AFL ticks off umpire warning to Adam Kennedy to stop targeting hurt Lion Charlie Cameron

It was the contentious umpire warning that polarised the football community. But Shaun Ryan’s directive to Adam Kennedy not to interfere with injured Lion Charlie Cameron has been given the tick of approval.

Charlie Cameron of the Lions leaves the field in pain.

The AFL has ticked off unpires Ryan’s intervention, believing he had used appropriate discretion in warning him about striking Cameron.

Football boss Steve Hocking told the Herald Sun under the league rules Ryan had made the right move in warning Cameron rather than paying a free kick.

He said the league was happy the umpire used the provisions in its own laws to ensure Kennedy did not continue punching Cameron.

“Part of an umpire’s role is to ensure the game is played within the spirit of true sportsmanship, we’re strong on that. Field umpire Shaun Ryan’s management of the situation during Saturday night’s game has our full support,” he said.

Yet it was the warnings and coaching of players by the whistleblowers that most agitated some viewers on Saturday night, even though the umpires are following instructions from head office.

“Do not be knocking his arm, OK? You’ve been warned,” Ryan told Kennedy.

“You knock his arm, it’s against the spirit of the game, OK? If you continually knock his arm, I will pay a free kick. You’vebeen warned, I’ve told you.”

Charlie Cameron reacts after a heavy tackle.

Ryan used an AFL rule about not interfering with injured players to tell Kennedy not to keep whacking and jabbing Cameron’s injured elbow.

While Cameron had returned to the action after an elbow injury that appeared to see the joint dislocate, he clearly was still in pain.

Clearly there is a grey area given many players still strap areas of their bodies but are seen as fair game.

Ex-St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said the infiltration of on-field “umpire coaching” is ruining the finals.

“I just find it extraordinary some of the things I hear said during a game of football by the umpires,” Thomas said this week.

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But AFL legend Leigh Matthews said Ryan had behaved appropriately.

“Let’s use Charlie Cameron as a specific example. You should be able to do anything to Charlie Cameron you could do if you were fully fit,” Matthews told Channel 7 on Sunday.

“They know he has got a sore elbow. you can’t punch a good elbow let alone a sore elbow.

“But if you are going to tackle him and you can bury him with that side of the body you can do it.

The umpire handled it well. He said if you are going to keep belting him off the ball into his elbow I am going to free kick you.You shouldn’t be able to do that to a fully fit elbow.”

THE INCIDENT

The extraordinary warning to Giant Adam Kennedy to stop hitting Cameron’s sore elbow left commentators and fans stunned.

Cameron suffered a nasty-looking elbow injury early in last night’s semi-final against the Giants and played through the pain.

In the second quarter Kennedy appeared to target Cameron’s injured right arm, which had earlier been strapped on the Lions’ bench.

Microphones picked up umpire Shaun Ryan’s stern message for Kennedy.

“Do not be knocking his arm, OK? You’ve been warned,” Ryan said to the Giants defender.

“You knock his arm, it’s against the spirit of the game, OK? If you continually knock his arm, I will pay a free kick. You’ve been warned, I’ve told you.”

Speaking at halftime, GWS veteran Brett Deledio told Channel 7: “I didn’t know that was a rule, but if it is we have to educate ourselves on it.”

AFL rule 17.12(e) states: “A free kick shall be awarded against a player who makes unreasonable or uneccesary contact with an injured opposition player.”

GWS veteran Heath Shaw believed players on the field were fair game.

“If you’re on the ground you just play the game. Yeah, that was harsh by ‘Kenners’ (Adam Kennedy) there, pushing him. He’s a thug,” Shaw told Channel 7 sarcastically.

“Obviously there’s been some instances in the past, but I don’t think Kenners is doing anything too untoward there.

“There was a few discussions with the umpires.”

Triple premiership Cat Cameron Ling said Cameron was “fair game” after he opted to return to the field after copping the injury, while legendary Tiger Matthew Richardson said the game is “not tiddly winks”.

“He’s allowed to have a little bit of touch on him,” Richardson told Channel 7.

“The umpire doesn’t need to be involved in that. Just get involved if it’s a clear free kick — otherwise just stay out of it.”

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Collingwood premiership hero Mick McGuane tweeted: “Please ... this is AFL footy in a cut-throat final with a lot at stake. If an opposition player is on the ground it’s ‘fair play’. Finals is about testing both mind and body ... give me a spell.”

Former Essendon captain Jobe Watson added: “Would the umpire have given the feedback had there not been an injury occurred? Cameron’s been injured but he’s on the ground. He’s able to be hit by his opponent.”

Players have attacted scrutiny for targetting injured opponents, including Saint Steven Baker punching Steve Johnson’s injured hand and Bulldog Steve Kretiuk knocking Matthew Lloyd’s finger in 2002, but free kicks were not paid on the field during the game.

Umpire told Kennedy not to knock Cameron's arm because "it's against the spirit of the game"#AFLLionsGiants pic.twitter.com/lrCCGq8aG7

— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 14, 2019

Tonight’s semi-final was barely a minute old when Cameron’s right arm was caught between opponent Jacob Hopper and teammate Lachie Neale and appeared to snap the wrong way.

The All-Australian forward, who has kicked 55 goals this year, immediately fell to the ground clutching his arm in agony. He was then helped from the ground by trainers.

Cameron was quickly strapped up on the bench and miraculously returned to the field midway through the first quarter.

Charlie Cameron left the field for treatment in the opening minutes of the first quarter against the Giants.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/Bfn64l5AGL

— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) September 14, 2019

Channel 7 commentator Luke Darcy said: “We saw Charlie Cameron’s arm go in a direction no arm should go.”

But Cameron remarkably returned to the forward line and, despite appearing unable to use one arm, snapped a goal from the boundary line.

Charlie Cameron is helped off the Gabba.

Brisbane led at quarter-time after an incident-packed opening, with one of the league’s biggest villains again at the centre of hte action.

Firebrand Toby Greene kicked the opening goal of the game, sparking a melee in the Giants goalsquare.

The umpire found a free kick in the push and shove that resulted in an easy goal to Jeremy Finlayson without the ball returning to the centre.

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Greene has also been involved in a fiery scuffle with Lions veteran Luke Hodge, while Lion Nick Robertson gave away a 50m penalty for flooring Lachie Whitfield.

Toby Greene kicked the first goal, then a free kick was paid to Jeremy Finlayson for a second goal.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/UMHNTN44K1

— AFL (@AFL) September 14, 2019

The Giants kicked the first four goals of the match in the opening eight minutes before Jarrod Berry registered the home side’s first major to spark a Brisbane revival.

The lead changed 10 times during a pulsating game before the Giants claimed a thrilling three-point win to book a spot against Collingwood in the preliminary final next Saturday.

- with Al Paton

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Originally published as AFL ticks off umpire warning to Adam Kennedy to stop targeting hurt Lion Charlie Cameron