Cats boss questions ruling around Dangerfield
GEELONG coach Chris Scott has questioned the fine line of eligibility for the AFL Brownlow Medal following Patrick Dangerfield’s suspension.
The Cats came close to challenging Dangerfield’s onegame rough conduct ban, but decided their chances of suc- cess were not great. The reigning Brownlow Medallist will miss tomorrow night’s big home game against Sydney and if a tribunal hearing had failed, Dangerfield probably also would have missed the following weekend’s clash against Richmond.
Scott said Dangerfield’s ban should lead to more discussion about what is a legal tackle. Without mentioning new Brownlow favourite Dustin Martin by name, Scott also compared him to Dangerfield.
Martin is walking a Brownlow tightrope, having been fined twice this season.
Another fine would mean a one-match ban, also ruling the Tigers star out of the Brownlow. Dangerfield was suspended for a tackle that concussed Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer.
“You can get fined a couple of times and still be eligible, but you can tackle a player with the best intent in the world and be ineligible,” Scott said.
“I can see how people would look at that (Brownlow situation) and say, ‘I’m not sure it sits all that well’.”
Scott said if the Cats had gone to the tribunal, they would have argued that Dangerfield’s tackle was reasonable in the circumstances.