AFL: Sydney Swans coach John Longmire calls for research before ‘reactionary’ introduction of send-off rule

There are more calls for a send-off rule in the AFL after Tom Stewart’s brutal bump on Tiger Dion Prestia – and Swans coach John Longmire has had his say.

Star Tiger Dion Prestia was knocked out in an ugly incident with Geelong defender Tom Stewart. Picture: Michael Klein

John Longmire is urging for calm as calls grow for the AFL to introduce a send-off rule for incidents such as Tom Stewart’s vicious bump that knocked out Dion Prestia on Saturday.

Stewart faces a lengthy ban for his action, with match review officer Michael Christian referring the case directly to the AFL Tribunal.

The All-Australian defender was also reported on the spot.

But critics were furious Stewart was able to go from villain to hero with a late game-saving mark that sealed Geelong’s narrow victory, after Prestia missed most of the match.

Sydney coach Longmire witnessed one of the ugliest on-field acts in recent years, when ex-Demon Tomas Bugg decked Swan Callum Mills behind the play in 2017.

Another was Andrew Gaff’s brutal hit on young Docker Andrew Brayshaw a year later.

Richmond’s Dion Prestia took no further part in Saturday’s clash with Geelong after being knocked out from a Tom Stewart bump.

Bugg and Gaff were subsequently suspended for six and eight matches, respectively, but played out the games where the incidents happened.

They are two examples being pointed to as evidence for why the AFL should bring in a red card or send-off rule, even though a league spokesperson stated since Stewart’s bump that its position had not changed.

“I think, first and foremost, we have to make sure we don’t react to one incident,” Longmire said.

“If we’re going to go down the path of looking at that, there needs to be some more research put into how many times it happens and the impact of it.

“To just come off the back of one incident and be a bit reactionary, I think, is not the way to go.

“We need to just have a bit of a deep breath and see if it’s a real issue or not before we talk about supporting it or not.”

Former Demon Tomas Bugg savagely struck Sydney’s Callum Mills in a behind-the-play incident in 2017.

Asked about the Bugg-Mills clash and how much of a disadvantage it was to lose a player in those circumstances, Longmire said “it can be” but was wary about how a send-off rule would work.

“What are the mechanisms to make sure you get it right ... and who makes that decision is also very important.” he said.

“I’m not going to sit here today and say I support it or don’t support it, other than the fact that if it was to be looked at, let’s make sure we do the right amount of research, which I’m sure would happen.

“I think just shooting from the hip and saying you support it or not – without looking at how many times it happens – is probably not the way to go.”

Cats coach Chris Scott said there was too much risk of an umpire getting a send-off call wrong, particularly in a big game, to introduce it.

A groggy Dion Prestia leaves the field after Tom Stewart’s high bump. Picture: Michael Klein

Carlton defender Nic Newman was noncommittal on the issue but felt for Prestia, who will also be out of Richmond’s match against West Coast on Sunday while completing concussion protocols.

“It’s one to probably leave for people above my pay grade but it’s disappointing to see a player go down and miss a game,” Newman said.

“And obviously Prestia will probably miss another week with concussion.

“There are obviously talks with the AFL. There’s an argument for both, which I understand, but it’s disappointing for Richmond and I’m sure Tom Stewart will miss a few weeks and pay the price.”

Originally published as AFL: Sydney Swans coach John Longmire calls for research before ‘reactionary’ introduction of send-off rule