More than half of cases decided by Match Review Officer Michael Christian this year overturned or downgraded at tribunal

A former match review panel member says players are more willing to ‘run the gauntlet’ at the tribunal this year, with more than half the cases heard decided in their favour.

GWS ruckman Shane Mumford had his strike downgraded at the tribunal. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

If you’re an AFL player cited by Match Review Officer Michael Christian this year, you’d be mad not to go to the tribunal.

Once a graveyard for player’s hopes of an acquittal, the tribunal has become a happy place.

Of the nine tribunal cases this year, five have had their suspensions wiped out or watered down.

Shane Mumford (striking), Mason Cox (rough conduct) and Gary Ablett (striking) have had their bans thrown in the bin, while Dustin Martin (striking) and Taylin Duman (striking) walked out with their two-game bans cut to one.

It begs the question, is the 55 per cent tribunal success rate for players deemed worthy of a ban by Christian undermining his credibility?

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“On the face of it, it’s probably not a good look because people will say ‘He said this and they’ve turned around and given something else, so someone has to be wrong’,” former match review panel member Nathan Burke said.

“But when you dig into it a bit deeper, the MRO is making decisions based purely on vision and medical reports. That’s the only evidence he’s got.

“When they go to tribunal they’ve got what the player was thinking, what he’s doing and other people around them. There’s a different set of evidence these guys are making their decision on.”

Max Cox speaks to media after his rough conduct charge was thrown out. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

Once a rare event, this year the tribunal is on as often as a Game Of Thrones episode as players put Christian’s findings to the test on a near-weekly basis.

Clearly, risking a $10,000 fine at the tribunal is much more appealing than losing your discount for an early plea.

“When we were doing it I think we had two challenges for the year in 2017. The AFL were rapt about that because it cost them heaps to put the tribunal on so they thought it was fantastic,” Burke said.

“When they were risking the week, the players wouldn’t do it. There was a whole bunch of disgruntled players out there and when you spoke to them privately they were fuming.

“What we’re seeing now is players are going to the tribunal now because they’re affronted with being tagged with intentionally hitting people in the head. It’s not just about getting off and playing next week.

“Now that they’ve lapsed it slightly, people are running the gauntlet. It’s not an automatic $10,000 either. It’s at the discretion of the tribunal.”

All of which means Christian might have one of the toughest jobs in the game. One made more difficult, according to Burke, by the AFL not providing clarity.

“I feel sorry for ‘Chrisso’ in some ways because the AFL don’t educate the public very well at all,” he said.

“You know what? Most media and ex-players in the media are very lazy. They don’t know the rules.”

The Herald Sun approached Christian for comment, but the AFL declined.

GWS ruckman Shane Mumford had his strike downgraded at the tribunal. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

TRIBUNAL WINNERS AND LOSERS

WINNERS

Shane Mumford — Pre-season

MRO — One week striking

Tribunal — $3000 fine

Intentional strike of Sydney’s George Hewett downgraded to careless

Mason Cox — Round 2

MRO — One week for

Tribunal — $3000 fine

Intentional rough conduct against Tiger Dylan Grimes downgraded to careless conduct

Dustin Martin — Round 3

MRO — Two weeks striking

Tribunal — One week

Intentional strike to head of Matt de Boer downgraded to low impact

Taylin Duman — Round 5

MRO — two weeks

Tribunal — one week

Intentional conduct with medium impact to head of Lachie Whitfield downgraded to “medium to low”

Gary Ablett — Round 7

MRO — One week striking

Tribunal — $2000 fine

Intentional strike on Dylan Shiel downgraded to careless

Jack Riewoldt leaves the tribunal after his $1000 fine for misconduct was increased to $1500. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross.

LOSERS

— Jack Riewoldt (Richmond, misconduct) — $1000 fine increased to $1500

— Luke McDonald (North Melbourne, rough conduct) — One-game ban upheld

— Steven May (Melbourne, rough conduct) — One-game ban upheld

— Taylor Walker (Adelaide, rough conduct) — $3000 fine upheld

Originally published as More than half of cases decided by Match Review Officer Michael Christian this year overturned or downgraded at tribunal