AFL confirm stance on head-high tackles issue

The AFL have addressed all 18 clubs on its stance around players ducking or dropping into tackles and receiving high contact.

The issue has been prominent this season, mostly highlighted by young Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan earning a mixed bag of calls when drawing high tackles, with the Magpies pressing questions to the league on the matter.

Round 18 saw several players win free kicks by lifting their arms, dropping their legs, or ducking their heads, sparking outrage from fans and a call for clarity from clubs.

Suggestions have gone as far as to claim Ginnivan has been umpired differently after attention was placed on the teenager's approach to receiving a tackle from opposition players.

Ginnivan has attracted 26 free kicks from 15 games this season, with the count plateauing in recent weeks due to a seemingly new view from the umpires on the young Magpie's tactics.

The AFL have doubled down on their view of players 'milking' free kicks, stating umpires will not reward players who may seek out head-high contact.

Embed from Getty Images

“We want to be clear, if the umpire believes the ball carrier is responsible for the high contact, then they won’t be rewarded,” AFL umpires boss Dan Richardson said.

“First and foremost, players attempting to win the ball must be protected and the onus of duty of care is on the tackler. However, having won the ball, the ball carrier has a duty of care to not put themselves in a position for high contact,” Richardson said.

“Ultimately, the rules do not reward players for putting themselves in vulnerable positions to draw a free kick. This is something we prefer not to see in our game at any level.

“Our umpires strive to get every decision right, every single time, however there are instances where, just like players, decisions are made at full speed at ground level without the benefit of slow-motion replay.

“The health and safety of players is the primary concern of both the AFL and the clubs, and we will continue to work with clubs, their coaching panels, as well as players to ensure the safety of the game.”

Should a player duck or seek to attract high contact, the officiating umpire will call play-on, with the ball carrier needing to successfully dispose of the football to avoid Holding the Ball.

The AFL moved to crack down on head-high contact in tackling ahead of the 2022 season, looking to stamp out worrying head injuries from the game.