AFL General Manager Football Operations Mark Evans today wrote to all clubs to advise the AFL Commission had approved a number of recommendations around the operation of the game’s judiciary system with the Match Review Panel (MRP) and Tribunal.
Mr Evans said the AFL Commission had continued to support the current MRP system because it provided clubs and players with the opportunity to avoid Tribunal hearings, with a benefit provided for an admission of guilt. The Football Operations Department will maintain the annual review of its operations.
The Commission approved a recommendation for further clarity to be given to the MRP on how it should grade both the conduct and impact of offences, while a selection of video examples of incidents from the first half of the upcoming Toyota AFL Premiership Season will now be provided to clubs as comparison for the second half of the 2014 year.
Mr Evans said his powers as the General Manager of Football had also been clarified to specify that he could now refer a matter directly to the Tribunal himself. The General Manager of Football still has the power, as previously, to lay a charge and grade it himself.
“An extensive review of the current MRP and Tribunal system was undertaken in November and December last year, involving clubs, the AFLPA, Tribunal personnel and others,” Mr Evans said.
“The overall operation of the MRP – the grading of offences for Conduct, Contact and Impact, the table of sanctions and a specified method of dealing with a player’s record - has provided a transparent system and allowed a player and his club the option to accept the determination of the MRP for a lesser sanction.
“The AFL’s review was centred around how can the system be simplified and more easily understood, as well as modified to produce more equitable and consistent results.”
Mr Evans said in terms of assessing conduct within an incident, the current grading levels for Negligent, Reckless and Intentional were retained, with the MRP given greater guidance to interpreting specific actions.
- Negligent - The player’s conduct has gone past the threshold for a report, his actions were those of a player attempting to play the game within the rules, but he should have shown a greater level of care in his execution.
- Reckless - Although not intending to commit a reportable offence, the player should have realised his actions were likely to result in a reportable offence, but proceeded with those actions regardless of the consequences.
- Intentional - The player intended to commit the reportable offence.
It was also determined the MRP should be given greater clarity in how to assess the impact of a reportable offence, and the range of areas for this part of the sanctions – Low, Medium, High and Severe – will be given greater definition.
Separately, Mr Evans said a number of key appointments had been made as follows:
- Joel Bowden to join Mark Fraser and Des Gleeson on the MRP Panel, after Bryan Sheehan stepped down due to his role as AFL Umpire’s Assistant Coach;
- Rod Austin will now be available to the MRP when required, in an advisory capacity;
- Ross Howie to take up the role as AFL Tribunal Deputy Chairman, replacing John Hassett who has retired;
- David Neitz to join the panel of former players who can sit as Tribunal members;
- Michael Sexton to join the panel who may sit as AFL Appeals Board members, replacing the retiring John Winneke.
Separately, as a reminder to all media, in late 2013 the Commission approved a key change to a current interpretation of the Laws to further protect players from head injuries:
- Rough Conduct, Head Clashes – A player electing to bump will be cited for rough conduct if contact comes via a head clash, and players will be instructed a head clash should be reasonably foreseen when bumping.
"The AFL’s long-term commitment is to both keep the game safe to play and great to watch by protecting the traditional highlights of our indigenous game that separate it from all other sports,” Mr Evans said.
“From our research, the number one guiding principle for fans is that the game should remain a physically tough and contested game with body contact, however nearly three quarters of fans agree that player welfare should be at the heart of the Laws.”
Ends
Patrick Keane
AFL Media Manager
