The AFL says Collingwood’s Jack Ginnivan should have been awarded a free kick after the collision with Essendon’s Mason Redman on Sunday, but they maintain the young Magpie initiated the contact.
Key points:
- The AFL says Redman should have been penalized after he continued to grab Ginnivan by the neck
- The league adjusted the rules around high tackles before round 19
- Current and former Magpies players Tony Shaw, Mick McGuane and Mason Cox have all called for Ginnivan to get more protection.
Ginnivan was tackled by Redman during the first quarter of Sunday’s thrilling win over Essendon but was not whistled in his favour.
But while the AFL said the referee made the right call, they should have penalized Redman after he continued to have Ginnivan by the neck.
“Ginnivan is responsible for the initial high contact, but Redman then continues the tackle in an unreasonable manner, holding Ginnivan by the neck,” an AFL statement said.
“In that case Ginnivan should have been awarded a free kick.
“Overall, the refs did a fantastic job officiating the high tackle interpretation in all of the weekend’s games.”
It came just days after the league moved to clarify its high-contact rule, following fierce debate over whether Ginnivan was being refereed differently than other players.
The league had said players would not be awarded free throws when they helped or shouldered each other to create high contact.
Ginnivan was cited as one of three examples of the league grade and has been an unwitting lightning rod this season for criticism of players trying to take free throws.
Earlier on Monday, Collingwood legend Tony Shaw accused the AFL of going after Ginnivan and called his treatment “disgraceful”.
“This problem won’t go away even after a big game,” the Magpies premiership captain tweeted in 1990.
“The AFL has prosecuted a player on a whim and now opened the umpires up for embarrassment again because of this interpretation by Ginnivan.”
Richmond legend Matthew Richardson said Ginnivan-Redman’s no-call was “outrageous”, while former Magpies hero Mick McGuane said whistleblowers should “arbitrate the rules of the game, not the player” .
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Collingwood forward Mason Cox also weighed in, questioning the league’s commitment to player welfare around head contact.
“It’s wild to think that high tackles have been put into the game to protect the health of the players and are now being blatantly ignored for a 19-year-old,” Cox posted on Twitter.
“How can we think ‘the AFL cares about concussions and high head contact’ after this?”
Collingwood coach Craig McRae offered Ginnivan his support after the game.
“I thought it was a free kick. He just hit it high,” McRae said.
“I don’t think there’s any inclination towards that.
“I’m clear about that [the rule]. The referees have come to our training.
“We’re not going to blame or excuse things. The refs are going to get it right, some wrong.”
AAP