Freo coach defends captain’s knock after Dockers crush Power

“But from what I see, Alex is making a play on the ball. I don’t think he makes contact with the head.

“What’s Alex supposed to do in that situation? Pull out of that contest and let him mark it, going back with the flight? He’d get crucified.

“If Alex pulled out of that contest, that’s what would happen. So I don’t have any issues with it.”

Longmuir described the collision as “unfortunate contact that happens in our game”.

“It happens in marking contests a lot, and I see it as one of those situations,” he said.

“I didn’t think it was a free kick. I’ve got no issues with it being paid a free kick, but I didn’t really think it was a free kick.

“I just thought it was two guys contesting the ball.”

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley acknowledged there wasn’t any malice from Pearce’s side, but felt the incident will probably be punished.

“Once upon a time they were footy incidents that weren’t such a big issue, but they are now, and rightly so because of the concussion,” Hinkley said.

“I’m sure both players went at the ball pretty reasonable, but in the end, there was a brace, seemed like a brace that causes some problems.

“And whether that’s Darcy hitting his head on the ground or not, it causes a concussion.

“I’m sure Pearce wouldn’t have meant that, but it’ll play out with the AFL like it always does.”

Hinkley had some empathy for Pearce, given the split-second nature of the incident.

“It’s really hard for today’s modern players to play the game,” Hinkley said.

“But the reality is, we know what the rules are and what they’re adjudicated like now, so I think everyone knows when that happens there’s usually some type of consequence.

“I’ve seen that in my team, I can reflect on two or three of my players over most recent times who have had big suspensions because of those things, and they’re split-second decisions that slightly go wrong.

“Concussion seems to be … the overriding factor in it all.”

AAP