The AFL has dismissed the need for a send off rule to be introduced in the game, a hot topic of conversation following Saturday's match between Geelong and Richmond.
Cat Tom Stewart is facing a stint on the sidelines for his head high elbow on Richmond's Dion Prestia, a knock which left the premiership Tiger concussed and unable to play out the 3-point loss.
In the aftermath, many pundits have considered the idea of a send off rule like that seen in other sports, but an AFL spokesperson confirmed to the Herald Sun on Sunday that the league would not be considering the introduction of such a rule.
โThe send-off rule is not something that is being considered. Our position remains the same,โ they said.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has echoed those sentiments in the past, admitting that he didn't like the rule.
โI donโt like the red card, I donโt like the send-off rule,โ McLachlan said after Tom Jonas was handed a six-week ban in 2016.
โWe have incredible scrutinisation of the game, there is accountability for peopleโs actions on field through the MRP and the processes we have. I think that the send-off rule in the end creates a huge issue because of the significance about where it starts and stops.
โIt raises a whole series of potential impacts and challenges for one or two, or very few incidents on a yearly basis.โ
Tom Stewart should get at least a 5 week ban from tribunal for the hit on Prestia. More importantly, surely itโs time for an @AFL send off rule - using technology/third umpire for extreme cases. @Richmond_FC was disadvantaged & Cats helped (despite sub rule).
— Jake Niall (@JakeNiallTHEAGE) June 25, 2022
Pundits in both the media and online have called for the introduction of the rule though, with former rugby league coach Roy Masters speaking on ABC's Insidersย program this morning, stating that Stewart would have been faced with a walk to the change rooms if he was playing a different sport.
โIn the great and glorious game [rugby league], he wouldnโt have been there. He would have been sent off because it was high, it was late, it was off the ball, and it is going to result in one of his opponents [being] out of the game for potentially a month,โ Masters said.
Stewart will learn his fate when the MRO hands down their verdict on the incident on Sunday evening.