AFL Rd 5 2024 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Adelaide

[ElwoodBlues1]

It wasn't even a free kick.

Nothing malicious in the bump and it was fair under the old rules but the onus is now " duty of care" and I have noticed a few players pulling up short in contests to avoid contacting the opposing player in an effort to look after them and its going to become more common and hopefully doesnt get confused with shirking the contest.
You cant just throw yourself at players anymore and not care about the damage you do, the other rule where players need to adjust is throwing themselves at the ball and taking the feet out from under the other player, the umpires seem red hot on paying that too..

[Thryleon]

Crouch was intent on cleaning up Carroll then winning the ball.  He had the benefit of seeing Carroll going in, as he arrived later, and Carroll wouldnt have known that hit was coming, that being said, if players are not being trained to see that coming, thats on the people instructing them.  Not sure that Carroll ducked into it.

[DJC]

We have to condition ourselves to there being less contact in the sport. Crouch didn't have to do that.

That's the way Crouch was taught to go for a ground ball.  If Carroll had learnt the same technique, there would have been no head contact.

I agree that the game has to evolve to minimise head knocks but part of that evolution is a return to good technique and the elimination of foolhardy play encouraged by the rules as they are interpreted now.  If two players went for the ball as Carroll did, it would have resulted in a head clash.

[madbluboy]

In fairness to Carroll he wasn't afforded the luxury of the run up Crouch had.
If you look at the slow mo replay Carroll actually was turning his body as he went to pick the ball up before he was smashed.

[kruddler]

That's the way Crouch was taught to go for a ground ball.  If Carroll had learnt the same technique, there would have been no head contact.

I agree that the game has to evolve to minimise head knocks but part of that evolution is a return to good technique and the elimination of foolhardy play encouraged by the rules as they are interpreted now.  If two players went for the ball as Carroll did, it would have resulted in a head clash.

That's the way I teach my 9yo son to go for the ball. Protect yourself by turning your body.
If the other bloke is stupid enough to not do that, then that's on him. He doesn't meant to hurt the opposition by doing that, but protect yourself first, opponent second.

Afls duty of care will get you if you hurt someone else, but that someone else needs to show a duty of care to themselves!

[pinot]

Bot isn't AFL ready and not sure whether he will ever be.