By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
FOOTY’s shepherd could go the way of the bump, Geelong coach Chris Scott warned this week.
Taylor Hunt’s one-match suspension for an accidental head-clash while shepherding against Brisbane left Scott unsure how to avoid further suspensions for players performing an “inherent” part of the game, he said.
Scott kicked off a wider football-community debate on the future of the shepherd at his Tuesday media conference.
The Cats accepted Hunt’s suspension because the odds were “pretty much stacked against” him, Scott said.
“It appears that the way it’s adjudicated now (is) that if you go to block an opposition player, even though you have no alternative, you’re liable for any head clash,” he said.
“We’re going to have to make sure we talk to the right people and understand the rule as well as possible and instruct the players from there.
“We think Taylor did everything he possibly could to avoid breaking the rules and yet in some way he’s been penalised for bad luck.
“We’re not here to complain about that. Our obligation is to make sure we understand the interpretation as well as possible and then give the players the guidance,” Scott said.
“We need to get some advice from the people that have implemented the rules because, clearly, I think everyone would agree shepherding is an inherent part of the game and we expect our players to protect the ball-carrier.
“Clearly what they’re saying now is that if there’s an accidental clash of heads the player shepherding is responsible.
“It’s a debate the wider football community should have.”
Falcons talent manager Michael Turner sympathised with Scott’s frustration.
“We face the same situations. I can certainly understand what he’s saying.
“At the Falcons we keep an eye on the rules and the rule changes all the time. We coach them to protect the ball carrier and we’ll never change that,” he said.
“Players are instructed to block and protect their teammate to allow him time to make a good decision,” Turner said.
“To prepare, we do a lot of coaching on computer and the same vision, so it affects us just the same.”
