AFL News

WATCH: AFL show breakdown of dangerous tackles, MRO review promised

“The AFL will address the deficiency in the conduct of further Tribunal hearings this season.”

Published by
Aidan Cellini

Preview

[ollowing the decision to overturn the three-game suspensions handed to both Charlie Cameron (Brisbane) and Toby Bedford (GWS) at the Appeals Board, the AFL has declared that a review of the MRO system will take place at the end of the year.

An uproar was caused as Cameron and Bedford appeared to apply "perfect" and legal tackles to Liam Duggan (West Coast) and Tim Taranto (Richmond).

However, the pair were slapped with three-week layoffs due to the concussions suffered by both players, leaving the MRO to grade the incidents as "careless conduct, high contact and severe impact".

Both the Giants and Lions initially failed at the Tribunal but took it one step further to the Appeals Board, where the decision was overturned based on a legal technicality due to an "error of law".

The AFL made a statement on Friday.

"We accept the Appeal Board's decisions, albeit that they were made on a legal technicality involving a perceived technical deficiency in the Tribunal's reasons.

"The AFL will reflect on those reasons and will address the deficiency in the conduct of further Tribunal hearings this season. The AFL will also review the system at the end of the season, as we do every year."

Accompanying the league's statement were tackling examples - both dangerous and safe (tackles that don't constitute Rough Conduct) - that were shared with all 18 clubs.

Dangerous Tackles

Safe Tackles

Published by
Aidan Cellini