Longmire puts send-off rule back on AFL agenda

Richmond co-captain Toby Nankervis will face the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night and is facing a three-week ban for the hit at the MCG in the second quarter of last Thursday’s sport, with Lloyd set to overlook this week’s conflict with the Western Bulldogs because of this.

The incident, which robbed the Swans of a key participant in a must-win match, has raised questions on whether or not the AFL ought to have a send-off rule and Longmire, who was in opposition to such a transfer for many of his 299-game teaching profession, has modified his thoughts.

Longmire mentioned the shift in attitudes in the direction of concussion, and medical doctors extra often ruling gamers out in video games after collisions that lead to suspensions ought to elevate the dialogue round a send-off rule.

While he conceded he didn’t have “all the answers”, Longmire, who will coach sport 300 on Thursday, mentioned it might be time attitudes modified with the sport.

“I was always in the no send-off camp over the years, but what’s happening in the game now, it’s changing a fair bit in regards to HIAs (concussions assessments), that’s happening a lot,” he mentioned on Monday.

“I understand the sub is there to help mitigate those things that are happening more and more, but often that sub is not the type of payer you have in your starting 22, it’s a different type of player and you can be unsettled.

“I don’t think there is a cut and dry answer, it doesn’t mean that everything is right.

“The only thing I would say is the HIA going the way it is, and going through the roof, it’s maybe worth looking at as a consideration … look at what are the outcomes that might be a positive for the game and take it from there.”

Longmire conceded examples within the NRL, which has each a 10-minute sin bin in addition to a send-off rule, had proven on-the-spot selections might be mistaken, with gamers subsequently cleared of wrongdoing on the judiciary after being despatched from the sector.

But he mentioned groups didn’t deserved to be deprived, because the Swans have been within the loss to Richmond, by “obvious” foul play.

“We obviously lost Jake for that game and for two weeks and we lost a goal with the ball being in play for a minute. We were hit from all sides,” he mentioned.

“But we don’t want an advantage, we just don’t want to be disadvantaged when you do nothing wrong.

“We see it in rugby league, that doesn’t always go right either. Where do you draw the line?

You don’t want to be in those 50-50 discussions and have a player rubbed out for a game, they go to the tribunal and are OK. They only have to be the really obvious ones. If you get in that grey area, it’s too big a penalty.

“I don’t think it should be put off the table. You are just trying to move with the way the game is going.”