GWS coach Adam Kingsley supports bans for brutal bumps

After one of his young stars was on the end of a vicious round 1 act, GWS coach Adam Kingsley has had his say on the brutal bump.

GWS coach Adam Kingsley agrees with the ‘mindset’ behind an Adelaide star’s ban. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Adam Kingsley has backed the AFL tribunal’s consideration of the potential to cause injury in their adjudication of Shane McAdam’s brutal bump on Giant Jacob Wehr, declaring concussion-related injuries must be stamped out of the game.

The first-year GWS coach said he was “not far away” from the assessment from fellow coaches Simon Goodwin and Michael Voss that the bump was dead and the days of lining up players from 15-20m away were over.

Kingsley wouldn’t be drawn on whether McAdam’s three-match suspension, which the Crows plan to appeal, was fair.

Adelaide forward Shane McAdam is facing the Tribunal over his bump on Greater Western Sydney's Jacob Wehr.@MichaelWhiting will bring you all the updates via our live blog: https://t.co/4vx9oSBJoJpic.twitter.com/OxBoBo1cAZ

— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2023

Be he agreed with the “mindset” behind the ban from the AFL tribunal given the serious concussion issues that have surfaced from past players in recent times.

“Probably not 100 per cent as strong (as Simon Goodwin) but I’m not far away. I think he is right. I’m not sure that there is any real benefit other than if you are jostling for possession on the wing,” Kingsley said.

“I won’t comment on the fairness of (the suspension), I’m not sure of the exact adjudication of why it was three, why it was two, why it was one, but I think the consideration around the potential to cause injury is the right adjudication, the right mindset.

“The league is obviously going through some concussion stuff at the moment which is obviously really serious and very significant, and the more we can stamp that injury out of our game the better off we’ll be.

“I haven’t addressed (bumping) with our playing group, I’m not sure I need to. I think our players know the difference and clearly when the opposition has the ball, we’re not trying to bump them. That’s certainly not something that is in our coaching anyway.

Adelaide's Shane McAdam’s late hit on the Giants’ Jacob Wehr. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“Common sense generally applies, doesn’t it? You know when someone’s intent is probably not honourable – and I’m not saying any of those incidents over the weekend fit into that category, but I think you kind of know.”

On Wednesday, Carlton coach Voss said the bump was “well and truly done” and would urge his players to choose to tackle instead ahead of Thursday night’s game against Geelong.

“What’s come out of the wash over the last 48 hours and watching the games over the weekend … I think if you’ve got a choice to tackle or bump, then you’ve got no choice but to choose to tackle,” he said.

“I guess the confusing point is when it’s that real disputed ball and you’ve got point five of a second to make a decision on what you do, what you choose.

“But I think if you’ve got any choice whatsoever, and there’s a clear gap between the two, then I think we’d be encouraging the players to tackle, not bump.”

Wehr left the field after the bump for a concussion test but returned to play out the game. He will be available for Sunday’s trip to Perth to face West Coast after being cleared of concussion.

Originally published as GWS coach Adam Kingsley supports bans for brutal bumps