Carlton vice-captain Jacob Weitering has welcomed the AFL's decision to introduce a free kick to any player that has his head rubbed by an opponent.
Weitering was on the receiving end of a head rub by Sydney's Chad Warner in Opening Round, before Bulldogs star Sam Darcy had his head ruffled by Crows defender Josh Worrell on Friday night. Then, on Saturday night, Fremantle's Patrick Voss condescendingly rubbed the hair of Melbourne's Harrison Petty. Voss also made a 'cry baby' gesture towards the Demons utility.
The AFL subsequently fined Voss under the 'Other Misconduct' category, and the league made it perfectly clear that similar taunts won't be tolerated, with any future head touching or hair ruffling to be deemed head-high contact, resulting in a free kick.
Speaking on SEN's Whateley on Tuesday, Weitering was asked if he is supportive of the AFL's hardline stance.
"Absolutely. The act of ruffling the head, I've never been a (fan)," he said.
"I know it's easy for me to say now because I was caught up in it a few weeks ago, but I've never been a massive fan of the look of it.
"There's always going to be chat, I think that's just a part of the game. Call it taunting, if you like.
"But the ruffling of the head, I just think it's unnecessary, both ways.
"And for the most part, it's usually forwards on defenders after kicking a goal having not actually touched it.
"Hopefully it stamps it out pretty quick, and I think players will abide by that pretty quickly."
Melbourne skipper Max Gawn echoed Weitering's thoughts.
Speaking at his weekly spot on Triple M's Mick In The Morning, Gawn said: "The crowd is incredibly loud, so I didn't hear anything that Voss said, I just saw what he was doing to his head, which I didn't like. I'm surprised there was a fine… I didn't know that was a thing. I personally don't do it [mock or taunt], but I don't mind it when my teammates do some sort of it, but not to that extent. The rubbing of the head is a look that I don't like, AFL-wide."
