AFL greats have whacked the tribunal after it rejected Nic Naitanui’s appeal against his one-match suspension

SOME said it was a joke, others said they were confused while many felt sorry for the players. Following Nic Naitanui’s tackling ban, AFL greats have lined up to whack the tribunal and MRO. Do you agree? HAVE YOUR SAY

Nic Naitanui was banned for his tackle. Picture: Nic Ellis

FOOTBALL greats have whacked the AFL Tribunal after it rejected Nic Naitanui’s appeal against his one match suspension for a dangerous tackle.

During Wednesday night’s hearing, the AFL argued that players must consider height and weight disparity with opponents when making split-second decisions.

Naitanui, a ruckman, weighs around 20kgs more than Karl Amon, a midfielder.

Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt said players were being asked to think about far too much on the field.

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“I’m confused. I don’t like it,” he said on Fox Footy.

“This was a good football tackle. It was a free kick for in the back at worst.

“But to expect Nic to make that split second decision, to realise it was Karl Amon … they were playing Port Adelaide, what if it was Charlie Dixon? The ramifications would have been entirely different.

“Charlie Dixon weighs 20-kilos heavier. He isn’t going to be as easy to take to ground.

“To expect the player to make that judgment in a split second is completely unrealistic. I think based on what we have seen this year, the body of work from the MRO and the results that have gone certain ways, the (Ryan) Burton one in particular, I’m just confused.”

Speaking after his ban was handed down, Naitanui said he wouldn’t be changing the way he plays.

“I’m not going to change the way I go about things,” he said.

“That’s what brings my aspect of playing the game … it is a physical game at the end of the day, it is a contact sport.

“I’ll just have to keep playing the way I play. It’s just unfortunate that Amon, who was the guy that was tackled in this incident, hit his head in the last little bit of it.”

The tackle divided opinion throughout the week. Here is a snapshot of what some of the greats of the game were saying after the decision was handed down.

BOB MURPHY:

“I wouldn’t have had him miss a week for that.

“How would you be as a player? The night before your game you put your head on the pillow and you ask yourself that little question, how will I answer the challenge tomorrow that the game sometimes throws up where the ball bounces in between me and (my opponent)? What do you do? How are you going to be judged?

“Now they have got this to worry about as well. ‘I’ve still got to get in first. If I don’t, do I bump, do I tackle?’ - Fox Footy

Nic Naitanui leaves his tribunal hearing. Picture: Nic Ellis

M ATTHEW RICHARDSON:

“We are asking players to think far too much now. I just think we’re making it far too hard for them.” - 3AW

DENNIS ARMFIELD:

Wow (Nic Naitanui) keep playing the way you have for so many years mate. Your chases, hard tackles are a spectacle. Big boys should play big, coming from a little guy!

CAMPBELL BROWN:

“Don’t forget what their max bench press might be ...”

W ARREN TREDREA:

“Joke — moral of the story, it doesn’t matter if the tackle is legal, if a player gets concussed you’re gone.”

Obviously disappointed but ain’t no point complaining about it. Starvation/homelessness are real issues. We smile and move on! Happy my boy Fraser McInnes potentially gets an opportunity 😊 #workkkkhorse #RealOne

— Nic Naitanui (@NicNat) May 9, 2018

GRANT THOMAS:

“I’m flabbergasted about Naitanui outcome. I really thought sanity would prevail. It’s inconceivable that he had any deliberate motive or intention to injure Karl. Why doesn’t AFL say you can do anything but if someone is hurt irrespective of the legality of incident you’re gone!”

Don’t reckon Nic Nat could easily turn Amon or calculate his height and weight. He’s really stiff. But at least the new system allowed him to go to the tribunal without getting another week. And we have a precedent tested at the tribunal, harsh as it is.

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) May 9, 2018

M ARK MCCLURE

“Great tackle. Loved it. There should be more of it. They got it wrong.”

DAVID KING:

“Suspend the action, not the outcome. Across the board with everything, if it is the wrong thing to do, it is the wrong thing to do every time.”

Originally published as AFL greats have whacked the tribunal after it rejected Nic Naitanui’s appeal against his one-match suspension