AFL tribunal round one: Willie Rioli ban for bump overturned, Mitch Robinson appeal fails, Rory Sloane free to play
Despite announcing a mandate on head knocks, the AFL will not appeal Willie Rioli’s overturned ban, leaving fans and commentators scratching their heads.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The AFL says it remains committed to a crackdown on head-high contact, despite sensationally choosing not to appeal Willie Rioli’s overturned tribunal verdict because it felt it couldn’t win.
In a shock for footy fans and for some players, the AFL’s general counsel Andrew Dillon reviewed the case on Wednesday but conceded there was a “low” chance that it could win an appeal.
It means the West Coast forward has officially been cleared to take on North Melbourne in Sunday’s clash at Marvel Stadium.
Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
The AFL stressed it did not agree with the tribunal’s decision to overturn a one-match ban the Match Review officer Michael Christian had imposed on Rioli for crashing into an unsuspecting Matt Rowell.
In a statement, the league said: “While the AFL does not agree with the outcome of the hearing, it accepts the decision and confirms it will not appeal.”
“Due to the nature of the relevant appeal grounds available to it, the AFL considers that the prospects of a successful appeal in the circumstances are low and thus has determined not to appeal the Tribunal’s decision. The AFL considers that bringing an appeal without reasonable prospects of success is not an appropriate course for it to take.”
In choosing not to take the matter to the AFL Appeals Board, players such as Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt and Essendon’s Zach Merrett believe a precedent may have been set for the 2022 season.
It comes after a dramatic night at the tribunal where Rioli and Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane won their cases, leaving them free to take on North Melbourne and Collingwood respectively.
Brisbane’s Mitch Robinson lost his bid to take on the Bombers this week.
Tuesday night’s tribunal panel members agreed with match review officer Michael Christian that Rioli made high contact with Rowell, but determined he did not engage in rough conduct and threw out the charge after a lengthy hearing.
The AFL said it remained “strongly committed to reducing the incidence of head high contact”, stressing it would “impose sanctions” when required.
“The hearing and determination by the independent AFL Tribunal of challenges brought by players in respect of decisions of the MRO is a long-established part of our important disciplinary system.
“The AFL strongly supports the AFL Tribunal and acknowledges the complexity of the task of determining the outcome of incidents such as the matter at hand.”
The AFL had the option to refer the Rioli case to the AFL Appeals Board if it believed Tuesday night’s decision was unreasonable or if it believed an error of law had been made.
“It’s an interesting precedent to be setting in round 1,” Riewoldt said on AFL360.
Merrett said: “The priority should always be to protect the guy going for the footy. That’s a pretty dangerous action”.
DANGEROUS ‘PRECEDENT’ SET AS TRIBUNAL CLEARS EAGLE
Mitch Robinson was the unlucky loser of three AFL tribunal cases on Tuesday night as Willie Rioli’s suspension for his aerial hit on Matt Rowell was sensationally overturned.
Here’s how the Robinson, Rioli and Rory Sloane appeals played out.
Over to AFL in shock Rioli Tribunal decision
The AFL must on Wednesday decide whether to appeal the tribunal’s decision to free Willie Rioli or allow players to recklessly cannon into an opponent’s head after the West Coast star had a rough conduct suspension overturned in a verdict that shocked the football world.
The tribunal agreed with match review officer Michael Christian that Rioli made high contact with Gold Coast star Matthew Rowell, but determined he did not engage in rough conduct and threw out the charge after a marathon hearing.
Richmond superstar Jack Riewoldt and Essendon vice-captain Zach Merrett were both stunned to learn Rioli was found not guilty.
Willie Rioli getting off goes against everything the AFL have been preaching in term of head high contact. Round 1 precedent has been set
— Tim (@Timthwaites1) March 22, 2022
So Mitch Robinson’s duty of care is very different to Willie Rioli’s. #whoknew
— thecheese01 (@thecheese01) March 22, 2022
Willie Rioli getting off that charge would have to be the worst decision at the AFL tribunal in ages.
