ONE DAY in the not-too-distant future, we will look back on the 2015 AFL season and shake our heads.

Not all of us realise it now, but at some stage soon it will become accepted that it is not right for football to be played under rules that allow, tolerate, and even condone the knocking out of a player.

AFL grounds are workplaces, and on three occasions in the past four weeks, young men innocently going about accomplishing the main objective of this game – taking possession of the football – have been knocked out.

There are many ways a player can be knocked out on a football ground.

Unfortunately some of those ways simply have to be consigned to the 'tough luck' category, for the AFL’s match rules can't possibly prevent all scenarios and accidents.

But tackling an opponent and choosing to sling him to the ground is not, by definition, an accident.

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Allowing a player to do so without sanction leaves the game's controlling body open to questions relating to player welfare and duty of care, and the very real and very expensive legal threats that forever spin off such issues.

Tackling was never designed as a tool to knock out an opponent. The sling tackle issue has actually become a concussion matter for the AFL.

When Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray took the football in round 12, a sling tackle by Carlton's Bryce Gibbs left him knocked out.

When the Swans' Ted Richards grabbed the ball in round 14, Port's Jay Schulz slung him to the ground, instantly concussing him.

And then Essendon's Alex Browne was left dazed and groggy after a tackle by Melbourne's Jeremy Howe last weekend.

None of the men tackled took any further part in the game. Richards missed the following week too. We don't yet know what Browne will be doing this weekend.

Gibbs was suspended for two weeks for his actions. Howe was cleared.

Adding to the confusion surrounding the sling tackle rule was the Match Review Panel's initial not-guilty finding on Schulz.

On Monday of last week, Schulz's tackle on Richards was, according to the MRP, "not unreasonable in the circumstances". 

By Monday of this week, AFL football operations boss Mark Evans deemed that "on reflection (Schulz) should have been charged with rough conduct very similar to the way that Gibbs was charged".

As if this matter wasn’t already grey. Evans should have overruled the MRP last week. He had the power to do so, as did the man formerly in his position, Adrian Anderson. But in the 11 seasons of the MRP system, the AFL’s footy boss has never overruled the panel.

Evans' moment for real impact on a real and concerning issue was therefore lost. And Schulz played last week, kicking a goal for a team that won a match by three points.

Having said that, Evans should also be complimented for admitting AFL error, and hopefully it can be seen as the beginning of the way forward on this issue.

Already, a thorough review of the tackle had been ordered.

When finalised, the review must, as its starting premise, order that all tackles which directly result in an opponent being concussed be subjected to automatic suspension.

All tackles made in a slinging motion, even if no damage is suffered by an opponent, must be sanctioned by way of suspension or fine.

There is no room to move on this issue any more, and we'll let the QCs and high-end football officials thrash out the other provisions to be attached to the new sling tackle rules.

Players being knocked out in tackles must stop. Rules that provide cover for the players inflicting the damage must be removed.

In 2015, that is a seriously bad look. And in 2025 when we reflect on this matter, we will actually wonder how we let it happen for so long.

Twitter: @barrettdamian