Fears for crackdown as Giant tackle divides football world

A star has thrown himself under the spotlight as the AFL’s dangerous tackle debate reared its head again on Saturday.

Lachie Neale was taken to ground in a Callan Ward tackle.

The dangerous tackle debate has flared once again amid claims Brisbane star Lachie Neale “contributed” to the motion that saw him crash into the turf in Canberra.

Neale had been wrapped up in a Callan Ward tackle right on three quarter time at Manuka Oval on Saturday night, but seemingly appeared to give up in the tackle before the Giant took him to ground.

Replays showed Ward did have Neale’s arms pinned before the Lions’ star Brownlow Medallist could get his left arm out to brace for impact.

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Given the AFL’s crackdown on sling tackles and dangerous tackles where players’ heads make contact with the turf, Ward’s likely to come under Match Review scrutiny.

But both Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon and Jordan Lewis questioned just how much of a role Neale played in the tackle.

“I think Lachie Neale contributed to that,” Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said.

“And this is where we don’t want to get to.

“The tackle is always going to be a contentious issue.

“My initial reaction is that I thought Lachie Neale not contributed, but didn’t do everything he could to work through this.

Cal Ward takes Neale down with a dangerous tackle. Given the crackdown this year, is there anything in this?

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🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/6TzSiGj8Nppic.twitter.com/vWd7Hz3fC1

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 22, 2023

Blow the whistle earlier

— Taylor Adams (@taylor_adams13) April 22, 2023

“You could make the case the legs are wrapped up and he’s been taken to ground.

“His head hits the ground – you’ve got to work out to determine whether he could work his way through and how much did Cal Ward contribute?

“I think Cal Ward’s probably going to have a case to answer.

“I think he’s almost stopped, Cal Ward (in the tackle). We’ll wait and see.”

Players started leading with the head when the stricter interpretation came in…

Players allowed themselves to be tripped when contact beneath the knees came in…

Players will always take advantage of the rules…

Umpiring is a tough gig, needs to be made easier not harder.

— Nathan Buckley (@ncb_cfc) April 22, 2023

It’ll be really disappointing if players start flopping and feigning head injuries in tackles to try to win cheap free kicks. Nothing about that is in the spirit of the modern game.

— Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) April 22, 2023

Lewis agreed Neale appeared “easy” to take to ground.

“I think as the person being tackled, you need to keep your feet busy to try and fight through the tackle,” he said.

“I think Lachie Neale accepted the tackle which then contributed to him being easy to be slammed on the ground.

“The responsibility clearly lies with the tackler but in that instance, I think Lachie Neale contributed to the force of his head hitting the ground.”

Neale collapsed when tackled by Ward. He was awarded a free kick for a dangerous tackle. It's easy from the couch and impossible to know for sure but Ward's reaction was same as mine, that Neale was looking to milk a free kick. #aflgiantslions

— peter ryan (@petryan) April 22, 2023

Neale was able to bounce up to his feet and join teammates for the three quarter time huddle.

He remained in the contest to start the fourth term, and did not undergo a concussion test.

Already eight players have been banned for dangerous tackles in 2023, with Richmond’s Nathan Broad copping the heaviest of suspensions – four weeks for the sling tackle that concussed Crow Patrick Parnell.

Just this week, Tom Green, Taylor Adams and Zach Merrett all copped bans for tackles that resulted in their opponents hitting their heads on the turf.

Originally published as Fears for crackdown as Giant tackle divides football world