Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott reveals views on dangerous tackles in AFL

Cats coach Chris Scott fears the AFL may have a tough time completely getting rid of dangerous tackles in the game after a multitude of suspensions in the opening five weeks of the season.

18-04-2023 Geelong Cats open training at GMHBA Stadium. Gary Rohan. Picture: Brad Fleet

Cats coach Chris Scott fears the AFL may have a tough time completely getting rid of dangerous tackles in the game after a multitude of suspensions in the opening five weeks of the season.

Geelong has already been on the receiving end of one of the suspensions, with forward Gary Rohan missing round 5’s clash with West Coast after copping a one-week ban for rough conduct against Hawthorn the week prior.

Gary Rohan was suspended in round 4 for a dangerous tackle against Hawthorn. Picture: Dylan Burns

Scott said there was “no excuse” anymore for not understanding the new direction of the league.

“I think our level of understanding is good around it, but it is one of those areas that really difficult,” he said.

“It’s going to be hard to completely stamp it out of the game because it is a situation that is so dependent on how the ball carrier reacts in the situation.

“The AFL has been really clear that the duty of care is on the tackler, they’ve given us some really worthwhile cues, like if you have the ball carrier’s arms pinned you need to be really careful.

“Broadly our instructions to our players are that if you’re going to take a tackle to ground you need to be careful, the onus is on you.

“It’s no good coming away saying ‘I was unaware’.

Gary Rohan will return this week for the Cats, replacing the injured Tyson Stengle. Picture: Brad Fleet

“You might be unlucky but that’s no excuse.”

The increased scrutiny on tackling form has come as a number of former players, including Geelong great Gary Ablett senior, have come forward with intentions to sue the AFL and specific clubs over damage suffered from concussions and the alleged negligence shown.

Just in round 5, GWS ball magnet Tom Green, Bombers skipper Zach Merrett, and Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams were all suspended for dangerous tackles, with both Merrett and Adams failing to overturn their bans at the tribunal.

Zach Merrett will miss the ANZAC Day clash against Collingwood because of a suspension he received for a dangerous tackle in round 5. Michael Klein

Scott said there was “still a place for strong, physical, aggressive, hard contact” without adding a secondary motion to dump players.

“I think there’s always going to be anomalies in our game, it’s a complicated game to play,” he said.

“It’s really difficult to umpire, I think we see situations that, even with the benefit of multiple replays and slow motion, it’s still hard to get a feel for what the right decision is and what you can and can’t do.

“There will be mistakes made I think, but that’s just a quirk of our game that we have to accept.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott reveals views on dangerous tackles in AFL