AFL backs Michael Christian to remain the league’s match review officer
Michael Christian has carried football’s toughest job for the past two years. However, what will the league’s tribunal structure look like in 2020? Jay Clark reveals all.
The AFL has backed in Michael Christian to head up the league’s match review operations for a third season.
Christian will remain in one of footy’s most difficult jobs dishing out punishments for players’ ill-disciplined acts.
The AFL tonight confirmed Christian would work “in conjunction” with football operations boss Steve Hocking on the review of each game.
The league has supported Christian’s work in the position, in particular, helping curb the number of gut punches and high strikes on the field last season.
The number of high strike incidents was down from 52 last year to 31 in 2019, body strikes fell from 48 to 36, while the number of rough conduct charges dropped from 32 to 16 this year.
Overall, 26 players were suspended in 2019, down from 35 in 2018.
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In total, only 28 matches were lost through suspension last season, again down significantly from 65 in 2018.
But there is expected to be a tweak to footy’s judicial structure for 2019 to help create more separation between the match review officer operations and the tribunal system.
Previously, both fell under football operations manager Hocking.
The tribunal system is set to be brought under head of legal Andrew Dillon for 2020, ensuring absolute independence and separation between the two.
The AFL has long maintained there is no crossover or interference between the match review and tribunal.
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Hocking said there needed to be a clear line drawn between the match review operations and the separate process of the tribunal system.
“The systems and processes that underpin the operations of the MRO and the independent AFL tribunal are fundamental to the AFL and AFLW competitions,” Hocking said.
“This revised model will see the roles of the match review officer and the AFL tribunal governed separately, ensuring our processes continue to progress with the trends of our game.”
AFL TRIBUNAL 2019
— 92% of Players charged with a reportable offence accepted the charge.
— 19 tribunal hearings were held, compared with 27 in 2018.
— One case was not sustained at the tribunal, compared with six in 2018.
— One case was appealed, as against two in 2018.
— 26 players were suspended, as against 35 in 2018.
— 28 matches were lost through suspension, compared with 65 in 2018.
— $178,000 in low-level financial sanctions imposed, compared with $161,000 in 2018.
— $106,000 in fixed financial sanctions imposed, as against $209,000 in 2018.
— 36 charges laid for body strikes, compared with 48 in 2018.
— 32 charges laid for high strikes, compared with 51 in 2018.
— 16 charges laid for rough conduct (high bumps), compared with 32 in 2018.
— 19 charges laid for umpire contact, compared with 44 in 2018.
Originally published as AFL backs Michael Christian to remain the league’s match review officer
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