Hi all,

 

On behalf of the AFL South East Umpiring Department, we wish to communicate with all Umpires who officiate in the F&DJFL, SEJ & MPJFL competitions.

Through the practice match series, we have received formal notice of several incidents that have resulted in injuries of players, whereby the Umpires have paid a “Rough Conduct (Dangerous Tackle)” free kick, but not reported the incident in the circumstances.

Please take this correspondence as a direction from the AFL South East Umpiring Department that under the National Community Policy Handbook;

• Rough Conduct (Dangerous Tackles)
• The application of a tackle may be considered Rough Conduct where the tackle is unreasonable in the circumstances.
• In determining whether the application of a tackle constitutes a Reportable Offence and whether the tackle is Careless or Intentional, the following factors will be considered (without limitation):

• (A) whether the tackle consists of more than one action, regardless of whether the Person being tackled is in possession of the ball;
• (B) whether the tackle is of an inherently dangerous kind, such as a spear tackle or a tackle where a Player is lifted off the ground;
• (C) whether the Person being tackled is in a vulnerable position (for example, arm(s) pinned) with little opportunity to protect themself;
• (D) whether the Person being tackled is slung, driven or rotated into the ground with excessive force (for example, a run down tackle where the tackled player is driven into the ground with excessive force).

If a tackle meets any of the above, please report this and follow the process for a Reportable Offence.

AFL South East Umpiring Department support Umpires protecting players who are tackled dangerously, and will communicate the above with all clubs of the stance of the AFL South East Umpiring Department.