— Craig C-137 (@Sutto2606) March 22, 2022
“It’s an interesting precedent to be setting in round 1,” Riewoldt said on AFL360.
Merrett said: “The priority should always be to protect the guy going for the footy. That’s a pretty dangerous action”.
Rioli — who is now free to take on North Melbourne on Sunday — told the hearing: “I believe my duty was to commit to the contest and help my team at any cost. It’s unfortunate it escalated like this, but my intention was to win the ball”.
The AFL criticised that evidence as symbolic of a mindset that must change in order to protect the head.
“Frankly, that’s the problem,” AFL advocate Nick Pane QC said.
“It’s time for players to consider the opposing player is vulnerable and modify behaviour so as to minimise the potential for injury.”
Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson, David Neitz and Shane Wakelin deliberated for 40 minutes before reaching their verdict.
“The tribunal will be astute to uphold any charge where a player was initially intending to contest the ball, changed that intention and in doing so breached his duty of care. That is not this case,” Gleeson said.
“Willie Rioli had eyes for the ball as he entered this contest. There is no doubt he braced for contact a split second before contact, but when doing so, did not cease to contest the ball. The way in which he did so was not unreasonable.”
The Eagles argued a suspension for their premiership player would signal the death of the screamer and referenced Nick Riewoldt’s legendary mark in 2004 in their Hail Mary bid to have Rioli cleared.
“How many times do we see in a game of football a player going for a screamer putting his feet on an opponent’s shoulders, rising high into the sky to the adulation of the crowd, and spilling the mark,” Eagles advocate David Grace QC said.
“Is he reported for rough conduct? No. The potential for danger is huge. Why? Because he is legitimately going for a mark.
“Nick Riewoldt ran backwards in the face of a pack that was steaming towards him in an attempt to mark the ball.
“If he had not marked the ball and he had collided backwards into someone, knocking them out, would that mean he was guilty of rough conduct?
“If Rioli had taken the mark, which he had set out to do, it would’ve been a screamer.”
Rioli said contact was predominantly made from his “glute and hip area” to Rowell’s chest and that he saw the umpire wave play-on.
Rioli, who was playing his first match in 927 days after serving a drugs ban, said no Suns players remonstrated with him.
The Eagles submitted a still photograph published in The West Australian newspaper as evidence that there was “daylight” between Rioli and Rowell’s head.
“Rowell was on his haunches and gasping for breath,” Grace said.
“The inference to be drawn from that is that he was winded. That’s consistent with contact being made to the chest area.”
The Eagles added that the Suns’ medical staff, which had access to video replays on the boundary, did not see fit to conduct a concussion test on Rowell.
The AFL said Rowell escaped injury “through good fortune and not good management”.
Ultimately, that argument did not matter as Rioli was found to have made contact with Rowell’s head but the incident was not deemed a reportable offence.
Jack Riewoldt wondered whether players in Rowell’s position would now have to modify their behaviour because they couldn’t feel safe running back with the flight.
‘Very upset’: Robinson’s annoyance at Tribunal’s call
Mitch Robinson’s declaration he did everything in his power to prevent Port Adelaide’s Xavier Duursma suffering a serious head or neck injury fell on deaf ears as Brisbane Lions became the only club to lose at Tuesday night’s tribunal hearings.
After the hearing, Robinson tweeted: “Very upset with that decision. Unfortunately bracing for contact in a contested game comes with a price now. Although, I appreciate the tribunal considering our case!”
Very upset with that decision. Unfortunately bracing for contact in a contested game comes with a price now. Although, I appreciate the tribunal considering our case!
— Mitch Robinson (@MitchRobinson05) March 22, 2022
Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson said that Robinson, 32, was not contesting the ball, but even if the jury had found he was contesting the ball his actions still wouldn’t have had the charge for forceful front-on contact dismissed.
“We’re not satisfied that Mr Robinson was contesting the ball at the moment of impact,” Gleeson said.
