AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has defended the tribunal course of however says the league is “obligation certain” to think about rule adjustments after Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard had his tough conduct cost thrown out.
Key factors:
- Gillon McLachlan says the AFL will have a look at “adjustments or modifications” to keep away from incidents just like the Maynard-Brayshaw conflict in future
- McLachlan mentioned AFL didn’t really feel it had an avenue to attraction towards the tribunal’s resolution
- Maynard was cleared of tough conduct and can play in Collingwood’s preliminary remaining subsequent week
Debate continues to rage after Maynard was cleared of wrongdoing over his tried smother that left Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw knocked out.
The league felt it had no grounds to attraction towards the tribunal’s resolution this week however will additional assess the incident over the low season and weigh up adjustments round gamers’ obligation of take care of opponents.
“Clearly the AFL thought that it was worthy of suspension and we have to respect the tribunal’s resolution,” outgoing AFL chief government McLachlan informed reporters on Thursday.
“However when you’ve got an incident like that, we’re obligation certain to take a look at truly whether or not there could be adjustments or modifications that may stop it or proceed to have our gamers as secure as they are often out on a area, albeit that it is a contact sport.”
Maynard leapt into the air in an try to smother Brayshaw’s kick — an motion the Magpies and others have defended as a “soccer act”.
His shoulder collided with Brayshaw’s head, leaving the Demons midfielder knocked out.
Maynard was charged with tough conduct and referred on to the tribunal by the AFL match assessment officer, however was finally cleared at Tuesday’s listening to.
Brayshaw will miss Melbourne’s semifinal towards Carlton below concussion protocols, whereas Maynard is free to play in Collingwood’s preliminary remaining subsequent week.
The incident has divided the soccer world and turned an intense highlight on the league’s match assessment and tribunal processes.
“The AFL believed there was a case [for Maynard] to reply and decided … then the tribunal had a special view,” McLachlan mentioned.
“They had been fairly definitive of their judgement and actually left no avenue of alternative for the AFL to attraction.
“We mentioned that and settle for that as a result of that is what that is — a system enjoying out.
“Our response is that if there is no avenues to attraction then let’s truly have a look at the incident and see if there’s tweaks or modifications or alternatives to vary the principles or modify them in order that we will do our perfect to guard the well being and wellbeing of our gamers on the sector.”
McLachlan, who will hand the chief government reins to Andrew Dillon on the finish of the season, wouldn’t be drawn on specifics of potential rule adjustments.
AAP