TonyK
CibbuanoThe bump will stay, says Demetriou
June 2nd 2008 09:14
THE traditional hip and shoulder isn't in danger of becoming extinct, according to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.
Just two weeks after Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams called for an enquiry into the tribunal's handling of head high bumps after the decision to suspend star Port midfielder Shaun Burgoyne for his bump on Hawks' skipper Sam Mitchell, three more players have been cited head high bumps.
Adelaide's Brett Burton, classy Western Bulldogs forward Robert Murphy and West Coast defender Beau Waters all face suspensions after being cited by the match review panel on Monday for making head high contact to opponents.
Following the three-match ban handed down to Burgoyne, Williams said the current rules did not make allowances for accidental bumps to the head - a view shared by Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd.
Lloyd said on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show if players were continually cited for head high bumps they would soon be wary of delivering the traditional hip and shoulder bump for fear of being reported if it went wrong.
"I reckon if Robert Murphy gets done for that (his bump on Hawthorn's Xavier Ellis), all players will question whether you bother hip and shouldering because a guy might get lower or you might be hip and shouldering Brent Harvey (the league's smallest player) and he's, you know, so much smaller than you are," Lloyd said.
"Now you just can't hit anybody in the head so it has changed player's thinking - 'Is there any point going for the hip and shoulder'?"
Demetriou hinted on Monday that the Bombers' captain would be fined for his comments.
"It was inappropriate for Matthew Lloyd to make those comments and I'm sure that (football operations manager) Adrian Anderson will be looking at it," he said.
"This matter (Murphy's bump on Ellis) may appear before the tribunal and everyone knows we should wait for that process to take its course and the rules are pretty clear on that."
Demetriou denied that the bump was under threat and said the AFL's position on what constitues a legitmate hip and shoulder was clear.
"I don't think they (bumps) are under scrutiny," he said.
"Everyone knows our position on head high bumps - the head is sacrosanct."
"If you watch our game I think you can see the bump is alive and well but what is important is the head is sacrosanct."
Just two weeks after Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams called for an enquiry into the tribunal's handling of head high bumps after the decision to suspend star Port midfielder Shaun Burgoyne for his bump on Hawks' skipper Sam Mitchell, three more players have been cited head high bumps.
Adelaide's Brett Burton, classy Western Bulldogs forward Robert Murphy and West Coast defender Beau Waters all face suspensions after being cited by the match review panel on Monday for making head high contact to opponents.
Following the three-match ban handed down to Burgoyne, Williams said the current rules did not make allowances for accidental bumps to the head - a view shared by Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd.
Lloyd said on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show if players were continually cited for head high bumps they would soon be wary of delivering the traditional hip and shoulder bump for fear of being reported if it went wrong.
"I reckon if Robert Murphy gets done for that (his bump on Hawthorn's Xavier Ellis), all players will question whether you bother hip and shouldering because a guy might get lower or you might be hip and shouldering Brent Harvey (the league's smallest player) and he's, you know, so much smaller than you are," Lloyd said.
"Now you just can't hit anybody in the head so it has changed player's thinking - 'Is there any point going for the hip and shoulder'?"
Demetriou hinted on Monday that the Bombers' captain would be fined for his comments.
"It was inappropriate for Matthew Lloyd to make those comments and I'm sure that (football operations manager) Adrian Anderson will be looking at it," he said.
"This matter (Murphy's bump on Ellis) may appear before the tribunal and everyone knows we should wait for that process to take its course and the rules are pretty clear on that."
Demetriou denied that the bump was under threat and said the AFL's position on what constitues a legitmate hip and shoulder was clear.
"I don't think they (bumps) are under scrutiny," he said.
"Everyone knows our position on head high bumps - the head is sacrosanct."
"If you watch our game I think you can see the bump is alive and well but what is important is the head is sacrosanct."
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