Lion Hugh McCluggage accused of staging in Dangerfield tackle

The AFL has handed down its findings from Saturday’s thrilling preliminary final, including a contentious Patrick Dangerfield tackle.

Some AFL greats are deeply divided on a contentious tackle during Brisbane’s comeback victory over Geelong as the league avoided a potential grand final week controversy.

Early in the third quarter of the Lions’ stirring 10-point win at the MCG, Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield pinned the arms of Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage when he was in possession and drove him towards the ground.

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McCluggage’s head made contact with the turf and he threw his hands up towards his face before being awarded a free kick.

Once the whistle was blown, the Brisbane midfielder jumped straight to his feet and demanded the footy.

Cats coach Chris Scott was seen in the box reacting with shock to the decision, seemingly hoping his side would be awarded a holding the ball call.

Dangerfield pinned McCluggage’s arms. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

And drove him towards the ground. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

With Brisbane storming home for a 14.11 (95) to 12.13 (85) triumph in front of 93,066 people, the Lions are through to the grand final and Dangerfield’s fate became a moot point.

As it turns out, the AFL released its match review findings on Sunday afternoon and Dangerfield was hit with two charges.

The veteran was reported for rough conduct on McCluggage plus a striking charge on Josh Dunkley, but both were only given fines totalling $5625, so he would have been free to play in the grand final if the Cats had qualified.

Prior to the ruling, footy fans and the panel on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show had a range of views on the tackle itself and who was at fault.

“We would’ve been dealing with a massive Match Review Officer, Tribunal, Appeals Tribunal situation during this week if Geelong won this game,” reporter Damian Barrett began.

“This tackle in the third quarter of Paddy Dangerfield on Hugh McCluggage. A free kick was awarded against Dangerfield for a dangerous tackle.

“You can all have your own judgments and views on it. We’ve seen players suspended for that.”

Ex-Richmond and Bulldogs forward Nathan Brown felt strongly that McCluggage had made the most of the incident and made a split-second call to “exaggerate the contact”.

The Lion reached for his head as soon as it made contact with the turf. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

“As soon as he gets the whistle he’s straight up,” Brown said.

“Hugh McCluggage, for me, he exaggerated the contact. I don’t think there was any contact with his head at all.

“I’d be looking at Hugh McCluggage as almost a fine. You cannot rub out Patrick Dangerfield for that.”

Barrett then added: “This would have been the story of the week. They’ve dodged a bullet with that they do with this decision now.

“It could go either way and we’ve seen players suspended for that type of tackle.”

Kane Cornes agreed with that take, stating the AFL had created an issue for itself.

“That’s the point, we’ve seen players suspended for that type of tackle, but that’s the problem that the AFL has created,” he said.

“There is room in this game just for a free kick. For me that’s just a free kick and nothing more to see.

“You cannot have a player miss a grand final for that.”

Chris Scott was hoping for a different whistle.

When it was put to Brown that his take was unreasonable, he replied: “Players have got to stop playing for free kicks in tackles.”

The reality is a number of players have ended up worse for wear after similar tackles to the one performed by Dangerfield, with concussions and subsequent suspensions common place.

Dangerfield already had a rough-conduct charge thrown out at the tribunal this season for a tackle on Carlton’s Sam Walsh.

GWS’ Toby Bedford and Lion Charlie Cameron were both initially suspended for tackles that concussed Tim Taranto and Liam Duggan respectively, but both were overturned on appeal.

Matthew Lloyd felt Dangerfield could have been in trouble regardless of the outcome.

“He does hit his head. The other argument is, if he gets concussed there, he’s gone for three weeks,” the Bombers champion said of McCluggage.

Liam Duggan was concussed in this tackle but Charlie Cameron escaped suspension. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“That would’ve been looked at heavily and I still think Dangerfield could go despite McCluggage got up and played on.”

Most footy fans on social media disagreed with Brown and felt McCluggage had clearly hit his head on the MCG surface.

One wrote: “I’ve seen a lot of staging free kicks. This isn’t one of them.”

Another stated: “Worst take ever. While some have staged, that wasn’t. One week for Danger.”

A third wrote: “Poor McCluggage’s head bounces off the ground after that tackle … surely he’s reacting to the pain and not staging. Bit tough boys.”

A fourth added simply: “His head literally bounced on the deck???”

The AFL will still release its review of the incident later on Sunday and a suspension could impact the Geelong captain’s start to the 2025 season.

Either way, Brisbane’s win ensured there would be no grand final week controversy involving one of the game’s biggest stars.

Originally published as Lion Hugh McCluggage accused of staging in Dangerfield tackle