Change with the times: Worsfold - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Change with the times: Worsfold

By Justin Chadwick 04/06/2008 07:01:23 PM Comments (0)

West Coast coach John Worsfold says Beau Waters shouldn't curb his attack on the ball despite the hard-nut utility falling foul of the AFL's crackdown on head-high contact.

Waters became the third player this week to fall victim to the AFL's clampdown on head-high contact when he was found guilty of rough conduct against Collingwood's Shane O'Bree.

Waters was handed a two-match ban by the AFL Tribunal after unsuccessfully arguing his contact with O'Bree's head was unavoidable.

Western Bulldogs forward Robert Murphy accepted a one-match penalty for rough conduct against Hawthorn's Xavier Ellis, while Adelaide forward Brett Burton took a two-match suspension for front-on contact against Essendon defender Henry Slattery.

Waters also copped a two-week ban in 2006 for a head-high bump on Brisbane's Robert Copeland but Worsfold did not believe the 22-year-old needed to soften his full-throttle attack on the ball.

"Every now and again players cross that very fine line," Worsfold said.

"Robert Murphy - does he need to change his game? Shaun Burgoyne - does he need to change his game?

"They know the rules and they know how to play the game so I think they should attack the game in what's natural for them.

"Beau, at various stages over the next 10 years, might get a one-week or two-week suspension occasionally but I don't think it's going to happen regularly for him."

Worsfold said it was a "fine line" players had to tread when contesting the ball.

But Worsfold said the AFL had to be careful not to go overboard in trying to stamp out head-high contact.

"If two players go at the footy like that and they collide heads and they both end up bleeding, shall we suspend them both?" he said.

Meanwhile, former Blue Josh Kennedy is set to miss the next two weeks of football after scans confirmed he had a slight tear to his posterior cruciate ligament.

Kennedy's injury opens the door for Ash Hansen's return to the senior side for Saturday night's clash with Sydney at Subiaco Oval.

Injury-plagued midfielder Sam Butler, who last appeared for the Eagles in their 2006 grand final win over Sydney, is also in line for a recall after stringing together five solid hit-outs in the WAFL.

But ruckman Mark Seaby may be forced to spend another week in the wilderness after Worsfold praised Quinten Lynch's pinch-hitting role in the ruck.

"We may look to bring Seabs in for this game but I think Lynchy's role has been pretty good as well," Worsfold said.

"So we'll have to weigh up what we think is the best way to attack this game."

Mark LeCras (groin) and Chris Masten (knee) have recovered from injury and are available for selection.

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