AFL high bumps: Competition condemned for stance following Kysaiah Pickett, Lance Franklin and Shane McAdam hits

Aidan Cellini

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AFL high bumps: Competition condemned for stance following Kysaiah Pickett, Lance Franklin and Shane McAdam hits image

Is the AFL too lenient on the head high bumps?

North Melbourne great David King believes so as Kysaiah Pickett and Lance Franklin essentially got off scot-free. 

As the book for round one of the 2023 AFL season is closed, plenty of headlines have emerged from the weekend, with three players living on the edge.

Melbourne's Pickett was handed down a sanction of two weeks for his hit on Western Bulldogs' Bailey Smith and accepted, missing clashes against Brisbane and Sydney.

MORE: Is it time for the AFL to bring in extra-time?

King expressed his frustration at how the league looked the other way in determining the penalty of the bump.

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“You’ve got Kossie Pickett spearing in with genuine intent to hurt and that gets two weeks. It should be three minimum and if he knocks the player out, it would be six, seven or eight," King said.

Fellow Fox Footy commentator and former player Leigh Montagna also jerked at the decision handed down by the AFL.

“We haven’t seen acts like that for a while where players have deliberately chosen to leave their feet and launch at someone,” Montagna said.

“It was a real surprise (Pickett’s two-game ban) so he’s a lucky boy he’s only got two weeks.”

Smith was able to play out the game, which goes to show the Match Review Officers (MRO) are mainly concerned with the result of the action rather than the intent.

They graded Pickett's hit as "careless conduct; high impact; high contact".

Not long after on Saturday night, Franklin also took aim at Gold Coast defender Sam Collins, bypassing the football and clipping the Sun with his elbow.

King once again was unsatisfied with how the MRO dealt with the head-high contact, with the champion goal-kicker offered one week on the sidelines to which he accepted, sitting out against Hawthorn in round two.

“You’ve got Buddy Franklin who goes past the football, seeking contact with the head of an opponent who gets one week," King said.

“It’s not even a deterrent. One week? Buddy’d take a week off just to spell and reload and go again."

Franklin got away with a one match sanction, as the hit was graded: "Careless conduct; medium impact; high contact".

However, the bumps didn't end there, with Adelaide's Shane McAdam lining up GWS' Jacob Wehr.

King's opinion of McAdam's bump was likened to the 'old days' but says it has no place in our game today.

“Shane McAdam sets himself, launches and takes a player out in the most cruel fashion,” King said.

“Everyone saying ‘Oh but it’s a perfect hit’ – that’s the old days.

“Those days are gone.

“Until we take this seriously from a punishment point of view, right now there is no deterrent."

Teammate Josh Rachele felt Pickett's bump on Smith was much "worse" and is hopeful McAdam won't be on the sidelines for too long.

“We looked back on it, he definitely got his chest, but might have got some head-high contact,” Rachele said, according to News Corp.

“So we will just see what the review says, because looking back on Kozzie Pickett’s one the other night, that looked a lot worse and that only got two weeks.

“It will be touch and go, I reckon, but if he does miss we have some great depth that can step up.”

However, King's irritation didn't end there, as the AFL is currently under siege following a host of past players suing the league for failing to conduct appropriate concussion protocols and care.

“I don’t care what your matrix says – ‘oh, we can only upgrade here to intentional, do this and do that, risk of causing injury’ – the risk of causing injury is taking us to court!

“When will the penny drop for the MRO or the AFL that we’ve got 200 past players suing the AFL because they cannot live their lives in a meaningful way at 50-plus.”

McAdam will learn his fate on Monday night.

Aidan Cellini

Aidan Cellini Photo

Aidan has surrounded himself with all types of sport, but resonates most with AFL and basketball as he still plays both competitively. He loves being active and enjoys sharing sporting moments with friends and family.

In his spare time, Aidan likes to read biographies as well as keep active and healthy. He's also a big fan of Matthew McConaughey and Marvel movies.