Match Review Officer Michael Christian reportedly threatened to give up his position over battle with AFL bosses relating to Brayden Maynard’s cost for concussing Angus Brayshaw as a part of a “dramatic” Friday.
Watch each match of the 2023 Toyota AFL Finals Series earlier than the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and begin streaming immediately >
The debate surrounding Maynard’s sentence has been among the many most polarising and divisive in current historical past because the Magpies vice-captain was referred on to the tribunal in a uncommon sentence below new AFL government common supervisor Laura Kane’s title.
It comes as Maynard will entrance the Tribunal on Tuesday in a momentous case, along with his finals destiny on the road as Collingwood hopes to throw out his ban for tough conduct for trying to smother Brayshaw’s kick that knocked the Demon out chilly in final Thursday evening’s Qualifying Final.
Having compromised to not put his title to the cost, Christian believed Maynard had no case to reply for and was keen to stake his job on the road — a viewpoint opposed by AFL bosses.
“It was a dramatic day at AFL headquarters on Friday, in fact the drama probably began on Thursday night,” veteran journalist Caroline Wilson mentioned on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“I was at the AFL (finals) function, there was a lot of conversations going on.
“By Friday morning, the view of the Match Review Officer Michael Christian was there was going to be no case to answer for Brayden Maynard.
“Laura Kane disagreed, (incoming AFL CEO) Andrew Dillon disagreed and (outgoing AFL CEO) Gillon McLachlan disagreed. Those bosses insisted on sending this one straight to the tribunal.
“The AFL know that had nothing happened here, it would’ve been a disaster PR-wise for them.
“More disputes occurred when the AFL insisted on grading the charge.”
It then led to Christian threatening to stroll away from the position.
“At this point, my understanding is the Match Review Officer said he would have to consider his future at the AFL if this recommendation went through to the tribunal,” Wilson added.
“Whatever happened after that, whether a bluff was called, but Michael Christian is still there and the recommendation still went through to the tribunal.”
It’s not the primary time Christian has been overruled, with former AFL footy operations boss Steve Hocking in 2021 referring David Mack straight to the tribunal for a success that broke Hunter Clark’s jaw — a listening to through which Mackay was ultimately cleared.
The Maynard-Brayshaw resolution has nevertheless led to query marks over Christian’s future and the position of the MRO.
Christian, a longstanding Match Review Panel member as a part of the earlier system that included a panel of former gamers, took over as the only match evaluation official in 2018 as a part of a revamped system.
The rationale over the transfer to was {that a} sole resolution maker — in liaison with the AFL footy operations boss — would make sentences easier to resolve on.
“I also understand that initially Michael Christian’s name was going to be on the press release, and that it was Michael Christian himself who insisted on an AFL boss’ name being on the press release,” Wilson added.
“I think it makes it difficult for Michal Christian (going forward).”
Originally printed as ‘A dramatic day’: AFL heavyweight threatened to give up over inside battle amid Maynard furore
Source: www.news.com.au