“If we had formed the view that he was contesting the ball, which we did not, that contest was by no means reasonable.
“He knew or should’ve known that player Duursma had his head down trying to collect a bobbling ball.
“Mr Duursma was more likely to win the ball than Robinson whether he was pushed or not.
“The risk to Duursma should’ve been obvious to Robinson, who could’ve and should’ve avoided head and neck impact.
“We draw this conclusion based on the real-time footage. He breached his duty of care and the charge is upheld.”
Robinson must miss Saturday’s clash against Essendon, which will see Joe Daniher play in front of the Bombers faithful in opposition colours for the first time.
Robinson eloquently argued that his football instincts had heightened after 233 games and he adjusted his behaviour in a bid to protect his opponent.
He said if he stood still and ran at Duursma it would’ve been “horrible” for the youngster.
“Without bragging I thought I did a pretty good job to brace and turn my body that way to save hitting the front of his head and putting more pressure on his neck and making it worse,” Robinson said.
“I thought I was scrutinised pretty harshly.”
The Lions argued that Robinson’s teammate, Daniel McStay, shoved Duursma before the collision.
Robinson said McStay, who is his gym partner, stands 195-197cm, weights 98kg and can bench press 125kg.
Port Adelaide’s medical report showed that Duursma would miss four training sessions through injury and it was still unknown whether he would also be sidelined for any matches.
He was diagnosed with a neck sprain and left clavicle injury.
Sloane ban overturned, $2K fine instead
Rory Sloane’s emotive detailing of his own history with optical injuries has helped him escape a one-game suspension.
On Tuesday night, the Adelaide skipper convinced the tribunal jury that his contact with Blake Acres’ eye in Sunday’s home match against Fremantle was careless, rather than intentional.
Sloane was fined $2000 for the downgraded charge and was cleared to face Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
Eleven months ago, Sloane had surgery on a detached retina, which sidelined him for four matches and was the latest in a long list of eye procedures he had undergone over the past decade.
The 32-year-old told the tribunal his personal experiences meant he would never deliberately put his hand near a player’s eye.
He said he was shocked when the Match Review Officer suspended him on Monday for intentional conduct.
“I probably have the most extensive list of facial injuries and eye injuries of anyone that’s come through the AFL,” Sloane said.
“I was super close to being finished in football and close to losing my eyesight last year so there’s no way I’d go near anyone’s eye.
“I’m very aware of what even just a little scratch in the eye can do, even just a poke.
“There’s no way I’d go after anyone’s eye because I’m well aware of the damage it can cause”.
Sloane was scrutinised for contact he made to Acres’s face while tackling the Dockers midfielder during the first quarter of Adelaide’s one-point loss.
After footage was shown of the incident, Sloane said he was unaware he touched Acres’s eye, believing his hand was resting on the Docker’s forehead.
The veteran explained that he was simply trying to scrap for the ball as Acres’s head landed in his bicep.
Adelaide’s legal counsel, Tom Duggan QC, said Sloane did not adjust his finger and the crook of the arm was already in position, indicating it was a careless act, not a deliberate one.
Duggan also pointed to Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw lifting Sloane up during the tackle, which he said had a large bearing on any contact to the eye.
Acres did not require any further treatment and was fine to play this week.
“There’s nothing in the footage that shows intention,” Duggan said.
AFL counsel Nick Pane QC argued Sloane’s history with eye injuries and his good character were irrelevant.
The jury deliberated for about 15 minutes before agreeing to downgrade the charge.
Originally published as AFL tribunal round one: Willie Rioli ban for bump overturned, Mitch Robinson appeal fails, Rory Sloane free to play
Blues ‘all but out’ of Houston race after key Pies meeting
Collingwood is closing in on a deal to land dual All-Australian Dan Houston after a key meeting on Wednesday. FOLLOW LIVE
‘Pretty hard’: AFL whiz kid’s sad admission
Harley Reid has opened up on his rollercoaster debut season, revealing the “hard” part of being the most recognisable young player in the AFL.