Peter Wright has been banned for four games by the AFL Tribunal, which means The great Wayne Carey from North Melbourne will stop watching the sport during this time. Wright will play the next four games on the sidelines after a brutal blow against Swans star Harry Cunningham during Essendon’s 30-point loss to Sydney on Saturday night.
Wright and Cunningham both battled for a mark, but the Bombers star mistimed his run and turned at the last second to brace for contact – resulting in his shoulder slamming into Cunningham’s face and knocking the Swans star unconscious. Cunningham was carried off the ground on a stretcher and substituted with concussion. He reported memory loss after the collision.
Wright was referred directly to the tribunal by the AFL, with the rough conduct charges classified as reckless conduct, serious impact and forceful physical contact – all elements Wright accepted on Tuesday night. Essendon’s lawyer Ben Ihle argued Wright should receive the minimum three-match suspension because the 27-year-old took action to prevent an even more serious injury to Cunningham and also quickly apologised after the game.
But AFL adviser Nick Pane said the ban should be at least four games and the court agreed. “This is one of those examples where Wright was able to avoid forceful high-body contact and prevent injury,” Pane said.
“Wright clearly leaves the ground, twists his body and tucks his shoulder in an attempt to jostle Cunningham. This is an inherently dangerous move that could have potentially resulted in a serious injury.”
The three-man panel consisting of David Neitz, Shane Wakelin and Jeff Gleeson ruled Wright out of the games against St. Kilda, Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Adelaide. “The contact was directly to the head. The level of force almost certainly fell into the serious category,” said Gleeson.
“Wright threw himself into the contest but did not attempt to mark or interfere. It appears he was preparing for contact, but he had other options.”
Wayne Carey will not watch AFL games during Peter Wright’s suspension
Since the incident, there has been fierce debate over Wright’s potential punishment, with Carey believing he should not be suspended at all. On Monday, Carey explained the Bomber had eyes for the football and only turned around at the last second to prepare for contact when he realised he was not first to the ball. The Northern champion said the crackdown on headbutting had “gone too far” and vowed he would not watch a minute of football while Wright was suspended.
“I’m weak as fuck right in front of the AFL. Whoever decided that was sent straight to the tribunal; that was absolute nonsense and wrong,” Carey said. “I’m prepared to say if Peter Wright is suspended, no matter how many weeks he gets, I’m not going to watch an AFL football game. I’m done.”
“I’m jumping ship and I would say to anybody out there, if we want this game to look anything like what it should look like, he’s allowed to attack the ball and protect himself. They came to the ball at the same time; he turned his body to protect himself.
“If he doesn’t turn his body, they’re both injured. That’s what our game is about. Now it’s just gone too far. I’m not going to watch any more football while he’s getting weeks. It’s a waste of time, a waste of money and I couldn’t be more disappointed.” Cunningham will be out for at least a week under the AFL’s 12-day concussion protocols.
Adam Simpson says the Peter Wright incident was unavoidable
West Coast coach Adam Simpson had also said that it is “really difficult” to prepare players for such high-speed collisions because they are simply part of the game. “Some players are aware of it, some are not. In a lot of these incidents, guys are trying to protect themselves at the last minute and that is difficult to prevent,” Simpson said. Fox Football on Monday evening.
“I kind of understand why and how, but those things are always going to be there when it’s just that split-second decision where you have to take your eyes off the ball when you feel contact coming and it looks like it’s an intentional act. I’m not quite sure what the answer to that is, but it’s going to happen.”
Ken Hinkley: The responsibility to play the ball lies with the players and not with the man
But Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is adamant it is imperative that players only have eyes for the ball as the AFL cracks down on high contact. Sam Powell-Pepper is still serving his four-game suspension for the punch that concussed Adelaide’s Mark Keane during pre-season, the first test case following the AFL’s recent crackdown on head contact. Hinkley warned players they will pay “a really big price” if they let the man play and get it wrong.
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“We had a player who went through that earlier this year under slightly different circumstances, but you just have to go for the ball at all costs,” Hinkley said on Fox Football on Monday night. “You have to fight for the ball in the air and if you don’t fight for the ball and you get it wrong, you pay a very high price – and I understand why.”
“I completely understand why. We need to do everything we can to prevent the injuries that result from concussions.”
with AAP
