06-22-2015, 08:44 AM
(06-22-2015, 08:30 AM)cookie2 link Wrote:As far as I recall P, there was no slinging action at all in the Gibbs tackle. He had Gray well wrapped up yes but went to ground with him. No sling at all. What are we saying now, that your not allowed to go to ground if you've got a bloke wrapped up?
But, (if I may) the sling tackle describes a style of tackle that has flung the tackled player into the turf face down. Banning such a tackle would be close to impossible, but rough conduct is a catch all offence that is in place to cope with such instances that arise in a contact sport.
Players do, according to the rules, have a duty of care to their fellow players, and it was, in the view of the MRP, rough conduct (the tackle) that was deemed careless and resulted in head high contact. Hence, 3 weeks with an offer of 2 with an early plea according to the matrix.
The result makes sense, but determing rough conduct can be tricky. The AFL have decided to err on the side of caution here and try to lessen the liklihood of such tackles being applied. It has also been helped by the recent holding the ball shift, whereby players are incentivised to dispose of the ball quicker, and lessen the chance of arms being trapped.
Call Gibbs a sacrificial lamb if you will, but a player got knocked out when his head crunched into the ground. The game is dangerous enough and tackling needs to be kept in check lest it become rugby league but played in 360 degrees. Personally i think 3 weeks is overs as it lacked intent, but im struggling to come up with a better arrangement than what is currently in place with the MRP.