Acting AFL CEO Andrew Dillon says rules are clear on what is a dangerous tackle

As debate rages over penalties for dangerous tackles in the AFL, the acting league boss has declared everything is as it should be.

St Kilda's Dan Butler tackles Sydney's Nick Blakey at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Incoming AFL boss Andrew Dillon insists there’s “no confusion” over what constitutes a dangerous tackle despite a mixed bag of recent results at the AFL tribunal.

There was widespread outrage last week when Hawthorn captain James Sicily was handed a three-match ban for a tackle that left Brisbane star Hugh McCluggage concussed.

The Hawks are appealing that decision on Monday afternoon.

It came on the same night a one-week suspension for St Kilda’s Dan Butler was overturned, with players and coaches commenting in the wake of the decisions about not being sure what they can and can’t do amid a league-wide crackdown.

James Sicily has been referred directly to the tribunal for rough conduct following this incident with Hugh McCluggage.

Saturday MRO findings: https://t.co/uwL1E7gBoNpic.twitter.com/ZLjET1xIyW

— AFL (@AFL) June 11, 2023

But Dillon, who will replace Gillon McLachlan as AFL chief executive, said while sanctions for dangerous tackles would be reviewed at the end of the season, they were in the “right spot” at the moment.

“I don’t really see there being confusion,” Dillon told reporters.

“At the moment the penalties or the sanctions are in the right spot.

“But as we do every year at the end of the year, we’ll review how the season is going and where we want to go going forward.

“So (that) doesn‘t necessarily mean we’ll stay in the same spot.”

So far in 2023, 21 players have been suspended for dangerous tackles, with penalties ranging from one match to three matches.

Three players, including Butler, have had suspensions overturned.

Dillon said the AFL would not shy away from the safety aspect of the clampdown and it would continue regardless of ongoing tribunal outcomes.

“What I will say about the dangerous tackles, MRO (match review officer) and our tribunal system, it‘s all about protecting the health and safety of our players,” he said.

“And the AFL, we won‘t apologise for that.

“We have had close to 14,000 tackles this year and what we‘re looking at, at an MRO, tribunal perspective is slightly under 30 tackles that have been looked at.

Acting AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says there is no confusion as to what constitutes a dangerous tackle. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

“Any time there is avoidable head contact, we want to try and take that out of the game, so we will continue to do that.”

Dillon, a former player and coach at amateur level in Victoria, said he was clear on what a dangerous tackle was and the players should be too.

“I think what constitutes a dangerous tackle is when arms are pinned or when there‘s excessive force,” he said.

“I’ll just leave it at that.”

On Monday, Dillon announced the AFL’s “Gather Round” in Adelaide in 2024 would be played across round 4, one week earlier than this season.

The venues and fixtures are to be confirmed.