Latest news with #AFLPlayersAssociation
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
New AFL footy performance manager Greg Swann will not lead the competition's war on drugs
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says new general manager of football performance Greg Swann will not lead the competition's fight against illicit drugs. Dillon and the AFL remain in the hunt for a new deputy chief but bolstered its panel by unveiling Swann, the former Brisbane chief executive, as its newest member on Monday. Dillon says the highly criticised illicit drugs policy will not be tackled by Swann and will instead be overseen by the demoted Laura Kane. 'Within the structure now the drugs policy will sit within the healthcare unit which Laura Kane will lead,' Dillon said. 'We've been having productive discussions with the PA (AFL Players' Association) over a number of months, we're working collaboratively with them on a really complex issue. 'We want to make sure we have a policy that is fit for purpose for '25 and beyond and is a policy that has buy in from the AFL, the Players' Association, our clubs and our playing group. 'We will take the time to do the work to make sure that it's right.' Dillon is working with the AFLPA, the players and the club to find a policy which is 'fit for purpose'. He says illicit drugs is a 'societal issue we're all confronting' and not a problem exclusive to the playing cohort. 'I think what we will have is a policy that's fit for purpose for the AFL and the Players' Association and the clubs and the players going forward,' he said. 'Illicit drugs use is a societal issue and is not something we can shy away from but what we want to do is make sure we've got a policy that is right for the AFL. 'Ultimately, it's a societal issue we're all confronting.' Dillon is closing in on a deputy chief, with Tom Harley (Sydney), Ameet Bains (Western Bulldogs) and Simon Garlick (Fremantle) reported as leading contenders. He says the AFL is in communication with the leading candidates now and is hopeful of an imminent appointment. 'We've got some really strong candidates who we're talking to at the moment and we're hopeful of making an announcement,' Dillon said. 'But not until we've got that locked away, I am not going to go into any individuals, but what I will say is we've got a really strong field of candidates we're talking to.'
The Age
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
The crackdown on dangerous tackles was supposed to protect AFL players, but it's left them confused
Players say they are confused by the AFL's adjudication of dangerous tackles and have called for the league to be more consistent in its application of rules at a time when fines are set to surge to another record this year. The lack of understanding among players over what constitutes a dangerous tackle was laid bare in data collected by the AFL Players Association for their annual Insights and Impact Report, released on Wednesday night. While support has increased among players for the AFL's intent to reduce head knocks, only 12.5 per cent of player delegates surveyed rated their understanding of the dangerous tackle rules as high, according to the AFLPA data. The surveys were conducted last July around the time Brisbane's Charlie Cameron and Greater Western Sydney's Toby Bedford had bans for dangerous tackles overturned. The issue has remained a talking point this season after North Melbourne's Paul Curtis was suspended for three games for a run-down tackle which left Port Adelaide's Josh Sinn concussed. The Kangaroos chose not to appeal the tribunal finding despite their disappointment with the decision. However, North players were bemused, including veteran Luke Parker – who clipped the league in a social media post suggesting the game had become touch football, accompanied by the hashtag 'nomoretackling'. Loading Parker's response was consistent with the feedback given by his peers to the AFLPA. More than 60 per cent of respondents said they had low belief the match review officer or tribunal showed consistency in assessing a dangerous tackle. A score of one to three out of 10 was considered 'low', four to seven as 'moderate' and eight to 10 as 'high'. 'Players expressed confusion about what constitutes a legal tackle, and concern that rulings are increasingly based on the outcome of the action rather than the action itself,' the report said.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The crackdown on dangerous tackles was supposed to protect AFL players, but it's left them confused
Players say they are confused by the AFL's adjudication of dangerous tackles and have called for the league to be more consistent in its application of rules at a time when fines are set to surge to another record this year. The lack of understanding among players over what constitutes a dangerous tackle was laid bare in data collected by the AFL Players Association for their annual Insights and Impact Report, released on Wednesday night. While support has increased among players for the AFL's intent to reduce head knocks, only 12.5 per cent of player delegates surveyed rated their understanding of the dangerous tackle rules as high, according to the AFLPA data. The surveys were conducted last July around the time Brisbane's Charlie Cameron and Greater Western Sydney's Toby Bedford had bans for dangerous tackles overturned. The issue has remained a talking point this season after North Melbourne's Paul Curtis was suspended for three games for a run-down tackle which left Port Adelaide's Josh Sinn concussed. The Kangaroos chose not to appeal the tribunal finding despite their disappointment with the decision. However, North players were bemused, including veteran Luke Parker – who clipped the league in a social media post suggesting the game had become touch football, accompanied by the hashtag 'nomoretackling'. Loading Parker's response was consistent with the feedback given by his peers to the AFLPA. More than 60 per cent of respondents said they had low belief the match review officer or tribunal showed consistency in assessing a dangerous tackle. A score of one to three out of 10 was considered 'low', four to seven as 'moderate' and eight to 10 as 'high'. 'Players expressed confusion about what constitutes a legal tackle, and concern that rulings are increasingly based on the outcome of the action rather than the action itself,' the report said.
