The send-off rule is back in the spotlight after the spiteful derby between the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants on Saturday.
During the match, GWS forward Callum Brown took out Sydney’s Tom McCartin with a slightly raised elbow that concussed the Swans defender.
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The incident happened early in the second quarter and McCartin did not return to the field. The AFL later suspended Brown for three matches for the “nasty” high shot.
On Tuesday, respected Sydney coach John Longmire said maybe it was time for the AFL to introduce a send-off rule, while noting accidents do happen.
It is not the first time Longmire has discussed the rule after a concussion injury.
Last year he raised it after Richmond big man Toby Nankervis KO’d Sydney’s Jake Lloyd with a bump, resulting in a three-match ban for the Tigers captain.
Now, after the McCartin hit, Longmire said it was time to give the send-off rule some serious thought.
“Is it a reasonable approach to consider that at some point down the track? Maybe,” Longmire said.
“Only the really clear incidents — maybe it’s worth a consideration.
“But I’m not jumping up and down about it at the moment because I know there’s a fair bit of water to go under the bridge.”
Longmire stressed that the rule should be implemented to make the contest fair.
“It wouldn’t be to punish the player, just to even it up,” he said.
“These types of incidents do happen in football, but is there a way it can be evened up on matchday?
“No matter what you put in place … accidents do happen.”
Longmire’s gripe comes after Essendon coach Brad Scott took aim at the AFL’s “hated” sub rule.
Scott became frustrated during the final quarter of the Anzac Day draw when young key forward Harrison Jones had to be assessed for concussion.
Jones didn’t have concussion but they subbed him out of the game anyway because rules stipulate that when a player is being assessed, he cannot return to the field for at least 15 minutes (even if no symptoms are detected).
“But it’s such a difficult one, because they have to assess him. We had 16 minutes to go in the last quarter, and they had to assess him, so we just made the call, take your time, we’ll sub him, because we don’t have time to wait,” Scott said.
“It’s one of those frustrating (ones). I’ve been pretty vocal (about it). I don’t know why we have a sub. I’ve got absolutely no idea.
“If we didn’t have a sub, we wouldn’t have to worry about rushing the doctors to get a concussion diagnosis or not, we’d just put the fresh player on who’s sitting there.
“But then we’re sitting there with the fresh player, while we’re assessing a key forward, while the game is on the line. The sub’s supposed to take the pressure off the doctor? I’d love someone to explain that to me (because) I’ve got no idea.
“We brought back the rule everyone hated,” he said.
Longmire’s issue is slightly different to Scott’s, but clearly the coaches aren’t thrilled with the rules around assessing players.
Last year after the Nankervis hit, Longmire said: “You are just trying to move with the way the game is going.”
The issue around concussion is particularly sensitive for the Swans and Longmire.
Tom McCartin’s brother, Paddy, was forced to retire last year due to repeat head trauma, and Tom also missed nine games throughout the 2023 season due to the lingering affects of concussion.
While Tom McCartin is in the concussion protocols and will not play against Fremantle in Perth this Friday night, Longmire said the key defender appeared to be recovering well.
“He wasn’t knocked out in the actual incident, which was a relief for everyone,” Longmire said.
“He can recall everything, so that’s a positive and so far he’s pulled up well.
“I don’t know whether it was deliberate (from Brown). There are always going to be incidents in football that are going to be unfortunate things that happen — I’m probably, reasonably certain it wasn’t deliberate.”
But Fox Footy commentator David King said it was exactly the type of incident the league was trying to eradicate from football.
“That’s no good,” King said during the broadcast.
“You can’t brace like that and make that sort of contact anymore.
“I know he’s coming at speed and he’s got some decisions to make … but the one outcome that he must prevent is contact with the head.
“In terms of action, it’s what we are stamping out of the game … It must be penalised.”
Brisbane champion Alastair Lynch described it as a “nasty hit”.
And 7NEWS sports reporter Theo Doropoulos said on Tuesday that Tom McCartin’s “long-term future is now a talking point”.
Meanwhile, fellow defender Dane Rampe made a successful return against the Giants after recovering from hamstring tightness.
Longmire said Rampe wanted to play the week before.
“In hindsight, it was the right decision. He came out and played a really good game – he’s a massive competitor, a strong leader for us,” the coach said.
Longmire has lauded the Dockers, noting they are the league’s second-best team for defence and No.1 for clearances “by a long, long way”.
“It’s going to be a tough ask,” said Longmire, whose team is top with a 7-1 record.
– With AAP
