The league’s decision not to appeal Willie Rioli case adds to MRO confusion, writes Mark Robinson

Frothing about Tuesday night’s tribunal hearing involving Willie Rioli, AFL great Glenn Archer was ready to give up watching footy.

Willie Rioli is free to play this weekend. Picture: Getty Images

Glenn Archer had a major issue averted on Wednesday.

Frothing about Tuesday night’s tribunal hearing debate, Archer said that if Willie Rioli was suspended, he would’ve given up watching AFL.

That would’ve created problems, seeing as his son Jackson is playing at the Kangaroos, but the point was Archer was incensed with the commentary that Rioli should’ve been suspended for his hit on Matt Rowell.

“There’s no chance in hell that is a suspension,’’ Archer said.

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North Melbourne great Glenn Archer is adamant the tribunal made the right call on the Willie Rioli case.

Adding further to the tribunal fall-out, Archer believed Mitch Robinson, who received a week for the front-on collision with Port’s Xavier Duursma, should’ve been let off.

And to add further confusion surrounding head-high hits and who is and who is not playing the ball, Carlton great Mark Maclure was adamant Rioli should’ve been suspended.

But he agreed with Archer on Robinson.

The AFL ruled out appealing the tribunal’s decision on Rioli.

It was an odd position from the AFL because it officially disagreed with the tribunal’s findings, yet the league ruled out an appeal because it believed it would likely lose the case.

It’s odd because the AFL has stressed the importance of process and systems in a decision made by three men on a tribunal. But it is a decision the AFL admitted it didn’t like.

So what’s more important: The process or the correct decision?

Surely the standard bearer for head-high contact and all its consequences is the AFL and not three part-timers who sit every four weeks.

Willie Rioli is free to play this weekend despite his hit on Matt Rowell. Picture: Getty Images

Who is running the competition — an independent tribunal or the biggest dog in the fight, the AFL?

The majority of the football world is understandably confused.

That includes the Brisbane Lions who also ruled out appealing the Robinson decision.

Archer acknowledged Rioli turned in the air when attempting to mark, but said Rowell also had to take blame for the collision.

“Willie’s running to mark the ball, Rowell is running back with the flight and Willie really can’t see him until the last thousandth of a second … so what’s he supposed to do?’’ Archer said.

“What everyone is trying to say is that when the ball is kicked, you’ve got to stop, look around, make sure no one’s coming and then make a decision whether you can mark the ball or not … WTF.

“The bloke who did the wrong thing was Rowelly running back with the flight of the ball.

“It was fantastic, but if you’re going to run with the flight, and if you can’t jump and turn yourself, that’s on you. And with 35 other people on the ground running around like cut cats, someone is probably going to run into you, so you have to cop that one.

“Willie can’t stop, he’s going to mark the ball, he doesn’t know the other bloke is running back with the flight. It happens so quickly.

“Then I have to listen to people tell me what he should or shouldn’t be doing. I’m sorry, but unless you’ve put yourself in that situation, not once but a lot of times, you actually don’t know what happens.

Mitch Robinson was banned for his front-on bump on Xavier Duursma.

“It’s like you’re running for the ball (Rioli) and ‘s***, where did he (Rowell) come from’?”

Maclure said the Rioli decision was a “disgrace’’ and said he now had more questions than answers about protecting players’ heads.

“Willie didn’t touch the ball, he didn’t go for the ball at the end, and he’s taken the other bloke out … and it’s the other bloke’s fault?’’ Maclure said.

“Willie jumped, then saw him and then turned to protect himself. How did he get off?’’

Maclure was aware the tribunal ruled that Rioli was contesting the ball.

“OK, that’s their argument, move on,’’ he said.

“And you are allowed to turn the body to protect yourself, but if you hit them in the head, aren’t we protecting the head?”

The Lions were adamant Robinson had no case to answer and they had support from both Malcure and Archer.

“He bumped his shoulder, didn’t he? Aren’t you allowed to hit shoulder to shoulder?’’ Maclure said.

Archer argued that because Robinson stopped instead of barreling through Duursma, the AFL rules were working.

“Three or four years ago he would’ve smashed that bloke,’’ Archer said.

“But he stopped and thought, ‘I can’t run through him’, so he stopped and protected himself and still got a week. It’s crazy.

“The rules we are putting in place are working and well done Mitch for stopping. Although he (Duursma) got hurt a little bit, he could’ve got hurt really bad. Mitch should be applauded.’’