AFL round 13: Chris Scott and Damien Hardwick defend Tom Stewart as debate rages over bump

Chris Scott has warned the AFL risks making a “massive change to the game” if Tom Stewart is suspended for his bump on Gold Coast captain Noah Anderson. HAVE YOUR SAY

Gold Coast star Noah Anderson was last night sent to hospital for precautionary scans after a bone-rattling clash with Geelong’s Tom Stewart.

And no sooner had Suns coach Damien Hardwick stressed his skipper had not suffered a concussion, his Cats counterpart Chris Scott launched an impassioned defence of his champ’s role in the thunderous collision that resulted in Anderson being helped from GMHBA Stadium late in Geelong’s 24-point win.

The results of Anderson’s chest scans will invariably play a key role in the direction of the post-match story.

But Scott took a proactive stance with what he described as “strong thoughts” on the clash in which Stewart ran past the ball to deliver a classic “hip and shoulder” that levelled his opponent, but at no stage hit Anderson high.

Tom Stewart bump on Noah Anderson

“The AFL has done a really good job over the years of shifting the zeitgeist around, the way you should approach contests like that,” Scott said.

“Anyone that understands the modern game would be really impressed with the way (Stewart) approached that contact — the early decision to come forward (at) full speed, looking to win the ball first; then, when you can’t win the ball, and this is the part the AFL has been really clear with … you have a duty of care to the oncoming player.

“If you’re in a position where contact is unavoidable, you need to be very, very careful – (with) cues like, do everything you can to avoid head contact, don’t leave the ground, turn your body to protect yourself.

“Any kind of malice or intent to hurt the other guy or hit him in the head and you’re in big trouble. But if it’s a protective action, where contact’s inevitable and you don’t get him in the head, then you’ve done everything you can.”

Scott said he felt for Anderson, but said if the AFL was true to its position as he understood it — and even if the popular Sun had broken ribs — it would not warrant a fine or suspension for Stewart.

“I thought his duty of care to Noah was as good as it could have been, and he was good enough to hit him in the body,” Scott said.

“But if they change the rules and say, `If you make body contact with a hip and shoulder and you hurt the body (and he gets suspended), that’s a massive change to the game.

“I don’t think we’re currently in that stage.”

Hardwick displayed no animosity towards Stewart.

“At the end of the day, the game’s combative (and) accidents happen on the footy field, so it’s one of those things,” he said.

“Ideally, we’d love Noah to keep playing, but … it’s within the rules (and you’re) still allowed to bump and it was a reasonable hit, a solid hit and he’s a big boy, Tom.”

Originally published as AFL round 13: Chris Scott and Damien Hardwick defend Tom Stewart as debate rages over bump