Alastair Clarkson’s defence of Ryan Burton’s bump is baffling, writes Mark Robinson

ALASTAIR Clarkson wants shrugging out of the game to save players from concussion, yet he is OK with players getting knocked out in head clashes. It doesn’t make sense, writes MARK ROBINSON.

Ryan Burton knocks out Shaun Higgins with a heavy bump. Picture: AAP

ALASTAIR Clarkson is a booming voice on Australian rules.

He is arguably the most influential coach since Leigh Matthews and Kevin Sheedy.

Matthews is a legend of the AFL Hall of Fame and Sheedy arguably should be the next legend.

If they were to carry portfolios, Matthews would be the Minister for Clear Thinking and Common Sense and Sheedy the Minister for Pioneering and Indigenous Affairs.

Clarkson right now is the Minister for Irony.

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For all his clout and wisdom on the modern game, Clarkson has been shown himself to be self-serving with his recent commentary on perhaps the most threatening and frightening aspect confronting football from the highest level down to under-12s — and that’s concussion.

He needs to be heard and even lead the debate, but I’m confused about his position.

One day he says Joel Selwood needs to be protected from concussion because of Selwood’s propensity to shrug and roll the shoulders.

Selwood’s had 10 concussions, he said, which angered the Geelong football department, including coach Chris Scott, who said the real figure was three.

On another day, Clarkson defends Ryan Burton whose bump knocked out Shaun Higgins.

Ryan Burton set to bump Shaun Higgins, which led to the Roos being carried off ona stretcher. Picture: AAP

Burton had the choice to tackle and didn’t and Higgins was carted off on a stretcher.

Most of the football world would be confused by the decision not to suspend Burton.

Ad nauseum, the AFL has told us the head is sacrosanct.

But the rules are not black and white.

In Round 2, 2014, Nathan Fyfe was given a two-game suspension for a bump on Michael Rischitell, which created a storm about what was a “fair” bump that led to head contact, and the rule changed for the following season.

The rule change gave ground to the bumpers who execute a fair bump that creates injury.

So the head is not sacrosanct. It’s relative. If you bump and make contact to the head you won’t always be in trouble.

To many fans, overnight they were propelled back to the 1990s when we’ve been conditioned to live in the 2010s and protect the head at all costs.

Because, you know, head hits create concussions which can lead to mental health issues which can lead to self harm and suicide.

The AFL confirmed the bump rule changed after the Fyfe incident and centred on whether a player could “reasonably foresee’’ a clash of heads.

Math review officer Michael Christian said Burton couldn't, so he was not liable for the damage.

But read the AFL’s 2018 tribunal rules relating to high bumps and head clashes and there remains a level of confusion and on face value, contradiction.

“For the purpose of these guidelines head clashes may be considered a reasonably foreseeable consequence arising from a bump,” it reads.

“Accordingly players who elect to bump, resulting in a head clash, may be liable for a sanction if the level of impact is above the threshold required to constitute a reportable offence.”

Make sense?

The confusion is widespread; even Tim Watson asked during the commentary if Burton could face suspension.

Anyhow, just because a rule exists doesn’t make it right.

Accidents happen in this toughest of sports, but surely we must continue to guard as best we can against incidents such as the Higgins hit.

After all, a duty of care involves eliminating as much as risk as possible.

Put simply, if Burton had tackled and not bumped, it’s more likely Higgins wouldn’t have ended up in hospital.

Higgins was knocked out after Burton’s heavy bump. Picture: Getty Images

Clarkson has long argued against congestion in a bid to avoid head clashes — and it’s strong argument — but this was not a congestion moment.

“A lot of players have clashing of heads when they’re chasing the ball,’’ Clarkson said.

This was not two players chasing the ball. This was one player with the ball who was knocked out by another because of his actions.

Further confusion surrounded one of the Brownlow Medal contenders in Tom Mitchell.

Mitchell was fined for misconduct for elbowing Todd Goldstein in the head. It was off the ball, it was deliberate and it was crude.

A week before, Richmond’s Jack Graham received a one-week suspension for elbowing Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko in act which was crude and sloppy but at least was in the play.

How can one of them be striking and suspension and the other misconduct and a fine?

It was about the severity of the contact and the medical reports.

On the vision, Mitchell was a very lucky man.

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