Sydney’s Luke Parker cleared for high hit on Jarman Impey

SYDNEY star Luke Parker is free to play Fremantle next weekend after the AFL’s match review officer found he had no case to answer following his front-on bump on Hawk Jarman Impey. WATCH AND HAVE YOUR SAY

Luke Parker's bump on Jarman Impey.

SYDNEY star Luke Parker has been cleared of any wrongdoing for his front-on bump on Hawk Jarman Impey.

The AFL’s Match Review Officer, Michael Christian, today released his findings on the contentious issue which has divided the football world since Friday night’s clash at the MCG.

“It was the view of the MRO that Parker was contesting the ball and had no realistic alternative way to contest the ball,” an AFL statement read.

No charges have been laid from last night’s game. pic.twitter.com/5hnIDR3p2M

— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2018

Parker was placed on report after he collected Impey with his back/shoulder as the Hawk attempted to collect the footy.

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Parker had his body turned to protect himself but Impey went in head first and was thrown backwards by the impact.

The Hawk required medical assistance on the field and left in the hands of trainers with blood streaming from his head.

The collision, which occurred in the final term, drew immediate comparisons to the Cotchin-Shiel clash.

While the bump was compared to Trent Cotchin’s high contact with Dylan Shiel in last year’s preliminary final, Christian said the Cotchin incident was not referred to during deliberations.

“I don’t think there’s many similarities (with the Cotchin incident) to be honest,” Christian said on ABC radio.

“This one’s more front on. Certainly in deliberations, that hasn’t been part of the discussion.”

Luke Parker's bump on Jarman Impey.

Parker said he was attacking the ball with the correct technique to protect himself.

“I collected him obviously pretty hard but, it’s a tough one, I’ll have to watch the vision but my view was that I kind of turned my body to protect myself as I took the ball, I had my hands on the ball,” he said.

“The main thing is he’s okay. He was all good after the game.

“We’ll just have to wait and see but my view was I turned and tried to do the correct technique to take the ball and turn.”

The Parker incident has drawn comparisons to Trent Cotchin’s bump on Dylan Shiel in the preliminary final last year.

When asked whether there was some confusion for players regarding bumping and tackling given recent match review decision, Parker told Fox Footy: “It’s a tough one, it’s a split-second decision.

“For me, I’m not going to stop attacking the football and in my view I tried to go the correct technique.

“We’ll see how it pans out.”

The report sparked immediate debate among former players.

St Kilda great Leigh Montagna said “there is no way Parker can get suspended” for that incident.

Jarman Impey is helped by Hawthorn trainers after the bump. Picture: Getty

“He goes hard for the ball with perfect technique, while Impey leads with his head,” he wrote on social media.

“It’s unfortunate and I hope Impey is OK but if Parker gets rubbed out for this players can no longer tackle aggressively or now go for the ball aggressively.”

Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown believes Parker shouldn’t be suspended as he had no other alterative.

“I would lean towards the benefit of the doubt for Parker simply because I think it was a bang, bang, he was going for the football,” he said.

“He was marginally late ... but there’s not a lot in it. He didn’t run past the football, he was going for the football.

“What are the alternatives for Parker to do? Does Parker slow up and just not go into that contest? That’s against the spirit of the game.”

Impey left the field with blood coming from his head.

Christian was criticised by West Coast coach Adam Simpson for his handling of Nic Naitanui’s report after he went on telling radio saying it was “the easiest that I’ve had to adjudicate on” before the case had been heard by the tribunal.

Christian backed the AFL’s decision to be open.

“In my involvement over the last three years in the match review panel, we’re an independent body and we were told not to make comment about any decision for fear it might prejudice the tribunal,” Christian said.

“Steve Hocking has taken a different approach with that, with a view he would like decisions explained.

“We understand not everyone’s going to agree, 100 per cent of the people aren’t going to agree with all of the decisions, but at least if you can explain the decision then it helps people understand.

“ ... I think it’s a really good idea.

“Whether I make a comment ... about whether Nic Naitanui should or shouldn’t be suspended or whether someone else makes a comment, the reality is it’s up to those three tribunal members to make a call on the evidence that is presented at the tribunal hearing.”

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Luke Parker in strife for that. Impey has his head over the ball, no duty of care and smashes in. Medium impact is a week, low impact is a fine

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) May 11, 2018

Not a lot of time to weigh it all up and pull out of the contest if you are Luke Parker. Already trying to turn his body here as he goes in for ball. Impey totally unprotected. pic.twitter.com/9QggVuCynE

— Jay Clark (@ClarkyHeraldSun) May 11, 2018

Luke Parker just has to take the video of the Cotchin bump to the tribunal. Then just sit back and run his hands gleefully. #AFLHawksSwans

— Tim Caterson (@TimCato16) May 11, 2018

If Luke Parker gets done for that bump, @tcotchin9 should’ve gotten at least a fine for this ‘bump’ on Shiel and there could be a different result in the grand final #AFL #AFLHawksSwans #donewiththissport pic.twitter.com/gxtOzfsJE6

— Joseph Iramiyan (@Joseph_Iramiyan) May 11, 2018

Originally published as Sydney’s Luke Parker cleared for high hit on Jarman Impey