Clarko’s expletive-laden tirade, Saint’s post-bump act revealed as stunned great tips huge ban, fine
Clarko #Clarko
Two weeks of pre-season matches, two early test cases that will shape what to expect in the season proper.
Despite procedural amendments to try and reduce Tribunal hearings in 2024, Jimmy Webster will become the second player in as many weeks to be referred there directly.
In Sam Powell-Pepper’s bump on Mark Keane, the AFL had a prime example of everything the modern player shouldn’t do. That prime example lasted all of nine days.
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Webster’s bump on Jy Simpkin was everything the game’s lawmakers are trying to stamp out and he will miss a significant chunk of the season as a result.
How significant a chunk? Anything less than six matches would be staggering, with opinions to vary on how far beyond that threshold the Tribunal should go.
Much like the action itself, the reaction has been vociferous — including from within North Melbourne’s camp.
Webster’s grim hit flattens Simpkin | 00:41
Coach Alastair Clarkson was animated towards several St Kilda players at quarter-time, leaving some onlookers at RSEA Park stunned. Nine News reported Clarkson at one stage used the term “c***sucker” amid a string of expletives.
Commentating on the boundary line for Fox Footy, former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon had a front-row seat to the explosive exchange.
“I wasn’t surprised, because I know Clarko well, that’s his DNA, he’ll protect his players,” Dixon told foxfooty.com.au.
“Sometimes his emotions can get the better of him.”
That much was intimated by Clarkson, who said in a statement to Nine News his “emotional” exchange was “unnecessary” with the language used “inappropriate” and that he had reached out to Ross Lyon, Jimmy Webster and Dougal Howard to apologise.
His tirade on Sunday followed an action that was in and of itself bewildering in the current climate.
“I was in disbelief,” Jordan Lewis told foxfooty.com.au of Webster’s bump.
“Given the understanding on how the AFL have communicated this, how the clubs would’ve communicated this, I was in disbelief that a player would actually leave the ground and make contact to the head.
“I just couldn’t believe it. I think we all understand that’s just a no-go zone.”
How the Tribunal case plays out will in part depend on Webster and the argument (if any) the Saints put forward.
Realistically, Webster should fall on his sword and throw himself at the mercy of the Tribunal.
Judging by Ross Lyon’s comments to news outlets on Monday, things may already be heading in that direction.
“(Webster) is really concerned for Jy. Very remorseful but it was a split-second action. It’s very difficult,” Lyon said.
“It’s just a very difficult situation. (I’m) really concerned for both lads, in particular Jy because it was very heavy physical contact.
“Jimmy’s remorseful. Clearly there’s no defence to it. We always support the person (to) change the behaviour.
“We’ve got to continue to evolve the game, but we’re devastated for both boys involved and there’s not much, obviously, I can do about it.”
Webster himself, in a statement released by the Saints on Monday evening, sang from the same hymn book.
“I deeply regret my actions in yesterday’s game. I’ve reached out to Jy and cannot understate my remorse,” he said.
“My thoughts are with Jy and his family, and I hope he has a speedy and successful recovery. I fully recognise the importance of protecting players’ heads and in this instance, I failed to meet that much-needed standard. I will present to the Tribunal and understand there will be consequences for my actions.”
Saints executive GM of football David Misson added: “As a football club we are committed to doing everything possible to minimise risk and harm to players, particularly when it comes to the head. Our thoughts are with Jy Simpkin and his family, and we hope to see him return to play soon.
“While it was out of character for Jimmy – who has proven to be a fair and honest player throughout his 10+ year career – that does not excuse the action, which has no place in our game. Our focus now is to support Jimmy through the process, and we will respectfully accept the outcome of the Tribunal.”
Contrition was a trait noted and favoured by the Tribunal in 2023, but there is a risk of it becoming skewed towards the point of disingenuousness.
Powell-Pepper last week pleaded guilty to all aspects of his charge, but the remainder of the three-and-a-half hour hearing was taken up by insistences he was trying to tackle Keane and didn’t remember what happened in the split second before his shoulder made contact with the Crows defender’s head.
Saints down Kangaroos in pre-season | 01:25
A biomechanist was called upon – something the AFL argued was not relevant to the case – while Port Adelaide’s legal representative, Ben Krupka, argued a four-game suspension in the case of “minimal culpability” would be “manifestly excessive”.
The Tribunal found the argument to be unconvincing, slapping Powell-Pepper with an AFL-preferred four-match ban rather than a Power-preferred three-match ban.
Some could draw comparisons between Webster’s hit and others in 2023, but the Tribunal in 2024 is no longer bound by decisions in seasons past.
It gives the Tribunal licence to enforce a new standard and one they seem to already be setting in giving Powell-Pepper four matches rather than the bare minimum of three.
There aren’t any excuses for Webster and he hopefully won’t seek to make any.
If that’s how proceedings play out, it may signal a new frontier in how players approach the Tribunal.
“At the end of the day, players need to look after players,” Lewis said.
“If players come out and start to say, ‘hey, we don’t condone that, we need to look after each other, we understand the impacts of concussion and repeated head knocks’, then maybe things can start to move in a better direction.
“If suspension still isn’t enough to get the message through, maybe we need to add a hefty fine to it as well.”
Whatever comes from the pending Tribunal case, a hefty ban is all-but assured.