AFL MRO news: Dan Butler offered one-match suspension, James Sicily tackle

Hawthorn captain James Sicily is facing possible suspension after a tackle on Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage resulted in a medicab being called, but coach Sam Mitchell says it was a fair tackle.

St Kilda's Dan Butler tackle on Sydney's Nick Blakey during the AFL Round 13 Pride Game match between the Sydney Swans and St. Kilda Saints at the SCG on June 8, 2023. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only – **NO ON SALES** – ©Phil Hillyard )

James Sicily faces more MRO scrutiny after a tackle which knocked Brisbane Lions’ winger Hugh McCluggage out cold.

In a desperate act to restrain McCluggage, Sicily, who was sitting on the ground, latched onto the Lion and dragged him to the ground. McCluggage’s head hit the turf and he was out cold for a short time before he was attended to by medical staff.

With the game stopped, McCluggage attempted to return to his feet but couldn’t stand on his own, eventually helped over the boundary line.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said the “desperate” effort was a great tackle.

“I haven’t rewatched it, number one because I feel for Hugh and hope he is OK,” Mitchell said.

“But at the time I thought it was such a desperate effort and he just managed to get him with his fingertips, I thought it was a great tackle but I haven’t rewatched it.”

Mitchell said his players were aware of the types of tackles they needed to avoid after the AFL sent clubs a memo during the week regarding the issue.

The Hawthorn coach said it would take time however for players to completely adapt to what the AFL is asking.

“The players are really well aware of the tackles and we’ve seen a change with players not trying to bring others to the ground deliberately,” he said.

“There has been a change, it’s a slow burn and it’s quite difficult in the heat of the battle, but I think the players have done a good job.”

If Sicily is rubbed out it would be his second suspension in as many games after collecting young St Kilda forward Anthony Caminiti high in round 11.

Reverse angle of the Sicily tackle on McCluggage. Clearly was the head hitting the ground that caused the concussion #AFLHawksLionspic.twitter.com/4zFHVzZRCJ

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Chris Fagan said Hugh McCluggage had pulled up “OK” after being knocked out by a James Sicily tackle in Brisbane’s stunning 25-point loss to Hawthorn.

Fagan didn’t comment on the tackle of Sicily but said he had spoken to McCluggage after the game.

“I haven’t seen a replay of it obviously he stayed down on the ground,” Fagan said.

“He’s concussed but OK at the moment I just had a chat to him but will miss our next game, but the main thing is that he makes a good recovery.

“I haven’t seen the replay.”

Hugh McCluggage has come from the ground after this tackle from James Sicily.

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The end of James Sicily’s tackle on Hugh McCluggage.

AFL TACKLE CRACKDOWN FACES TOUGHEST TEST YET

There is a glimmer of hope St Kilda’s Dan Butler can beat his suspension for a dangerous tackle on Nick Blakey as part of footy’s toughest test case of its tackle crackdown.

Butler slammed Blakey into the turf on Thursday night which saw the Swan’s head make contact with the ground.

The AFL’s match review officer handed Butler a one-match suspension for rough conduct after it was graded as careless conduct, high contact and medium impact.

The Saints are certain to fight the ban at Tuesday’s tribunal.

The fact the Saint released his grip on Blakey in the final moments before Blakey was driven into the turf could help him beat the charge.

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said the ban had to be overturned by the tribunal.

“I’ll be staggered if Dan Butler isn’t playing next weekend,” Lloyd said on 3AW.

“He might get one (the suspension) but I’ll be staggered if he’s not playing next weekend.

“This is completely different to any of the other tackles where players have been getting suspended.”

Dan Butler has been ruled out for one game. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Butler initially has a strong hold of Blakey from behind but replays show Butler lets go of Blakey’s arms late in the tackle, allowing the Swan to brace for contact with the ground.

Replays show Blakey spread his left arm out first so that his left elbow is first to make contact with the turf, helping lessen the impact.

Importantly, tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson cleared Adelaide’s Rory Laird for his tackle on Brisbane’s Lachie Neale only two weeks ago for showing a duty of care to the player being tackled in similar circumstances.

According to tribunal transcripts, Gleeson said if a tackler “releases or doesn’t pin a defensive arm, all things being equal he may be demonstrating a reasonable attempt to avoid or minimise harm to his fellow player”.

The concern is whether Butler’s release comes too late, as Blakey’s head still hits the ground.

But the last split-second release from Butler allows Blakey to put his hands down, softening the impact. Blakey was not concussed in the incident.

Gleeson said in the Laird verdict the Crow “did enough” to protect Neale with the last-second deceleration.

