Rival coach wants North youngster freed at Tribunal for brutal collision

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has called on the AFL to make a change to the suspension guidelines following a horror incident.

Footscray coach Luke Beveridge has had his say on the initial three-week suspension of young Roo Jackson Archer, after his collision with rival counterpart Bulldog Luke Cleary.

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Cleary, 23, brutally collided with the leg of Archer as both players collided in a ground-ball contest late in the final quarter of Footscray’s 16-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday night.

The aftermath resulted in Cleary lying motionless on the Marvel Stadium turf, before being carried off on a stretcher as concern grew very quickly. Thankfully, the defender has since recovered encouragingly in the 48 hours that have passed.

Beveridge doesn’t want Archer to be suspended over the collision. (Photo by Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, the 2016 premiership coach believes that a change to the league’s suspension guidelines would allow for a more fair outcome in Archer’s case.

“Without much knowledge, because I didn’t watch it back post-game, we know Jackson Archer plays a little bit like his Dad; he’s ferocious at the footy and the opponent when he needs to be,” Beveridge began by saying.

“If there was one message or thing I’d like to change within our AFL system … I’d re-model the criteria that leads to suspensions; the things that relate to (the MRO), the appeals process.

“I think we can use a civil law approach to this. (On) the balance of probabilities, was there intent? Did Jackson Archer try and clean Luke Cleary up? No, he didn’t.

“Not for a minute did he want to hurt Luke, I don’t think. So based off what I’d like to happen, I don’t think he should be out of the game.”

Cleary was taken from the ground on a stretcher. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

North Melbourne confirmed on Monday morning that they will be challenging MRO Michael Christian’s decision to suspend Archer for three rounds, in a case that could set a new precedent for players attacking a contest.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell added on the collision: “It was hard to watch.”

“Going quickly into contest is something that’s changed, but you watch that quickly and you think: ‘How’s he going to do anything differently?’ … I agree with Luke.”

Cleary will be in concussion protocols until March 27, meaning the earliest the young defender can return will be their Round 3 clash with Carlton next Friday night. He will miss their clash with Collingwood this Friday night, where Footscray will celebrate their 100-year anniversary.

Originally published as Rival coach wants North youngster freed at Tribunal for brutal collision