AFL 2023: League to look at players milking dangerous tackle free kicks in rule review

The league’s crackdown on dangerous tackles has seen more than 20 players suspended as the AFL attempts to protect players’ heads.

But it has meant an increasing number of players who are tackled to ground throwing their heads back in a second movement to try to win free kicks.

Sydney’s Nick Blakey and Richmond’s Noah Balta were both caught in legal tackles across the weekend, but appeared to arch their necks to try to make contact with the turf to win a free kick.

Blakey was caught in a perfect, but brutal, tackle by Geelong’s Tom Stewart then seemed to accentuate contact by throwing his head back in an attempt to hit the ground.

St Kilda’s Jack Higgins was tackled perfectly by his West Coast opponent, who released his arms before Higgins made contact.

But Higgins writhed dramatically to the ground and won a dangerous tackle free kick for what seemed a legitimate tackle.

The AFL frowns upon the act but has chosen not to penalise the players or fine them for staging this year.

Yet, the league is concerned enough about the practice to want to consider how to stop it as part of its annual end-of-season tribunal review.

That process will likely involve speaking to the playing group about solutions to the problem.

Last year, the AFL met with player delegates as part of its tribunal review that made tweaks to the forceful front-on contact rule, umpire contact and fines for low-level offences.

While the MRO crackdown is in place to change tackle techniques, the harsh penalties also provide greater incentives for players to milk free kicks by ensuring their heads make contact with the ground.

Umpires are on edge to ensure they do not miss dangerous tackle free kicks, so players are aware they can win borderline free kicks if officials believe their heads have made contact with the ground.

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Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis told Fox Footy on Friday he would “go as far as fining players now for doing that” after the Blakey tackle.

“It doesn’t help the tacklers, it doesn’t help the umpires trying to make a decision at that point and it certainly doesn’t help the player if he smacks his head on the ground and he’s got half a concussion.

“I think we need to get it out of our game. It can be questioned whether (Aaron) Francis did it, I think it’s happening all over the league and coaches are starting to talk about it. For me, a fine like that would eradicate that type of action from players.”

Originally published as AFL 2023: League to look at players milking dangerous tackle free kicks in rule review