Essendon coach Brad Scott has criticized the AFL for its ambiguous stance on incidental collisions during marking contests, particularly in light of GWS captain Toby Greene’s one-match suspension. The AFL categorized Greene’s contact as careless conduct, medium impact, and high contact, prompting the club to challenge the decision at the Tribunal on Tuesday.
Essendon supporters are likely to express discontent over the penalty imposed on Greene, drawing comparisons to Peter Wright’s incident in Round 2. Wright, who is set to return after serving a four-week suspension, was penalized for colliding with Sydney defender Harry Cunningham while bracing for contact during a marking contest.
While Cunningham suffered a concussion and was stretchered off, Greene’s incident was deemed only as ‘medium impact’ since the opposing player, Sam Docherty, continued playing. Giants coach Adam Kingsley downplayed the severity of Greene’s collision, asserting the legitimacy of his contest for the ball.
Echoing Kingsley’s sentiments, Scott questioned the Tribunal’s handling of similar incidents, highlighting the challenge of contesting decisions in the current system. He emphasized the need for clarity in instructing players on how to approach marking contests, given the AFL’s focus on outcomes rather than actions.
Scott expressed frustration over the lack of guidance provided by the AFL, noting the difficulty for players in navigating marking contests without clear directives. The coach highlighted the coaching staff’s efforts to seek clarification on instructing players amidst the prevailing uncertainty.
Joining Greene at the Tribunal on Tuesday are his teammate Jesse Hogan and West Coast defender Tom Barrass, further underscoring the contentious nature of recent disciplinary decisions in the AFL.