Essendon coach Brad Scott will call for a review of the AFL tribunal at the end of the year, saying the system is too difficult for the clubs to challenge suspensions.
After consulting legal and biomechanic advice, the Bombers opted against fighting Harry Jones’ one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on North Melbourne’s Zac Fisher, who was not injured or given a free kick for an act the match review officer deemed was rough conduct.
Brad Scott wants change at the tribunal.Credit: Getty
Scott said the cost of unsuccessful challenges of $10,000, to be included in the club’s soft cap, was too significant a risk even though the Bombers believed Jones’ actions did not warrant such a sanction.
“Philosophically, we think that it wasn’t something Harry Jones should have been suspended for but the way the system is in place at the moment we didn’t feel we had any realistic chance of overturning that ban,” Scott said.
“I think as a club we’ll be seeking a review of the system at the end of the year. We feel like we’re having both arms tied behind our back. Our fans need to understand the tribunal isn’t an innocent-until-proven-guilty system, it’s a guilty-unless-you-can-prove-your-innocence system.”
Scott, formerly the AFL’s football manager, also aired his frustrations with the system earlier this year after Peter Wright’s four-match suspension for rough conduct on Sydney’s Harry Cunningham.
“I haven’t consulted other coaches or the [AFL Coaches Association] association, it’s just our club’s view we’ve had a couple of occasions this year where we would have liked to have challenge but the system, there is a strong deterrent in place to challenge MRO decisions,” Scott said.
“The AFL will say you’re entitled to challenge, but I also have an acute understanding of how the system works. It makes it very difficult the way it is at the moment.
“It sounds like a criticism, it’s not a criticism, it’s just an understanding of the position clubs are in. I think the AFL a long time ago wanted to deter clubs from challenging every single MRO decision, which is understandable.
“You don’t want every single case being challenged on a whim but we feel it’s too punitive at the moment to challenge the way the system is, based on all the expert legal advice, it makes it very difficult to overturn.
Essendon’s Harry Jones was given a one-match ban.Credit: AFL Photos
“We could challenge on principle, but that’s all that we’d be challenging on, according to the advice we’ve received.”
Jones’ suspension paves the way for gun youngster Nate Caddy, the Dons’ first pick in last year’s draft at No.10, to make his senior debut in the Dreamtime match against Richmond on Saturday night.
Scott declared star defender Jordan Ridley would return from injury this week after a half in the VFL, and tough midfielder Sam Durham would play despite an ankle issue, while ruckman Nick Bryan is one of “four or five” players the match committee needed to make a call on.
Bryan’s fate will likely hinge on whether the Dons return to two frontline rucks or if veteran Todd Goldstein is rested for a game many expect the club to comfortably win.
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