Mark Robinson: Former Cats Cameron Ling and Joel Selwood spar over confusing new tackle interpretation

The AFL’s new tackling crackdown continues to cause confusion with a pair of Cats premiership skippers disagreeing on an interpretation of a ‘chicken wing’ tackle on Sunday at the MCG.

Laura Kane’s mid-season change of interpretation, which is slowly killing prior opportunity, continues to frustrate and confuse.

It even has two of Geelong’s greatest captains, Joel Selwood and Cameron Ling, at loggerheads.

In a play on Sunday, Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin was tackled and held by one arm – now known as the chicken wing tackle – and a free kick was paid against him for incorrect disposal.

Cameron Ling and Joel Selwood have disagreed about the interpretation of a ‘chicken wing’ tackle on Channel 7’s call of Richmond v GWS game on Sunday. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Ling argued that Vlastuin had no prior and that the Tigers defender actually tried to kick the ball after he was dragged to the ground by Giant Jack Buckley.

“No genuine attempt?,” Ling asked on the Channel 7 commentary. “There was zero prior opportunity to start with and Vlastuin did everything he could to try (and) kick that ball while lying on the ground.”

Selwood: “The Vlastuin tackle, Lingy … it had one arm out.”

Ling: “Just tell me what he’s supposed to do? He even tries to do something lying on the ground. That cannot be holding the ball. He has zero prior opportunity, he’s going to ground … I refuse to accept that is the correct decision.”

Selwood: “That’s the challenge going forward. Players have to get with it and understand what it is they can do.”

Nick Vlastuin was penalised after finding himself in a chicken wing tackle on the weekend. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Ling didn’t ask the next question but he should have: “And what should he do, Joel?”

It’s a question that needs urgent answering from the AFL.

Another question is just who altered the rule book mid-season to greater reward the tackler over the ball winner? Was it Kane’s football department or an AFL Commission decision?

The AFL charter states: “A priority of the laws, interpretations and officiating is to reward and protect the player who makes winning the ball their primary objection.’’

Arguably, the ball winner has never had less protection.

Originally published as Mark Robinson: Former Cats Cameron Ling and Joel Selwood spar over confusing new tackle interpretation