AAP
Geelong coach Chris Scott has blasted the AFL for its “tacit approval” of players using their knees to hurt opponents at ruck contests.
Scott was incensed when Hawthorn’s Lloyd Meek raised his knee and hurt utility Mark Blicavs at a centre bounce during the Cats’ 82-point win at the MCG on Monday.
Blicavs copped a blow to the ribs and underwent assessment in the change room before playing out the match.
A similar incident occurred late in the contest, with Hawks ruckman Ned Reeves the culprit.
Both actions resulted in free kicks to Geelong.
They came less than a fortnight after the league sent a memo to clubs reminding them of the rules, after Cats ruckman Rhys Stanley was hurt in a similar fashion by Carlton’s Tom De Koning.
“It has to be taken out of the game,” Scott said post-match on Monday.
“The disappointing thing is they sent out a memo specifically two weeks ago saying that you couldn’t do it and it keeps happening.
“It’s so dangerous.”
Scott insisted he isn’t bothered about penalties for opponents who have used the kneeing tactic against his Geelong players but believes the action warrants a suspension.
“It does, it does, but I don’t want to see him suspended because I don’t think it matters,” Scott said.
“If he gets a week, that doesn’t help us.
“Some will say it will act as a deterrent but it shouldn’t take that.
“The AFL and the umpires should just be much, much clearer that you cannot do that.”
De Koning was initially offered a $3000 fine by the AFL for kneeing but had the charge dismissed by the tribunal.
Meek and Reeves will both come under scrutiny from the match review officer.
“I don’t want to see Tom De Koning get suspended and I don’t want Meek to get suspended either, necessarily,” Scott said.
“I just don’t want them to do it next week.
“But this tacit approval of that tactic, which happens a lot, especially when the y were really specific that you can’t do it … let’s just fix it.”
