Shaw should set AFL example: Goldspink - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Shaw should set AFL example: Goldspink

By Adam Cooper 12/04/2009 09:54:15 PM Comments (0)

Former AFL umpire Darren Goldspink believes Collingwood's Heath Shaw should be suspended for touching an official to set the right example.

Shaw will on Monday learn how seriously the league's match review panel views his touching the arm of umpire Michael Vozzo during his side's loss to Geelong at the MCG on Thursday night.

Although Shaw's contact was minor as he protested against a free kick, Vozzo immediately reported the defender and awarded a 50-metre penalty to the Cats.

Of concern to the Magpies, the precedents are not good for players who have deliberately touched umpires in recent years.

Former Carlton player Greg Williams was infamously suspended for nine games after pushing an umpire in the chest in 1997, while North Melbourne star Brent Harvey was outed for two games for tapping an umpire on the arm to alert him of something during the 2001 pre-season competition.

The match review panel can impose a penalty on Shaw, or refer the matter straight to the tribunal, which it often does for more serious offences.

If that is the case, the tribunal has the right to impose a penalty of its own discretion if Shaw is found culpable.

Goldspink, who umpired 371 AFL games over 20 years, had no doubt Shaw's contact was minor, but said there were other ways of attracting an umpire's attention.

He was unsure what sort of suspension should be imposed if Shaw was found guilty, but said the AFL was obliged to send a message that it was unacceptable for players to make any sort of physical contact on umpires.

"It's not only for what happens in the AFL, it's all the things that happen in the suburban leagues and the junior leagues," he told the Austereo network.

"You can't have players going round grabbing umpires by the arm to get their attention, you've got to do it by other ways."

Shaw's report is one of several that will go before the panel on Monday, while several other contentious incidents will be closely assessed.

Four players were reported for striking over the weekend.

Port Adelaide skipper Domenic Cassisi was reported for striking Melbourne's Lynden Dunn at AAMI Stadium, and Demon Colin Sylvia was booked for striking Port's Josh Carr.

St Kilda's Steven King was reported for striking West Coast's Ashley Hansen and fellow Saint Nick Dal Santo was booked for striking Eagle Tyson Stenglein at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Two incidents in Sunday's games are likely to attract close attention.

Hawthorn's Campbell Brown could be in strife for making high contact on North Melbourne's Daniel Wells in a bump at Etihad Stadium when he had the option to tackle.

Fremantle's Luke McPharlin could also be cited after he collected Adelaide's Scott Stevens high at Subiaco Oval, when he took his eyes off the ball and made contact to the Crow forward's head with his knees.

Dal Santo and Stenglein were also both reported for wrestling each other.

Essendon ruckman David Hille was reported for making forceful front-on contact on Carlton's Richard Hadley on Saturday night at the MCG.

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