The AFL has decided against challenging the MRO verdict for star Lion Charlie Cameron after his one-game suspension for a dangerous tackle was downgraded.
Cameron's tackle on Melbourne defender Jake Lever was initially graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, resulting in a one-match suspension.
Brisbane's challenge to the Match Review Officer, which cited Cameron's previous record and a glowing character assessment, successfully turned the one-match ban into a fine, allowing him to play in this week's pivotal clash with Geelong.
Despite the Tribunal's decision, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon believes the initial one-match sanction was correct, saying on AFL.com's State of the Game that Cameron's action did warrant a ban.
"First of all, he wasn't cleared. He pled guilty to the offence and was found guilty of the offence. What the Tribunal did was use a discretion they have in exceptional and compelling circumstances to make a call that's outside the Tribunal framework and they did that," Dillon said.
The situation has amped up discussion regarding an unofficial tax players may receive to lessen their punishment or increase it, depending on an assessment of their character.
Former Richmond premiership hero Bachar Houli became a highly controversial subject in this space in 2017, having a blatant four-week ban for a concussive hit on Carlton's Jed Lamb downgraded to two weeks, following character praise from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and TV broadcaster Waleed Aly.
Houli's four-week sanction was later reversed after the AFL challenged the verdict.
Dillon explained why the league will not challenge the Cameron verdict.
"There were, from the Tribunal chair, there were several compelling circumstances and they were first of all that he pled guilty, second of all the number of games he's played without suspension, thirdly that the player didn't suffer an injury and the fourth one was that it was at the lower end of careless.
"There were a number of circumstances that went into that. What I will say from an AFL point of view is I was really happy with the way the MRO graded it with a one-match suspension and that was what we were hoping the outcome would be."
"We won't appeal. We have had a look at that and we think the discretion was there for the Tribunal to use. But as I said, the MRO graded it a one-match suspension and that's where we thought the right result would have been," he said.
"We'll look at the Tribunal and the way we go for the rest of the year but as we do at the end of every year we'll review our Tribunal guidelines."
The decision could prove to be crucial for Brisbane's season, needing to defeat Geelong this weekend to avoid an 0-3 Gabba record to start 2024 and maintain their waning top-four hopes.
