No one could doubt Charlie Cameron’s bravery after returning to the field with a badly injured arm in Brisbane’s AFL semi-final against Greater Western Sydney at the Gabba.
But questions were raised about what was fair game on the field after umpires controversially warned the Giants’ Heath Shaw for targeting the winged Lions small forward during Brisbane’s 12.11 (83) to 11.14 (80) loss on Saturday night.
Cameron appeared to hyper-extend his elbow when his arm was caught awkwardly with teammate Lachie Neale just two minutes into the contest.
The livewire All-Australian’s game looked over before it could begin but he returned to the field barely six minutes later with his elbow heavily strapped.
He earned kudos for his gutsy decision to get back on the field, kicking a goal that helped the Lions grab the first-term lead after the Giants’ whirlwind four-goal start despite appearing in great discomfort.
However, eyebrows were raised when the umpires appeared to make Cameron a protected species as he gingerly nursed his arm, warning Shaw in the second term for targeting the wounded X-factor.
“If you keep knocking his arm I will penalise you. That is not in the spirit of the game, you have been warned,” umpire Shaun Ryan could be heard saying to Shaw.
It seemed to be double standards, with the Lions’ Nick Robertson appearing to manhandle the Giants’ Lachie Whitfield but escaping censure.
Whitfield didn’t get special treatment despite nursing a sore back after earlier copping a knee from Lions forward Eric Hipwood in a contest.
Then there was speculation of foul play from GWS, with Neale seen getting up holding his eye late in the second term.
The incident will no doubt come under scrutiny after the Giants’ Toby Greene copped a $7500 fine following a guilty plea to serious misconduct in the Giants’ elimination final win over the Western Bulldogs, in which he grabbed Marcus Bontempelli’s face.
Either way, experts weren’t happy with the precedent set by Ryan on Saturday night.
“It’s not tiddlywinks. Cameron has opted to stay out on the field. It’s fair game, surely,” Richmond great Matthew Richardson told the Seven Network.
“It’s just physical pressure. Not sure if that is not in the spirit of the game. The umpire doesn’t have to be involved in that.
“If it is not a free kick stay out of it. It’s footy, it’s a physical game.”
However, some critics believed Shaw’s tactics drew parallels with Hawthorn captain Ben Stratton copping a ban for pinching Essendon opponent Orazio Fantasia in June.
Stratton was strongly criticised for his treatment of Fantasia, with retired St Kilda great and ABC commentator Nathan Burke saying pinching was not a good look for the game.
The rules confirmed Shaw was in the wrong on Saturday, indicating a free kick can be awarded if a player makes unreasonable or unnecessary contact with an injured opposition player.
In the end, Shaw’s tactics didn’t stop Cameron kicking two goals but it was not enough to keep Brisbane alive in their first finals campaign in 10 years.