Hawthorn midfielder Conor Nash has declared the AFL tribunal, MRO system a “fair circus”

Recently suspended Hawk Conor Nash has joined a chorus of voices pushing for change to the AFL’s suspension system as players bemoan the lack of consistency behind bans.

Hawthorn midfielder Conor Nash has declared the tribunal system is a “fair circus” as he lends his voice to the need for more consistent penalties from league suspensions.

Nash was hit with a four-match ban in April for a round-arm that concussed Geelong’s Gryan Miers, an incident he has maintained he got “completely wrong”.

The Irishman had no qualms with the length of his suspension and went through the ringer after the Easter Monday hit.

Conor Nash was apologetic for a big hit on Geelong’s Gryan Miers. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Players and clubs have been disgruntled this year about the current tribunal system, with the current table of penalties leaving little wriggle room for nuance.

Nash’s teammate Lloyd Meek avoided a suspension this week for a late spoil attempt that left Collingwood’s Pat Lipinski concussed.

His hit was cleared as a football action, but given the match review rubric, if it was seen the other way, Meek would have had to cop a three-week ban.

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce was initially handed three weeks for an aerial contest in round 11, only for that to be wiped out to no penalty at the tribunal.

Several football voices have called for an additional category in the table of penalties, to take in more accidental actions, while some players remain frustrated that the outcome of a concussion carries such heavy weight for certain incidents.

“It’s a fair circus to be honest, the whole tribunal and the way it goes,” Nash the Herald Sun.

“A lot of the time it is already done and dusted when you get in there. It’s nearly better to just say, ‘This (penalty) is what it is’.

“I think as a whole there is a fair bit of noise around tribunal and MRO and the consistency of it. There’s not much I can do anyway, I just have to cop it. Hopefully the powers that be can have a good look at it. I think there has to be a better way to find more consistency.

“It is very outcome-based. It is a tough, physical sport, but it is very outcome-based.

“Sometimes you have where mine was what it was and I deserved that (suspension) really, but there are other ones you look at and you scratch your head.”

Nash dishes a handball. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Nash made a scratchy return from his ban last week against Brisbane but was one of few Hawks given praise by coach Sam Mitchell for 25 disposal effort in Friday’s disappointing loss to Collingwood.

He said at first he questioned whether his rugged style needed to change following the Miers incident, but was counselled to stick to his game.

“Initially I probably questioned it but a lot of people inside our walls and even outside it said, ‘That is not you’ and ‘I don’t think you need to change’,” he said.

“It was an isolated incident I got completely wrong and I was sorry for it.

“It’s a long time on the sidelines and getting back, I certainly showed last week (against Brisbane) the rust I had.”

Originally published as Hawthorn midfielder Conor Nash has declared the AFL tribunal, MRO system a “fair circus”