A WAR OF words has eruptedbetween Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis and Rules of the Game Committee memberKevin Bartlett.
The pair took to Twitter onWednesday to debate Bartlett's claim that some players were deliberatelyexploiting the high contact rule to draw a free kick.
Speaking on SEN Radio, Bartlett labelledthe tactic "a very dangerous act", and said a solution to the issuewould be to pay a free kick against a player who deliberately ducked his headinto a contest.
Lewis featured in an example ofthe behavior when he led with his head and made contact with Brent Stanton'storso against Essendon on Friday night.
The 27-year-old didn't believe itwas an issue, and made his feelings known on social media.
"For Kevin Bartlett to sayplayers deliberately drive their heads into an opponent while picking up a balloff the ground is naïve – scary he is on the rules committee," Lewistweeted on Wednesday.
Bartlett hit back soon afterwardswith a jibe of his own.
"Very happy after Fridaynights game that Jordan Lewis is not in a wheelchair#aheadisnotabatteringram," Bartlett tweeted.
The issue is in the spotlight afterCarlton defender Simon White fractured a vertebra in his neck during a game forthe Northern Blues this month.
Former Geelong VFL player Casey Tutungi was diagnosed as a quadriplegic following a collision while playing forSouth Barwon earlier this year.
Jacqui Reed is a reporter for AFLMedia. Follow her on Twitter @JacquiReedAFL
