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Dylan Shiel looks dejected after the loss in Geelong.Credit: AFL Photos
“If the charge is upheld by the tribunal, while the tribunal will determine the sanction in their sole discretion, the AFL’s view is that a suspension of one match is the appropriate penalty having regard to both the impact to O’Connor and the significant potential that Shiel’s teammate, Luamon Lual, could have suffered a serious head or neck injury arising from Shiel’s unreasonable conduct, which caused Lual’s head and neck to make contact with the ground with force.
“In this respect, the Laws of Australian Football state that a player owes a duty of care to all other players, not just their opponents.”
There are provisions in the tribunal guidelines to sanction players for actions that result in injuries to a teammate.
A player’s conduct can be regarded as careless if it “constitutes a breach of the duty of care owed by the player to all other players”.
“Each player owes a duty of care to all other players, umpires and other persons (as applicable) not to engage in conduct which will constitute a reportable offence being committed against that other player, umpire or other person,” the tribunal guidelines state.
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The MRO deemed Shiel should have reasonably foreseen his push on O’Connor would have placed another player in danger.
Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell was suspended for three matches for a push which resulted in St Kilda’s Liam O’Connell being concussed.
In a quirk of the system, the Bombers had partial control of Shiel’s fate through Lual’s medical report. The Bombers stressed Lual was not subbed out as a direct result of the collision with O’Connor but he was sore and had little impact on the game so was replaced.
Essendon coach Brad Scott, a former football operations manager at the AFL, did not appear to be aware a player is required to show a duty of care to all players and not just opponents.
“It will be an interesting one, I’m not sure you can get suspended for hurting your own player, but we’ll see,” Scott said on Friday night.
The Bombers do not yet know the extent of damage Merrett has sustained to his hand. He was due to play his 250th game next week against St Kilda, but that is now in doubt. Key forward May rolled his ankle out and has “at minimum” an ankle sprain.
The Dons could be bolstered by the return of forward Kyle Langford, who came back in the VFL on Saturday.
Jon Pierik, Scott Spits, Andrew Wu
Sydney premiership coach John Longmire has ruled himself out of becoming the new senior coach at Melbourne, leaving Adam Simpson and Nathan Buckley as the early frontrunners.
Former Swans coach John Longmire.Credit: Rhett Wyman
After a frenetic week in the AFL in which the Demons sacked their drought-breaking 2021 premiership coach Simon Goodwin, and Carlton recommitted to Michael Voss to coach them into the 2026 season, Longmire and the Swans confirmed on Saturday he would not pursue the Dees’ job.
Longmire’s withdrawal leaves West Coast premiership coach Simpson and Collingwood great Buckley as the two most prominent candidates who have coached at the level to lead the Demons, whose hunt will focus first on those with experience.
Buckley, linked to becoming Tasmania’s inaugural coach for their entry in 2028, said this week he had rediscovered his desire to coach again at the top level and expressed an interest in taking the Demons job, describing the opportunity as “compelling”. Simpson was less forthcoming but left the door open.
Departing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley all but ruled himself out of the race this week when he said he would not think about his future until Christmas, while Essendon champion James Hird has said he is not interested in a return.
Longmire – known in football circles as Horse – led the Swans for 14 years, but gave up the position in November last year following a disastrous grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions – his fifth grand final as coach. He moved sideways at the club to become the Swans’ executive director of club performance.
A Swans spokesperson confirmed to this masthead on Saturday that Longmire wouldn’t pursue the Demons job.
The North Melbourne premiership player and 2012 premiership coach had said during the week he wasn’t likely to deviate from the path he’d taken in 2025.
A comeback to coaching for the 2026 season would have resulted in Longmire returning to the top post less than a year after he shocked the football world by stepping down, and relocating to Melbourne after more than two decades in Sydney.
Longmire had flagged with club bosses Andrew Pridham and Tom Harley in 2023 that his contract, expiring in 2025, would be his last, but is enjoying his new role.
He told Fox Footy on Wednesday night he had relished spending more time with his family while being away from the cut and thrust of coaching an AFL club.
“I hope you understand that I’m not being cagey about this,” Longmire said on AFL 360, where he has a weekly segment. “I just haven’t allowed myself to think about it (coaching again) because I’ve had other thoughts going on and other things in my life that I’ve tried to be present with.
