The AFL has announced a number of amendments to the Tribunal and Match Review criteria for both the AFL and AFLW upcoming seasons.
The league has put a clear focus on protecting the head in recent years and they have now taken further steps to discourage players from making any contact with an opponents head.
The new adjustments will now see the players more likely to be suspended for head high incidents that saw them fined in 2021.
Contact with an umpire is another issue that the AFL have addressed, with players to be punished if they force their opponent to make contact with an umpire. At times in recent seasons, midfielders have used the umpire as a way to get separation from their direct opponent.
Incidents like the Joel Selwood bump on Giant Sam Taylor and Lance Franklin's collision with Boyd Woodcock- would now result in those stars missing games.
The AFL amendments are as follows:
1. Head high contact
Previously under the AFL & AFLW Regulations, “strong consideration” was required to be given to the potential to cause injury in certain circumstances. Regulations have therefore been amended as follows:
The result of this change will be that, where there is Careless Conduct that is High Contact and has the potential to cause injury, a Medium Impact classification will usually apply, and a one match suspension will be the minimum sanction applied.
2. Sanction for intentional contact with an umpire
The AFL and AFLW Regulations have been amended to require the Tribunal to have regard to the number elements of the offence (aggressive, forceful, demonstrative and/or disrespectful) which are established in determining the sanction for Intentional Contact with an Umpire with the result that the more elements that are present the harsher the sanction that may be imposed.
Previously, the AFL and AFLW Regulations provided that contact with an Umpire that is aggressive, forceful, demonstrative or disrespectful will be deemed intentional and the Player will be directly referred to the Tribunal with no further guidance included as to the sanction that should be imposed.
3. Fixed Financial Offence – Careless Contact with an Umpire
The AFL and AFLW Regulations provide that a player may be charged with the offence of Careless Contact with an Umpire by directly pushing an opponent into an Umpire or their direct path. Both Regulations have been amended to provide that a player may also be charged with the offence of Careless Contact with an Umpire by holding (in addition to pushing) an opponent into an umpire or their direct path.
4. Fixed Financial Offence – Tripping
Tribunal Guidelines have been amended to provide that:
5. Structure of the Tribunal
The Tribunal has previously been comprised of a Chairperson and a three-member Jury of former players. The Rules have been amended so that the Tribunal will be made up of one Chairperson and two Tribunal Jury Members, the three of whom will be responsible for determining the decision of the Tribunal.
The AFL advises Jeff Gleeson QC has been appointed to the role of Chairperson of the Tribunal while Renee Enbom QC has been appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of the Tribunal. Renee will Chair AFLW Tribunal hearings as may be required when the season commences on January 7, 2022.
The AFL thanks long-serving Chairpersons David Jones and Ross Howie SC for their many years of exceptional service as the Chairs of the AFL Tribunal.
6. Cost consequences of Tribunal/Appeal fees
Clarity provided on the treatment of Tribunal and Appeal Board fees for the AFL and AFLW Competitions.
For the 2022 AFL Women’s Competition, this will be set as:
For the 2022 AFL Season, this will be set as:
7. Use of video evidence of other incidents
The AFL and AFLW Regulations provide a list of prescribed video examples that the charged player and Tribunal Counsel may rely on before the Tribunal. The Tribunal Guidelines then provide that the Tribunal will not receive video evidence of any other incidents.
Amendments are as follows: