AFL tribunal exposed for lack of consistency again as confusion takes over in umpire touching cases

THERE is a distinct lack of consistency in the tribunal system after it didn’t suspend Ed Curnow for touching an umpire a week after Tom Hawkins was banned for a very similar incident, JON ANDERSON writes, and the AFL was right to lodge an appeal.

Ed Curnow was not suspended despite touching an umpire during Carlton’s win over Essendon.

THAT Ed Curnow could play this week sadly adds confusion to a game that is already burdened under subjectiveness.

No football code has more grey areas in interpretation than ours, part of that being caused by the very nature of a game with no off-side rules.

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But some incidents are surely clear enough to adjudicate such as the Ed Curnow and Tom Hawkins cases in recent weeks where both players INTENTIONALLY touched an umpire.

Ed Curnow was not suspended despite touching an umpire during Carlton’s win over Essendon.

Not so says the tribunal, with Curnow’s actions being deemed careless rather than intentional, and as such he walks after Hawkins copped one.

Hawkins, as he admitted, deserved to cop a week because he had a choice and chose to touch an umpire. The same choice Curnow had when he brushed umpire Nathan Williamson with his right hand.

Tom Hawkins was banned for a similar incident. Herald Sun’s Jon Anderson says there is no consistency at the AFL tribunal when compared to Ed Curnow’s case. Picture: Getty

We demand and expect consistency every day of our lives and the Curnow decision by tribunal members in Wayne Henwood, Jason Johnson and Stewart Loewe wasn’t consistent in my mind.

This morning I wondered where the AFL sat given it has the power to challenge the tribunal decision? This afternoon I got my answer, it is appealing both decisions, but if unsuccessful tomorrow afternoon Hawkins will be left to rightly wonder what the differences were.

It is Ed’s case that presents the biggest issue because in Charlie’s case, I accept that his actions were careless and he was unaware that the person he touched was umpire Matt Stevic.

Ummmmm

— Mitch Duncan (@mitchduncan22) May 15, 2018

😂 pic.twitter.com/usGEpXh7rA

— Nic Naitanui (@NicNat) May 15, 2018

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