Lonny Mac wrote:
I don't know how the AFL think they are going to stop players getting concussed given that the game is a contact sport. Yes they can come down hard on blatant hits like Stewart on Prestia, as they should. But what Crippa's case shows is a player can act within the rules and intent of the game and incidental contacts can occur which result in a player being concussed. I understand that the AFL are probably worried about future litigation by players who suffer long term effects from concussions but the players know that each time they go out to play there is a risk they could get injured. Do the AFL want the game to be contact free? It appears to be the only way they can achieve their goal.
The AFL say long term player health and safety is paramount! But if that's their concern, it doesn't have to be just head injuries. I wonder how many players have suffered debilitating musculoskeletal injuries post their careers, resulting from what happened on the field. They have had to live with the pain and discomfort of these for rest of their life. I haven't heard the AFL say much about that.
The media and opposition supporters have been quick to call foul on Crippa being found not guilty. Even though it has been agreed that he was contesting the ball and only had eyes for the ball. Look at the outcome they say with Ah Chee's concussion. I haven't heard any outrage from these sources about Matthew Kennedy's concussion and broken jaw. In his case it was just one of those unfortunate things that happens sometimes. Fair enough. But what are the AFL going to do about concussions suffered this way? Is Kennedy's concussion somehow not as important as Ah Chee's? God forbid but whose to say Kennedy's concussion proves to have a greater impact on him in later years.
If the AFL want to take the moral high ground on player H & S then they can't be selective. But if they change the rules to stop for what are now just "football acts" then I'm not sure what sort of game we will be left with. It will certainly not been the same game that we have grown up to love.
What a well thought out and written post. Well done
What concerned me is the following on post of the Lions website from Ah Chee's father.
"I usually try to post positive comments on this platform but due to recent events I feel compelled to highlight something that still plagues this country - Racism.
It has been a turbulent 24 hrs where our family first learned, to our dismay, that the Carlton captain had his 2 weeks suspension thrown out after concussing our son in last weeks AFL match and then we wake up this morning to learn that, because of this incident, and through no fault of his own, our son has been racially vilified. Our son is hurting along with his family and we are disgusted that this continues to happen. We take another step backwards. Racism should not be tolerated in any aspect of life whether it be in school, at work or in the sporting arena and we have to gather the courage to have a voice and stand up to these people. We are proud of you son for making a stand and I hope that if there is a positive that this makes you a stronger young Aboriginal man and that your son will not have to experience the same pain if he decides in the future to pursue this great game of AFL."
IMO Cripps is a very fair player. It was a football incident/accident. The Racism that was directed at Ah Chee is WRONG but to also then indirectly blame Cripps and the decision is IMO very poor and disappointing