AFL’s MRP set for review: McLachlan

AFL football operations boss Mark Evans has briefed club chief executives over potential changes to the league’s match review panel (MRP).

Club bosses met in Melbourne on Thursday, when Evans outlined the prospect of fines replacing suspensions for lower-level offences.

The prospect of carry-over points being reformed was also touched on.

“It was well-received,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said of Evans’ presentation.

“Things can always be improved.

“I don’t think anyone likes seeing people miss games for minor offences and that has potentially been a challenge with the system.”

McLachlan said it was almost certain that Evans would be putting a series of proposed MRP amendments to the AFL Commission for consideration.

McLachlan’s words came on the same day Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch called for the tribunal system to be overhauled.

Leppitsch, who was the big winner following this week’s MRP controversies, suggests the numbers-based system is inconsistent, lacks commonsense and often fails to add up.

“To a man, I think most people think the consistency is not there and only because it’s based around points and less commonsense,” Leppitsch said in Brisbane.

Leppitsch admitted the Lions were extremely fortunate not to have Daniel Merrett rubbed out for a reckless late shot which broke the nose of Melbourne’s Cam Pedersen.

Merrett was reported for his clumsy spoil, where his left forearm struck Pedersen well after the Demon marked the ball.

The MRP spared the burly key-position Lion, saying he had eyes for the ball and caught Pedersen in a legitimate spoiling attempt.

“I probably expected him to miss maybe one, maybe two from what I saw,” Leppitsch laughed.

“I guess it’s human beings and case-by-case and, when you’re dealing with just numbers, mistakes can happen both for the good and the bad.”

McLachlan defended the Merrett decision, saying he was not cited because he was deemed to have punched the ball first.

“Those sort of nuances and specific definitions are difficult for everyone to understand, coaches or whoever they are,” McLachlan said.

Merrett’s controversial escape came when the MRP charged Geelong star Steve Johnson with kneeing Scott Thompson in the ribs before the Cats successfully contested with the three-man tribunal finding insufficient force.

There’s also been a furore surrounding the two-week suspension of Richmond’s Reece Conca, which has drawn questionable comparisons with Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe’s two-week ban earlier this season.

Conca lashed out at Giants youngster Devon Smith as he was heading for the interchange bench while Fyfe, scratched from Brownlow Medal contention, suffered the same punishment for accidental high contact on the Suns’ Michael Rischitelli.

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