Sydney Morning Herald
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
AFLPA calls for injury protocols to tighten after Schultz concussion bungle
The AFL Players Association has called for protocols around on-field player safety to be tightened after the botched handling of Lachie Schultz's concussion last Thursday night. The AFL's football boss Laura Kane took responsibility for the Schultz situation after it emerged on Tuesday night that umpires were aware the Collingwood player was lying injured on Optus Stadium despite later telling the AFL they hadn't seen him. The audio of the umpires' on-field discussion was played on Seven's The Agenda Setters on Tuesday night in an embarrassing situation for the league. It comes after several instances in the past 12 months of controversial handling of player injuries, scenarios players' union boss Paul Marsh says can be avoided with clearer procedures. Melbourne star Christian Petracca came back onto the field despite suffering what were later found to be life-threatening internal injuries on King's Birthday last year. Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron stayed on the field despite later being diagnosed with concussion, while more recently play continued with Essendon's Harry Jones stricken on the boundary line with a gruesome dislocated ankle. 'It is now clear that the umpires noticed Lachie Schultz's injury and had the opportunity to stop the play to ensure he left the field safely,' Marsh said in a statement released to this masthead. 'What this highlights to us is that the process of dealing with vital health and safety issues on the field is unclear, and there are many recent examples of the industry needing to better prepare everyone for when these situations occur. 'Equally, we are disappointed that the AFL failed to appropriately review a serious on-field incident but acknowledge that they have taken responsibility for this.
The Age
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
AFLPA calls for injury protocols to tighten after Schultz concussion bungle
The AFL Players Association has called for protocols around on-field player safety to be tightened after the botched handling of Lachie Schultz's concussion last Thursday night. The AFL's football boss Laura Kane took responsibility for the Schultz situation after it emerged on Tuesday night that umpires were aware the Collingwood player was lying injured on Optus Stadium despite later telling the AFL they hadn't seen him. The audio of the umpires' on-field discussion was played on Seven's The Agenda Setters on Tuesday night in an embarrassing situation for the league. It comes after several instances in the past 12 months of controversial handling of player injuries, scenarios players' union boss Paul Marsh says can be avoided with clearer procedures. Melbourne star Christian Petracca came back onto the field despite suffering what were later found to be life-threatening internal injuries on King's Birthday last year. Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron stayed on the field despite later being diagnosed with concussion, while more recently play continued with Essendon's Harry Jones stricken on the boundary line with a gruesome dislocated ankle. 'It is now clear that the umpires noticed Lachie Schultz's injury and had the opportunity to stop the play to ensure he left the field safely,' Marsh said in a statement released to this masthead. 'What this highlights to us is that the process of dealing with vital health and safety issues on the field is unclear, and there are many recent examples of the industry needing to better prepare everyone for when these situations occur. 'Equally, we are disappointed that the AFL failed to appropriately review a serious on-field incident but acknowledge that they have taken responsibility for this.
