The AFL community’s debate over players sliding in legs or knees first has proven divisive, with Sydney coach John Longmire and West Coast counterpart John Worsfold disagreeing on whether there are any grey areas.
Longmire said on Wednesday he has no problem with Lindsay Thomas being cleared over the incident that broke young Swan Gary Rohan’s leg – but says the rules concerning the issue are a little confusing and that the AFL are still finetuning their approach.
North Melbourne’s Thomas risked a three-game ban when he successfully fought a rough conduct charge at the tribunal on Tuesday night.
The AFL vowed before the season to crack down on players sliding into contests knees or feet first and the Thomas case was the second landmark charge in as many weeks.
Swans co-captain Adam Goodes earlier copped a one-week ban for sliding into Port Adelaide’s Jacob Surjan, with the club unsuccessfully challenging that suspension.
“We’ve been in the unenviable position of being on both sides of the debate and discussion over the last week – obviously with Goodesy being suspended and then Gary Rohan having a broken leg,” Longmire said.
“I think there’s still some grey areas when you’re looking at everything. We certainly didn’t have any problem with Lindsay getting off.
“We think that the (AFL’s pre-season laws of the game) DVD example they brought up was the start of a debate that needed to happen. But we think there’s still some way to go … it just needs to be explored in a bit more detail.
“When I looked at the DVD example over the pre-season, I completely agreed with where the AFL was heading.
“The DVD incident was a real clear example the AFL brought up but obviously there’s a number of examples in games now that are grey areas.
“So we think there’s still a little bit of confusion … I think they’re still working it out as well, which I don’t have a problem with.”
Worsfold later contrasted that view, suggesting the league’s 18 coaches were aware of what’s acceptable.
“I think they were fairly different circumstances (Goodes and Thomas’ incidents) and I still think it’s pretty common sense about what’s correct and what’s not correct. I don’t think there’s too much of a grey area,” Worsfold said.
“I think most people would’ve accepted that. Goodes was found guilty so we’re aware of sliding in like that when somebody has already got the footy, you are going to be at risk.”
Longmire suggested it was difficult to determine how similar the incidents involving Goodes and Thomas were.
“I don’t know and there’s split seconds in it. But … as disappointed as I am to have a player sitting in hospital with a broken leg, I’m not looking at Lindsay Thomas and saying there’s any malice at all,” he said.