North Melbourne star Shaun Higgins urges AFL and players to eradicate punching from the game
WITH Andrew Gaff's brutal hit on Andrew Brayshaw raising the issue of punching in the AFL, one North Melbourne star says the League needs to do more to eradicate the practice.
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NORTH Melbourne star Shaun Higgins says the AFL has lost ground in the war against on-field violence, urging the league to act to stamp out punches.
In the wake of Eagle Andrew Gaff's brutal strike on Docker Andrew Brayshaw, Higgins said all punches should attract a suspension.
Fines in the current age simply did not match the crime, he said.
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The ball player said umpires also needed to better police off-the-ball incidents, to mitigate the potential for players to lash out.
He believed it was possible to eradicate punching completely.
“Clearly we don’t want to see that in the game,” Higgins said.
“Players need to lead that charge and the AFL need to lead that charge as well, because it’s mainly in their hands of what the outcome would be as a result of punches being thrown.
“There’s a number of things that happen off ball as well, and I think we can get better at looking after that player and try to eliminate the brain fades on the back off that.
“It’s still a contact sport, it’s a physical sport but I think punching we can definitely eradicate from the game.
“Bumping and trying to get mentally on top of the opposition and physically trying to impose yourself is still part and parcel with the game, but definitely there’s a line there and it’s probably been crossed a number of times this year.
“It’s not ok because you still get fined, but whether that fine now needs to turn into suspension, that’s something the AFL will look at.”
Gaff copped the biggest suspension in a decade on Tuesday night, sidelined for eight matches for a punch that smashed Brayshaw's jaw but which he said was aimed at his chest.
On-field behaviour was on the agenda at the AFL club chief executives conference on Wednesday, where football boss Steve Hocking detailed proposed "spirit of the game" initiatives and positive feedback from coaches.
Proposed reforms include moves to eliminate punches, elbows, unnecessary niggle off the ball, pushing and shoving and acts aimed at humiliating opponents.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has led the charge against unsportsmanlike behaviour, with coaches to be encouraged to champion changes.
Asked if there should be a mandatory suspension if you throw a punch, Higgins said: “I think it’s probably going to get to that stage. I would agree with that.”
“We probably went down that path 12 to 18 months ago, and then we’ve sort of back-tracked a little bit for whatever reason,” Higgins said.
“I would imagine that most players and the AFL and clubs would agree that there’s no place in the game for punches being thrown.”
The North Melbourne midfielder has regularly been targeted by opposing teams and the close attention this season has sometimes spiralled out of control, including when Gold Coast Suns co-captain Steven May was fined for striking Higgins in the stomach in Round 16.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has previously said Higgins “gets tagged, he gets buffeted, he gets a lot of attention and just fights his way through it consistently”.
Teammate Todd Goldstein acknowledged “they go after Shaun most weeks now - there have been a number of times, there were a few off-the-ball incidents against Fremantle (in round 10)”.
Higgins is expected to return to take on the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, just 13 days after minor knee surgery. He had a knee arthroscope after North Melbourne’s Round 19 clash with West Coast and has only done a light jogging session since.
He will test his knee at training on Thursday, but is on track to take on his old club in a major boost for the Kangaroos who need to keep winning if they’re any chance to play finals.
“I’m really optimistic (about playing),” Higgins said.
“I had some cartilage that was locking the knee joint, so I had some cartilage removed and some bone taken out as well.
“I’ve done everything to the letter so far.“I’ll look to train ... that’s why it’ll be a pretty significant tick for me to play on the weekend.”
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Originally published as North Melbourne star Shaun Higgins urges AFL and players to eradicate punching from the game