In 2017, after former North Melbourne midfielder Ben Cunnington was fined for striking former Demon Bernie Vince in an incident that left Vince gasping for breath, the AFL decided such actions warranted suspension.
However from 2018, amid concern about the number of players missing a match, players were generally fined for striking players in the stomach. Automatic suspensions for three low-level offences were removed under sweeping changes to the system introduced by then football operations boss Steve Hocking.
Despite a massive increase in the money collected in fines in the past two seasons (with umpire contact also earning a penalty), the AFL decided gut punches were still occurring at an unacceptable level. Swann put the issue on the agenda as soon as he started in the job in July.
“I don’t see why that isn’t a penalty, to be honest. I think if you do penalise it, it’ll stop. The fines aren’t doing it,” Swann told Fox Footy in July.
Players, who have lobbied the AFL to reduce the number of fines, accepted the shift to a potential suspension, but there is some concern among about what will constitute “medium impact”, with players accustomed to being physical at stoppages to create separation from their opponent.
They anticipate a clear explanation from the AFL throughout the season as to what is acceptable and unacceptable.
The commission, which accepted the rationale that fines have not acted as a deterrent for players when it comes to stomach punches, approved a raft of other changes which had already been flagged to clubs in the December memo.
Players could still face suspension for a fourth offence of contacting an umpire, however clubs may also incur a financial sanction if the team infringes four times.
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Increases in fines for low-level offences will only be imposed if the same offence occurs within one season, while players could be charged for rough conduct if they “forcefully push their opponent in the direction of another player or other players from either team in circumstances that are unreasonable”.
The MRO will also have more flexibility when assessing the careless acts that cause concussion so they can be graded as high or medium impact, rather than severe being the only option.
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