Geelong coach Chris Scott has declared clubs should use the 'good-character clause' at Tribunal hearings after Brisbane's Charlie Cameron was cleared of a one-week suspension on Tuesday.
The Match Review Officer (MRO) charged Cameron with a dangerous tackle on Melbourne's Jake Lever, grading the act as medium impact, careless conduct and high contact.
However, the Tribunal found through "exceptional and compelling circumstances" to use its discretion to reduce the charge, citing the small forward's clean record and character assessments off the field, given by former teammate Eddie Betts and Indigenous Elder Gregory Egert.
Now that the 'Pandora's box' has been opened, Scott believes clubs would be foolish not to use the ploy of character and record to defend in future appeals, adding it would be "offensive" to suggest others who have failed in using the defence have lesser character.
"Well, you have to now," Scott said
"Whether you agree with it or not, it's incumbent on you to use that.
"It would be offensive to any of our players to suggest they have lesser character than the two players in recent history who have successfully used that clause. There are plenty of others who have asked for it and been denied, which is highly offensive.
"I think the broader conversation is one worth having. I don't feel like I have anything to add to it right at the moment, except to say that we're really clear on what the AFL is trying to do around dangerous tackles and in anything that has a potential to cause head trauma.
"When I saw (the Cameron tackle) I expected him to be playing. So it's not like it's overly surprising, the surprising part is how they got to that point.
"I've got a view on it, but I just don't think I can be constructive around that conversation at the moment ... I'm generally not afraid to contribute my opinion โ I think that's reasonable โ but it is much more challenging when you're playing that team this week."
The AFL opted not to challenge the Tribunal's findings in the Cameron case, saying they were more than pleased with what the MRO found.
The Lions small forward will face Scott and the Cats on Saturday at the Gabba.
Geelong is set to welcome back premiership players Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins and Jake Kolodjashnij to the senior side.
"We have good availability at the moment, but sometimes that makes selection a challenge," Scott said.
"The risk of repeating myself, we never look at our team as being the absolute best 22 and thinking in the context of the year, we'll play a different team with those guys coming back.
"But there'll be a continual shuffle throughout the year."
Youngster Shannon Neale impressed in his outing against North Melbourne and isn't necessarily making room for the returning Hawkins despite replacing him late last week.
โWe're obviously advanced in those conversations, but they're just a little way off being able to confirm it,โ Scott said.
โI think it's reasonable โ and I flagged this previously โ that we will play Hawkins, Cameron โand Neale in the same team at some point.
โObviously the way we sort of think about our ruckman sort of builds into that conversation as well. So yeah, we're really pleased with the way he played and it would be our preference to keep going with him.โ
The Cats are one of two undefeated teams heading into Round 6, sitting second on the AFL ladder behind GWS.
