AFL fans and commentators are divided over the ugly clash between Geelong teammates Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan, with some questioning why the league’s crackdown on high shots doesn’t apply to the Cats forward.
The AFL’s crackdown on high shots, intentional or otherwise, has been well documented since the hammer fell in 2022.
Since then, a number of players have been suspended for unintentionally high contact with opposing stars.
However, the game between Geelong and Melbourne Demons introduced a new variable: what happens if a player accidentally high hits a teammate?
Cameron remained lying down at the GMHBA stadium for about five minutes and was taken off the ground by a medicab and hospitalized after collecting friendly fire from Rohan.
Now analysts and fans alike have wondered why he has no case to answer at the AFL tribunal.
The contact between Rohan and Cameron saw the Geelong striker ruled out of the game and taken to hospital
Many AFL fans questioned whether Rohan should be suspended, as he would have been if the hit had been on an opponent
Rohan previously served a one-game suspension for a high tackle on Hawthorn defender Changkuoth Jiath.
He was unfairly criticized by fans for being involved in a marker game that led to club champion Patrick Dangerfield being injured against Port Adelaide last week despite not making contact with his team-mate.
SEN Radio asked if Rohan would be suspended if he wore a Melbourne jersey instead of a Geelong jersey.
The great Kane Cornes of Port Adelaide said he would have rubbed off if he had worn blue and red.
“I was just studying it… I don’t know what he was doing anyway, he put himself in a very horrible position,” he said.
“He had no right to get in Jeremy Cameron’s way and tried to get out of the way at the last minute.
“I think he would be suspended if he was an opponent.”
Rohan checks on Cameron’s well-being as medics attend to the injured striker in the first quarter of their game against Melbourne
Kane Cornes also agrees Rohan would be suspended if he wore a Melbourne jersey instead of Geelong colors
Cameron was treated on the floor for about five minutes before being transported to hospital for scans
The AFL has stepped up its crackdown on head-high contact this season, whether that contact is intentional or accidental.
That has led many footy fans to echo Cornes’ thoughts, saying it shouldn’t matter what team players are on if they hit another player high.
Gary Rohan took his eyes off the ball. Realizing he couldn’t contest the ball, he turned his body to the side and chose to lead with his shoulder,” one fan posted.
‘There was no duty of care for a player in his path!! Why should he escape punishment just because it was a teammate he knocked out?’
“If Jeremy Cameron were a Melbourne player, Gary Rohan would be in serious MRO trouble. Late and he braced for contact, grading would be careless, lots of contact and serious impact,” another posted.
“Obviously he won’t be suspended, but should the AFL address this?”
“Gary Rohan’s hit would last more than 4 weeks if made against an opponent. Just goes to show how often these collisions are accidental,” added another.
Will Rohan be suspended for Cameron’s punching and concussion? Tribunal and AFL remind us every week that accidents and intent don’t matter – all that matters is protecting players from head injuries?’ asked another.
“I assume players can now use ‘accident’ as a defense?”
If Mr. Dillon and the @AFL will be consistent with their approach to “protect the health and safety of our players”, then Gary Rohan should definitely go for this careless, if not reckless attack on the game.
“Any time there is avoidable head contact..” uum say 樂 pic.twitter.com/EMw9TnvoJJ— Bonniboy (@BenTown71) June 22, 2023
However, fellow SEN panelist and former North Melbourne AFL champion David King disagreed.
“No one is seriously suggesting that, right? I can’t believe you’re taking this positively,” he said.
Last year, AFL chief referee Dan Richardson clarified the high contact rule by saying players would not be rewarded for ‘putting themselves in vulnerable positions to pull off a free kick’.
The rule reads: ‘If the tackle is applied, and there is a prior opportunity, and the ball carrier makes the high contact by any of the above means, they will be penalized with holding the ball.’
But there is no contact between players of the same team.
Former North Melbourne champion David King thinks the whole idea of suspending Rohan for crushing his own team-mate is ridiculous
Rohan managed to get over the incident and put on a huge game – including the winning goal – to secure victory for the Cats
Geelong coach Chris Scott was proud of the way his striker was able to cope with the incident and still put on a blinder
Despite the incident, Rohan emerged as a key figure in the Cats’ victory over Melbourne, kicking the goal that sealed the win.
Geelong coach Chris Scott praised his striker for recovering from the collision to positively impact the result.
“Gary Rohan was really rattled by it, as you’d expect, but his approach and maturity to really attack the game – if anyone won the game for us, it was him,” said Scott.
“Being the person he is, it upset him, and I respect that more because he’s not a sociopath. He has some empathy for one of his best friends who accidentally gets knocked out.
“The way he was able to refocus on what the team needed was very admirable.”
