but remained in good spirits on his condition moving forward.
“He was (knocked) out for a little bit so he’ll go through the protocols,” Kingsley said.
“He’s gone to Westmead (Hospital) as a precaution but I think he’s okay. Obviously it was a nasty incident. He’ll miss next week.”
The incident occurred in a pack mark, but Kingsley didn’t buy into the debate if Collingwood’s Darcy Cameron contributed to the injury.
“I didn’t see the actual contest. I saw Sam Taylor flying backwards,” he said.
“That was what caught my eye. I don’t know if he was pushed or not.”
Originally published as AFL tells clubs to inform players they could be banned for a dangerous push
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