Dan Butler penalty shows the AFL has completely lost its way

It’s time for the AFL to confess they’ve a somewhat huge one on their arms.

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The league have tried to rub out harmful acts from the sport, issues that within the long-term might quell any gamers’ high quality of life.

It’s a worthy trigger, particularly with the rise of former gamers coming ahead as they wrestle after repeated head knocks all through their careers.

Unfortunately the league have overcorrected of their makes an attempt and the end result has left easy acts now being penalised and left followers fuming over the sport they love.

Each week a number of gamers are fronting as much as the Tribunal to attempt to clear their title from a reported harmful deal with.

On Thursday night time on the SCG we noticed arguably the worst free kick that has been paid this season.

Swans star Nick Blakey had simply danced round Brad Crouch and was wanting down the sphere for an open choice.

He took far too lengthy and was left a sitting duck as Saints participant Dan Butler licked his lips and lined him up.

He executed a close to excellent deal with, one coaches across the nation from a junior degree would train, as he grabbed Blakey across the sternum earlier than turning to the aspect and bringing him to the turf.

Unfortunately these days, it resulted in a free kick to the Sydney participant as Blakey’s head got here into contact with the turf.

Blakey was finally subbed out of the sport earlier than the top of the third quarter by way of concussion.

Melbourne premiership participant Daisy Pearce stated Blakey’s concussion would imply Butler’s deal with will nearly definitely be scrutinised intently by the MRO.

“The precedent this year is if you tackle a player to ground and their head hits the ground, regardless of outcome, it has the potential to cause injury,” Pearce advised Channel 7.

“We empathise with Butler, but on precedent this year he’s in trouble, particularly if Blakey has been subbed out with concussion.”

Swans legend Jude Bolton stated it might be disappointing if Butler was suspended.

“I still think it’s a footy action,” he advised Channel 7. “It’s one of the toughest tackles to execute when you’re running from behind and I think he’s actually guided him down.

“There’s going to be accidents in football. I don’t think it’s cut and dry like that.”

Footy followers watching on have been left incensed the deal with resulted in a free kick and extra so have been frightened the second would price Butler every week on the sidelines.

Rohan Connolly wrote: “That is NOT a dangerous tackle by Butler on Blakey. If you can’t do that, you quite literally, cannot tackle at all.”

Mark Stevens wrote: “That ain’t a dangerous tackle…”.

ESPN’s Matt Walsh wrote: “Begging Chrisso (MRO Michael Christian) not to punish the outcome.”

The Herald Sun’s Sam Landsberger wrote: “Dan Butler is every chance to become the 35th player suspended this year … and ineligible for the Brownlow. Fewer than 40 were rubbed out in 2022 (including finals). Are players who pay the price for the AFL’s sudden crackdown on dangerous tackles really not among the fairest?”

Damon Jackman wrote: “Issue is the lizard had no idea the tackle was coming, so naturally body can’t brace for impact, and full momentum of Butler brings his limp body to ground. It’s a totally fine tackle in the situation, nothing more Butler could do. Not run in full pelt? Game is cooked.”

For years now followers have had no thought what is going to come from Match Review Officer Michael Christian and the AFL Tribunal.

This yr issues have been taken to a complete new degree with tackles now showing to hitch to the bump on the AFL’s dead-list.

Unfortunately the Butler incident basically modifications the sport if he’s to be slapped with a one sport ban.

It units an unpleasant precedent that gamers can’t even deal with an unsuspecting opponent with the vigour and tenacity coaches far and huge attempt to drum into their gamers.

If Christian arms down a one-week ban, the AFL are making it clear the trail their taking place is to someday grow to be contact footy.