Butler could argue he also demonstrated a duty of care in a similar manner by releasing Blakey’s arms before he hits the ground.

“In our view, that slowing of momentum, that split-second moment of care contributed to Neale not being slung into the ground and being exposed to injury,” Gleeson said.

Crow Rory Laird won his battle at the tribunal over this tackle. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The Saints could also explore whether there is any onus on the players being tackled to brace for contact rather than be completely limp in a tackle when it is in play.

Blakey was completely unaware he was about to be tackled by Butler, which means the Swan was a sitting duck and completely vulnerable to the momentum Butler generated in the tackle.

Blakey was cleared of concussion by the Swans, but the AFL’s match review officer Michael Christian would have considered the medical report in the impact grading.

It came after the AFL sent clubs a memo on Tuesday on tackle safety.

The Herald Sun can reveal the league distributed a memo illustrating how players have appropriately adjusted their tackle technique this season without slinging, dumping or driving their opponents’ heads into the ground.

Tackling has been one of the most contentious issues in the game following a crackdown on dangerous tackles to help combat the threat of concussion.

The league on Tuesday reached out to clubs with footage of about 12 correct tackles to show players and coaches how they can tackle and dispossess an opposition player without making dangerous head contact.

In all of the examples there seems to be an awareness from the tackler not to up-end the opponent or drive them into the ground headfirst with their arms still pinned.

In some instances the players either let go of the opponents’ arms, decelerated during the tackle, or intentionally lowered themselves by dragging the opponent down at the waist.

In the email, the league commends the clubs for their ability to adjust their tackle technique this season, with more than 1000 tackles applied across every weekend.

The Saints appear certain to challenge the ban. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The league said there had been a significant change in safe tackle technique over the past month where players have demonstrated a balance of defensive intensity and care for their opponents.

“Over the past several weeks we have seen a noticeable change in tackling technique with players showing a greater level of care to their opponents as they tackle them to ground,” the email said.

“The following link contains examples of players executing effective tackles while not placing their opponents in a vulnerable position, not applying excessive force in bringing their opponents to ground, releasing their opponent’s pinned arms prior to making contact with the ground and/or ensuring that their opponent’s head does not make contact with the ground or any such contact is minimised.

“We commend clubs for their focus on safe tackling technique and encourage GMs to reach out to us if they would benefit from support or clarification with respect to umpiring and/or the approach by MRO and Tribunal in relation to dangerous tackles.”

‘May as well give up the game’: AFL great’s concern over tackle

– Eamonn Tiernan

Debate surrounding the dangerous tackle has been ignited again after Dan Butler’s chase-down effort resulted in Nick Blakey’s head slamming into the turf.

Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall put the fabric of the game into question when discussing whether Butler should be suspended.

“I’d be really concerned with where the game’s going if he gets rubbed out for that tackle, I’d be horrified,” Dunstall said on Fox Footy.

“I think if you ask him to do anything other than what he did, it’s impossible. He’s a small bloke, you think he’s going to just hold him when they’re running at that pace? I don’t get what the options are there, other than not tackling. And I would have thought if we say don’t tackle, well, then we may as well give up the game.”

Dan Butler’s tackle on Nick Blakey.

In a potential saving grace for Butler, Swans coach John Longmire confirmed Nick Blakey was subbed out of the game with a toe injury and not as a result of the Saint’s tackle.

The Match Review Officer will still almost certainly review the incident that saw Blakey leave the field for an HIA, which Longmire confirmed he passed.

“He was going to take 15 minutes by the time he was assessed and allowed back on the ground which is pretty critical at that point and he had a toe injury coming into the game, so we had to get moving,” Longmire said.

“It was a pretty important part of the game and 15 minutes is a good slab of time. With his toe being sore we decided to make a change.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon wasn’t worried about the tackle but said he understands why the AFL are taking a cautious approach to protecting the head.

“I didn’t assess it. Everyone has come to me on it (but) we’re unwavering in the process in and outside the club so that can go through the channels and they (MRO) can make an assessment,” Lyon said.

“Clearly that part of the game is challenging for everyone. I haven’t had a look at it, I was looking at Warner exploding out of stoppages.

“It’s a delicate (issue), isn’t it. I’ve got a daughter that got knocked out playing netball with a clash of heads.

“She’s out for three weeks and I’m a bit ‘get moving’. I’m a bit flippant with it but I think to be cautious and go through the protocols is the right thing.”

Lyon said he hadn’t spoken to Butler about the incident.

Originally published as AFL MRO news: Dan Butler offered one-match suspension, James Sicily tackle