THE OPENING round of pre-season games have delivered a strong reminder to players that dangerous tackles will not be tolerated by the Match Review Panel in 2017.
Jack Frost's suspension, for a tackle that didn't injure Gold Coast opponent Brandon Matera, has set the bar and clubs will need to be aware that the AFL remains serious about stamping out one of its bugbears.
Frost's action in the Brisbane Lions' clash against the Suns ticked all the boxes for a 'dangerous tackle' after he lifted, slung and drove his opponent into the ground forcefully.
But was the impact really 'medium' after Matera bounced back up and was cleared of any damage after spending the required 15 minutes off the ground to undergo a concussion test?
In the MRP's eyes, undergoing that test and being forced from the ground is enough to justify the medium impact grading, resulting in a one-match ban with an early guilty plea.
It's an important benchmark as the AFL continues to treat knocks to the head – even in the case a player is cleared of any damage – very seriously.
The Brisbane Lions didn't consider challenging Frost's suspension, which will be served in the club's round one clash against the Suns at Metricon Stadium.
Had the MRP graded the tackle low impact, he would have escaped with a $1000 fine.
It's a fine line between being hit in the hip pocket or serving a suspension, and one that new football manager David Noble says clubs are becoming more aware of.
"The impact and what that looks like is becoming clearer at club level," Noble told AFL.com.au.
"You're still going to have outliers, like when a player is wrapped up and there isn't any sort of sling movement or feet coming off the ground, but his head still hits the ground.
"But I think in just about 90 per cent of the cases there's clarity."
Jack Frost after his tackle on the weekend. (Photo: AFL Media)
Four of the six dangerous tackle cases in 2016 resulted in $1000 fines, with two players – Geelong's Nakia Cockatoo and West Coast's Simon Tunbridge – each serving two-match bans.
Both Cockatoo and Tunbridge's offences were graded high impact after their opponents suffered concussion.
After a period of apprehension when the AFL first clamped down on dangerous tackles in 2015, club football chiefs are now largely supportive of the rule.
The challenge for coaches is to train physical, competitive players to understand their duty of care and tackle with the correct technique to avoid suspensions.
"That's one of the difficulties, when you come away and ask, 'How do we prevent that from happening again?" Noble said.
"We're working hard behind the scenes at club level in regards to tackling technique, to try and get guys to ground without that head impact.
"It's a difficult one and everyone would have someone within their club who is designated towards tackling.
"(The rule) has good understanding … it's just that 10 per cent one where the technique is good but the impact is unfortunate."
Also see: Recovery Report
