‘Tarnish the reputation of Australian football’: Why the AFL is fed up with tummy taps, gut punches

2 weeks ago 4

The AFL has ruled gut punches to be “unnecessary, easily avoidable and having the potential to tarnish the reputation of Australian football” as it prepares to crack down on them this season.

The tougher stance adopted by the league means players who intentionally strike a player in the stomach will receive a one-match suspension, rather than a fine, in 2026.

The AFL Commission last week officially approved the change in MRO guidelines for this season so that intentional punches can now be graded as medium impact, which would incur a one-match suspension as a minimum, rather than a fine as per last season.

The change was proposed in a memo to clubs on December 10, and the decision finalised following feedback from clubs and players.

The rationale for the decision contained in the memo to clubs will be reinforced to football bosses at an upcoming forum scheduled before the season starts, where there will be discussion about what will be considered an intentional punch.

AFL head of football performance Greg Swann has been clear in his view that such acts at the top level are replicated in junior football and need to be stamped out.

The new guideline means “tummy tap” incidents similar to those which led to fines for Saint Mitch Owens for striking Richmond’s Luke Trainor (see above) and Sydney’s Brodie Grundy for striking Kangaroo Tristan Xerri will lead to a one-match ban.

The change is another shift in the match review officer’s treatment of gut punches, which has ebbed and flowed over the past decade.

In 2017, after former North Melbourne midfielder Ben Cunnington was fined for striking former Demon Bernie Vince in an incident that left Vince gasping for breath, the AFL decided such actions warranted suspension.

However from 2018, amid concern about the number of players missing a match, players were generally fined for striking players in the stomach. Automatic suspensions for three low-level offences were removed under sweeping changes to the system introduced by then football operations boss Steve Hocking.

Despite a massive increase in the money collected in fines in the past two seasons (with umpire contact also earning a penalty), the AFL decided gut punches were still occurring at an unacceptable level. Swann put the issue on the agenda as soon as he started in the job in July.

“I don’t see why that isn’t a penalty, to be honest. I think if you do penalise it, it’ll stop. The fines aren’t doing it,” Swann told Fox Footy in July.

Players, who have lobbied the AFL to reduce the number of fines, accepted the shift to a potential suspension, but there is some concern among about what will constitute “medium impact”, with players accustomed to being physical at stoppages to create separation from their opponent.

They anticipate a clear explanation from the AFL throughout the season as to what is acceptable and unacceptable.

The commission, which accepted the rationale that fines have not acted as a deterrent for players when it comes to stomach punches, approved a raft of other changes which had already been flagged to clubs in the December memo.

Players could still face suspension for a fourth offence of contacting an umpire, however clubs may also incur a financial sanction if the team infringes four times.

Increases in fines for low-level offences will only be imposed if the same offence occurs within one season, while players could be charged for rough conduct if they “forcefully push their opponent in the direction of another player or other players from either team in circumstances that are unreasonable”.

The MRO will also have more flexibility when assessing the careless acts that cause concussion so they can be graded as high or medium impact, rather than severe being the only option.

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