Eagles given licence to bump - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Eagles given licence to bump

By Justin Chadwick 08/06/2010 04:13:19 PM Comments (0)

West Coast coach John Worsfold believes it's imperative his players continue to implement the bump despite the AFL's crackdown on head-high hits this season.

Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin has been suspended twice already this year for making contact to the head while bumping smaller players, with a number of other stars also falling foul of the law.

But Worsfold, who during his playing days was one of the most feared defenders in the game due to his unrelenting attack on the man and ball, said players who refrained from bumping were potentially putting their teammates at risk.

"Certainly running in and potentially making front-on contact with someone who's got their head over the ball - they know they've got to do everything to avoid it," Worsfold said on Tuesday.

"But just normal bumps - I think you've still got to commit to protecting your teammates and do your absolute best to make sure they're fair.

"If you're attacking the footy, I think you're pretty right regardless on the types of contact.

"If you're in there to win the football and you're both an equal chance to win it, I think it's incidental contact then, that's how I read that one.

"The execution of it is obviously the worry. "If you're a bigger bloke bumping a smaller bloke then there's a lot higher risk than a small bloke bumping into a bigger bloke.

"There's a lot higher risk bumping someone now than there was before the rules were adjusted."

West Coast will be without midfielder Adam Selwood (shoulder) and defender Sam Butler (ankle) for the next fortnight but Worsfold all but ruled out handing 18-year-old Koby Stevens his AFL debut in Sunday's clash with Richmond at the MCG.

Stevens' pre-season campaign was ruined by osteitis pubis but the nippy midfielder has bounced back to play a starring role with WAFL side East Fremantle over the past two months.

However, Worsfold wants the No.23 pick from last year's draft to build up more match fitness in the WAFL before handing him his AFL debut later in the year.

Worsfold said premiership defender Brett Jones - who gathered 36 disposals for Claremont in his first game back from a fractured arm on Monday - Patrick McGinnity and Quinten Lynch were all in line for recalls this week.

But captain Darren Glass (groin) may spend his fourth week on the sidelines depending on how he pulls up from training this week.

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