Luke Beveridge Calls for Tribunal Overhaul amid Crackdown on Dangerous Tackles: No Need for a Matrix

Western Bulldogs head coach Luke Beveridge has added his voice to the growing calls for a revamp of the AFL’s tribunal framework, particularly in light of the ongoing crackdown on hazardous tackles.

The rising number of hefty suspensions in the AFL has raised eyebrows among several coaches, with North Melbourne’s Paul Curtis recently receiving a significant suspension.

Curtis has been handed a three-match ban for rough conduct following a tackle that resulted in Port Adelaide defender Josh Sinn suffering a concussion.

Kangaroos head coach Alastair Clarkson condemned the decision to suspend his player, emphasising that there should be a “duty of care” for both players and the integrity of the game.

Clarkson argued that Curtis’s tackle bore no intent to harm, stating it was merely an attempt to prevent Curtis from retaining possession of the ball—a standard “football action.”

Beveridge echoed these sentiments, advocating for players who have no intention of inflicting harm to be spared from suspensions.

He compared Sinn’s case to that of Jackson Archer, who faced a similar three-match ban for an incident involving Luke Cleary.

“The guidelines and regulatory measures used by the AFL are now outdated,” Beveridge stated.

“It’s vital that we protect the players actively participating in the game and acknowledge their genuine intentions.

“I believe Paul’s intent was innocent within the context of the action, and he is incredibly unfortunate.”

The coach, who previously led his team to premiership glory, acknowledged that the current definitions and guidelines for tackling are inadequate.

“The system tends to respond in a very technical manner to incidents that arise on the field,” he added.

“It requires a re-evaluation and fresh perspective. As I’ve suggested, we should apply a civil law approach using a balance of probabilities.

“If it can be determined that a player did not intend to inflict harm outside the established rules of the game, then logically, there should be no sanction.

“There’s no need for convoluted frameworks or matrices.”