AFL throws book at sliders by making forceful contact below the knees a reportable offence Mark Robinson
From: Herald Sun
November 20, 2012 3:12PMPLAYERS can now be reported for making forceful contact below an opponent's knee in changes to the match review panel soon to be announced by the AFL.
The league is set to clamp down further on sliding tackles - or approaching a contest feet or knees-first - which will now be a reportable offence.
This season the league took a strong stance against players sliding into opponents, sending a memo to clubs in May warning of the potential risk of injury.
Sydney's Gary Rohan suffered a sickening broken leg when Kangaroo Lindsay Thomas slid into him at the SCG in April.
Thomas was charged with rough conduct and initially banned for two weeks, but later cleared by the tribunal on appeal.
Charges could be more common next season after the league decided that, in a bid to further protect players, sliding into contests can now be judged as unreasonable or dangerous contact.
At its last commission meeting in October, the AFL announced it would tighten the forceful-contact-below-the-knees rule, informing clubs umpires would pay free kicks on the spot from next season.
Today, the commission was told those rules had been further tightened to the extent that dangerous front-on contact could lead to a player being reported.
AFL clubs are expected to be made aware of the changes either today or tomorrow.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/afl-throws-book-at-sliders-by-making-forceful-contact-below-the-knees-a-reportable-offence/story-e6frf9jf-1226520467310
