Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson urges AFL to act on dangerous bumps
AFL legend Brad Johnson wants action from the tribunal after a spate of head high bumps during Round 6.
Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson is among AFL legends to call on the league’s tribunal to make a stand when it comes to headhigh bumps.
The Bulldogs games record-holder made an impassioned plea after two ugly incidents on Saturday on the Gold Coast involving St Kilda’s Ben Long and Essendon’s Dylan Shiel.
Long has been referred directly to the AFL Tribunal by match review officer Michael Christian for a bump that laid out Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy. The second quarter incident left the Docker concussed and forced him from the remainder of the early match in what was a double-header at Metricon Stadium.
Shiel was listed as a $16 hope for the Brownlow Medal after a bright start to the season. But those hopes are over after he was issued with a two-match suspension for flattening North Melbourne’s Curtis Taylor in Essendon’s 14-point win on the Gold Coast.
Christian deemed the bump by Long on Darcy as careless and severe. In referring the matter to the tribunal, he has given the judiciary a chance to make a clear statement should the Saint be found a sinner.
WATCH: How many weeks for Ben Long after this crude bump on Sean Darcy? One expert reckons FOUR...https://t.co/Q6vxZdPhCa pic.twitter.com/1Allwx1hdh
— The West Sport (@TheWestSport) July 11, 2020
According to Fox Footy analyst David King, the penalties for headhigh bumps need to be stiffened to strengthen the deterrence.
Johnson is worried that should a bump to the head occur on the wrong angle, the consequences will be catastrophic. The only footballer in VFL/AFL history to be left a quadriplegic, Neil Sachse, suffered the injury in his second game for the Bulldogs in 1975 in an accidental collision.
But there have been sporadic incidents in leagues below the national competition and Johnson is among those concerned by what occurred during Round 6 games.
“It is an action that could have caused a whole different ball game (in terms of injury) to what we are seeing,” he said on Fox Footy.
“Concussion is bad. But it could have been a whole lot worse. I would like to see that three-or-four week range for incidents that could be a lot worse just by a change of angle.”
The AFL has reiterated repeatedly in recent seasons that the head is sacrosanct.
If a player opts to bump and makes contact with the head, they bear responsibility for the repercussions. But there were several other instances on the weekend that suggests King’s point about deterrence is correct.
Legendary full-forward Jason Dunstall added his voice while commentating on Port Adelaide’s 17-point triumph over the Giants in a match also played at Metricon Stadium. Port Adelaide’s Brad Ebert was reported for cleaning up Harry Perryman in the opening term of the match on Sunday and will learn his fate on Monday.
“I think he has to be extremely nervous. He makes a conscious decision to bump,” Dunstall said.
“We still need to stamp out that action. We want to get rid of it.”
An incident involving Marlion Pickett will also be looked at after the Tiger clipped Sydney’s Isaac Heeney with a bump to the head. Perryman and Heeney were able to play on, which will affect how Christian assesses the impact of the respective bumps on Monday.
St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall and Adelaide’s Brad Crouch were issued fines from other incidents. North Melbourne’s Luke McDonald is expected to be asked to explain a mocking gesture directed toward Essendon’s Conor McKenna on Saturday night.
We’ve seen some big bumps this weekend and this one from Brad Ebert is no exception.
— RSN927am (@RSN927) July 12, 2020
How do you think the MRO will see the incident?pic.twitter.com/3RFDeYibJH
The Kangaroo taunted McKenna, who tested positive to COVID-19 in June, over the viral infection in an incident that drew criticism from former Bomber Brendon Goddard.
“Is he trying to sledge a bloke for potentially testing positive for a virus?” Goddard said on the ABC.
“I always thought a good sledge was one with a little bit of wit, but to pot a bloke about potentially having a virus … in today’s climate?”
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