The decision was met with frustration by AFL officials at a time of increased focus on player health and safety amid the threat of class action by past players suffering head trauma.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has taken aim at the AFL appeals board’s decision to clear Patrick Cripps of a two-match ban, which ultimately allowed him to win the Brownlow Medal.Credit:Getty Images
In an interview with the AFL Record grand final edition, conducted before the Brownlow count, McLachlan said the appeal board’s decision “made no sense”.
“People are aware I was very agitated by that decision. It made no sense to me in any way and it is frustrating to have a legal view about due process or procedural fairness – a complete nonsense – really affect a clear mandate to protect the head,” he said.
“We confused our supporters and set ourselves back and that really frustrates me.
“When you can have something that is so important, which is protecting the head, and a clear statement from the MRO and backed up by the tribunal, and then the player getting off because of a legal technicality and nobody really understanding what the hell happened, I find that challenging.
“So, I have asked the guys to review the system and we will see where that lands.”
Senior AFL executive Andrew Dillon released a statement after the finding, suggesting there could be changes to the league’s regulations or tribunal procedures.
“The health and safety of our players is of paramount importance to the AFL and we will continue to evaluate and, where necessary, act to prioritise that objective in relation to the occurrence of concussion and other injuries in the playing of our game,” Dillon said.
Cripps’ action had been graded by the MRO as careless conduct, high contact and high impact, based on the skipper electing to leave the ground and the fact that Ah Chee was forced from the ground with a concussion.
Had Cripps’ suspension stood, he would have also missed the round 22 clash against Melbourne. He did not poll in that game.
Cripps became the sixth Blue to win the sport’s highest individual honour, and the first since Chris Judd in 2010.
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