AFL 2024: Saint Jack Higgins fails to overturn ban for sling tackle on Aliir Aliir

St Kilda took Jack Higgins’ three-game ban to a marathon tribunal appeal that went for over three hours. See the result from the hearing here.

Jack Higgins sling tackle concusses Aliir Aliir at Adelaide Oval in R7

St Kilda small forward Jack Higgins has failed in his bid to overturn his three-match suspension for his rough tackle on Port Adelaide’s Aliir Aliir and will miss key matches against North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Fremantle.

In a marathon hearing lasting more than three hours, the AFL tribunal found that Higgins’ tackle - which left Aliir concussed - had been “dangerous” and “unreasonable”.

AFL Tribunal chair Renee Enbom maintained that despite Aliir’s kicking motion contributing in part to the incident, Higgins had a duty of care to release his arm as he was being flung to the ground.

The tribunal also dismissed the Saints’ counsel claim that the penalty was inappropriate given the circumstances, backing the original match review officer’s ban of three matches.

“We consider this to be a clear case of rough conduct,” Enbom said. “Mr Higgins used a poor and dangerous technique in tackling Mr Aliir to the ground. He grabbed hold of Mr Aliir’s left arm and forcefully rotated him to the ground.

The Higgins’ sling tackle.

“Mr Higgins applied excessive force through a combination of dragging Mr Aliir down by his left arm while also using his body weight and right arm to help bring a bigger player to ground.

“Importantly, at no stage did Mr Higgins release Mr Aliir’s left arm as he was coming to ground so that Mr Aliir had control of his arm and could try to use it to protect himself.

“We consider a three-match sanction to be proportionate in all the circumstances. The tackle was unreasonable and dangerous, irrespective of Mr Aliir’s action.”

Higgins and St Kilda accepted the tribunal’s finding on Tuesday night, with the Saint saying he felt for Aliir, who will at least miss this week’s Showdown against Adelaide.

“I understand and respectfully accept the Tribunal’s decision,” Higgins said. “I wish Aliir all the best as he navigates his recovery and hope to see him back playing soon.”

St Kilda EGM of football David Misson added: “Although disappointing to not have Jack’s sanction overturned or downgraded, we respect the decision of the Tribunal and accept its findings.”

“The head is sacrosanct, and we understand the importance placed on protecting the players.”

Higgins’ counsel Adrian Anderson had argued the Saints’ player had not been guilty of the rough conduct charge, but added that if the tribunal disagreed, there were “exceptional and compelling circumstances” where it was “unreasonable” for the three-match suspension, with a two-game ban more suitable.

The Saints will miss Higgins for three matches. Picture: Getty Images

Anderson said the outcome had been “significantly affected by Aliir Aliir’s actions in lifting and swinging” his foot in an effort to kick in the course of the tackle, using evidence from a biomechanist and human movement expert to support his claim.

But AFL counsel Nick Pane disagreed strongly, saying he had put Aliir in a “vulnerable position”.

Pane had earlier tendered a Port Adelaide medical assessment of Aliir Aliir which detailed ongoing treatment for concussion and stated that the defender would miss 12 days of training and most likely one match.

In Anderson’s 10 key points why he felt Higgins shouldn’t be suspended, he referenced Toby Greene’s tackle on Mac Andrew earlier this month where the Giants captain was cleared by the match review officer.

He also highlighted the size difference between Higgins and Aliir, saying that the latter had joined Port Adelaide at 195cm and 97 kilos as opposed to the Saint’s 177cm and 76 kilos.

Higgins gave evidence for more than 20 minutes, arguing that Aliir’s body weight and momentum caused him to come off balance.

“I thought he (Aliir) would land on his front,” Higgins said. “He had it (his right arm) free.

“His movement had a lot of effect on the tackle. I can’t tackle a 95kg man to the ground and all his body weight was coming towards me. Him having his leg up in the air trying to kick the ball (impacted). It didn’t feel like I had much control of his body weight on me.”

He said none of the Port Adelaide players remonstrated with him, saying one of Aliir’s teammates even described it as “a good tackle and that I was stiff.”

Biomechanics and human movement expert Helen Bayne, from the Western Australian Institute of Sport, said Aliir’s kicking motion as he was being tackled added to his “angular momentum” and played a role in the velocity with which he hit the ground.

But Bayne conceded she could not say with any certainty that Aliir would not have been concussed if he hadn’t motioned to kick the ball.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Saint Jack Higgins fails to overturn ban for sling tackle on Aliir Aliir