Richo calls for 'tunnelling' ban
Len Johnson and Richard Hinds | March 26, 2008
RICHMOND forward Matthew Richardson said yesterday the AFL should act decisively to prevent any use of the controversial tactic of "tunnelling" in marking contests.
"Tunnelling" involves taking a player's body under the ball while he is in the air, and carries the risk of the target landing heavily while unprotected.
Richardson said the player going for a mark should not be subjected to unfair interference. Being thrown off balance while in the air could lead to a high risk of serious injury, he said.
"Once you're in the air and your feet are off the ground, if you get taken off balance, you've got no control how you land," Richardson said. "So it's not something you'd want to happen. You'd get blokes landing and doing their knees. Once a guy is in the air and going for a mark, if he's pushed, it gets dangerous."
Richardson, who is in his 16th AFL season, said he had no personal concerns as he felt the tactic had only ever been used against him once or twice over that time. But he had seen it used in ruck contests.
The tactic has come under the spotlight after St Kilda alleged it was used against Nick Riewoldt in last Saturday night's game against Sydney. They say the tactic was used against Riewoldt on occasions last year as well.
The Saints are putting together a case to take to the AFL umpiring department later this week.
The umpiring department has admitted that free kicks could have been paid to Riewoldt against his immediate opponent, Craig Bolton, in two incidents in the second half of the game.
In both of them, Bolton used his body to nudge Riewoldt under the ball, causing the Saint to land heavily. In one case, Riewoldt's head appeared to contact with the ground.
But Bolton insists he has never practised or been instructed to use the tactic, which was banned in basketball. "No, definitely not," said Bolton ...
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