3 months ago
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Past players believe clubs will exploit an injury loophole to create a stoppage at a crucial moment of a tight game, possibly even during a cut-throat final.
It follows a decision by field umpires during Friday night’s clash between Adelaide and Hawthorn to pause play late in the game to allow midfielder Will Day to hobble off the field with leg cramps.
Will Day hobbles off Adelaide Oval with cramp.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
He was escorted off by a club physio.
Not considered an injury, a leg cramp falls well short of the concussion suffered by Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz against Port Adelaide earlier this year that led to criticism of central umpires for not stopping play in the name of safety.
“I think teams will exploit it,” outspoken former Port Adelaide player Kane Cornes told SEN on Saturday of the Day delay.
“Will Day was 60m from the ball.”
Adelaide star Ben Keays said there had not been a clear, consistent theme with pausing games this year.
“We have had some games where players limp off with an ankle injury and play goes on,” Keays told SEN.
“Playing with a man down can hurt you. Whatever it is, it just needs to be consistent.”
Former North Melbourne star and West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson called on new AFL football boss Greg Swann to intervene.
Simpson said the rules should be tweaked to allow an umpire’s coach sitting in the stands to intervene.
He said the coach should be able to guide the men in the middle about the seriousness of an injury.
“He’s only cramping, let it go,” Simpson said.
