AFL round 13: Tom Stewart cleared after bump on Noah Anderson

Chris Scott has warned the AFL risks making a “massive change to the game” if Tom Stewart is suspended for his bump on Noah Anderson. But in the end the Cats had nothing to fear.

Geelong’s All Australian defender Tom Stewart has been cleared to take on Essendon next week under MRO guidelines which allow bumps within five metres of the ball.

Stewart crashed into Gold Coast captain Noah Anderson in a brutal bump that drew MRO heat given he did run past the ball to collide with the first-year Suns captain

The Suns confirmed on Sunday morning that after Saturday night scans Anderson had been “cleared of any major concerns”.

It is not known whether that includes all rib damage, but his coach Damien Hardwick was at pains to point out he was not concussed in the collision.

Tom Stewart bumps Noah Anderson at GMHBA Stadium.

If Stewart had gone past the ball to bump Anderson and caused head-high damage he would have been responsible for the contact.

But there are three factors at play when MRO boss Michael Christian considers whether a bump within 5m is legal.

He must consider whether the player who received the bump was in a vulnerable position, whether he could have expected the contact and whether the contact was unreasonable in the circumstances.

Tom Stewart bump on Noah Anderson

Stewart’s actions were high-risk given the possibility of high contact but given the lack of any injury to his head he was officially cleared to take on Essendon next week.

The MRO said in its Sunday night statement: “It was the view of the MRO that Stewart’s actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances and did not constitute a reportable offence.”

Coach Chris Scott was adamant it was a classic hip and shoulder to the body.

“The AFL has done a really good job over the years of shifting the zeitgeist around, the way you should approach contests like that,” Scott said.

“Anyone that understands the modern game would be really impressed with the way (Stewart) approached that contact — the early decision to come forward (at) full speed, looking to win the ball first; then, when you can’t win the ball, and this is the part the AFL has been really clear with … you have a duty of care to the oncoming player.

“If you’re in a position where contact is unavoidable, you need to be very, very careful – (with) cues like, do everything you can to avoid head contact, don’t leave the ground, turn your body to protect yourself.

“Any kind of malice or intent to hurt the other guy or hit him in the head and you’re in big trouble. But if it’s a protective action, where contact’s inevitable and you don’t get him in the head, then you’ve done everything you can.”

Hardwick displayed no animosity towards Stewart.

“At the end of the day, the game’s combative (and) accidents happen on the footy field, so it’s one of those things,” he said.

“Ideally, we’d love Noah to keep playing, but … it’s within the rules (and you’re) still allowed to bump and it was a reasonable hit, a solid hit and he’s a big boy, Tom.”

Originally published as AFL round 13: Tom Stewart cleared after bump on Noah Anderson