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“I spent so many years thinking about what I needed to do, the next step, the next step, and the footy club, and I’ve just tried to be a bit more present this year, and what I’m actually doing with my family in particular.
“And at the moment, I’m loving what I’m doing, and I’m staying present in that now. If that changes, well, I need to have a think about it at some point, maybe. But at the moment, it hasn’t changed.”
More to come
Dylan Shiel looks dejected after the loss in Geelong.Credit: AFL Photos
“If the charge is upheld by the tribunal, while the tribunal will determine the sanction in their sole discretion, the AFL’s view is that a suspension of one match is the appropriate penalty having regard to both the impact to O’Connor and the significant potential that Shiel’s teammate, Luamon Lual, could have suffered a serious head or neck injury arising from Shiel’s unreasonable conduct, which caused Lual’s head and neck to make contact with the ground with force.
“In this respect, the Laws of Australian Football state that a player owes a duty of care to all other players, not just their opponents.”
There are provisions in the tribunal guidelines to sanction players for actions that result in injuries to a teammate.
A player’s conduct can be regarded as careless if it “constitutes a breach of the duty of care owed by the player to all other players”.
“Each player owes a duty of care to all other players, umpires and other persons (as applicable) not to engage in conduct which will constitute a reportable offence being committed against that other player, umpire or other person,” the tribunal guidelines state.
Loading
The MRO deemed Shiel should have reasonably foreseen his push on O’Connor would have placed another player in danger.
Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell was suspended for three matches for a push which resulted in St Kilda’s Liam O’Connell being concussed.
In a quirk of the system, the Bombers had partial control of Shiel’s fate through Lual’s medical report. The Bombers stressed Lual was not subbed out as a direct result of the collision with O’Connor but he was sore and had little impact on the game so was replaced.
Essendon coach Brad Scott, a former football operations manager at the AFL, did not appear to be aware a player is required to show a duty of care to all players and not just opponents.
“It will be an interesting one, I’m not sure you can get suspended for hurting your own player, but we’ll see,” Scott said on Friday night.
The Bombers do not yet know the extent of damage Merrett has sustained to his hand. He was due to play his 250th game next week against St Kilda, but that is now in doubt. Key forward May rolled his ankle out and has “at minimum” an ankle sprain.
The Dons could be bolstered by the return of forward Kyle Langford, who came back in the VFL on Saturday.
Jon Pierik, Scott Spits, Andrew Wu
Sydney premiership coach John Longmire has ruled himself out of becoming the new senior coach at Melbourne, leaving Adam Simpson and Nathan Buckley as the early frontrunners.
Former Swans coach John Longmire.Credit: Rhett Wyman
After a frenetic week in the AFL in which the Demons sacked their drought-breaking 2021 premiership coach Simon Goodwin, and Carlton recommitted to Michael Voss to coach them into the 2026 season, Longmire and the Swans confirmed on Saturday he would not pursue the Dees’ job.
Longmire’s withdrawal leaves West Coast premiership coach Simpson and Collingwood great Buckley as the two most prominent candidates who have coached at the level to lead the Demons, whose hunt will focus first on those with experience.
Buckley, linked to becoming Tasmania’s inaugural coach for their entry in 2028, said this week he had rediscovered his desire to coach again at the top level and expressed an interest in taking the Demons job, describing the opportunity as “compelling”. Simpson was less forthcoming but left the door open.
Departing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley all but ruled himself out of the race this week when he said he would not think about his future until Christmas, while Essendon champion James Hird has said he is not interested in a return.
Longmire – known in football circles as Horse – led the Swans for 14 years, but gave up the position in November last year following a disastrous grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions – his fifth grand final as coach. He moved sideways at the club to become the Swans’ executive director of club performance.
A Swans spokesperson confirmed to this masthead on Saturday that Longmire wouldn’t pursue the Demons job.
The North Melbourne premiership player and 2012 premiership coach had said during the week he wasn’t likely to deviate from the path he’d taken in 2025.
A comeback to coaching for the 2026 season would have resulted in Longmire returning to the top post less than a year after he shocked the football world by stepping down, and relocating to Melbourne after more than two decades in Sydney.
Longmire had flagged with club bosses Andrew Pridham and Tom Harley in 2023 that his contract, expiring in 2025, would be his last, but is enjoying his new role.
He told Fox Footy on Wednesday night he had relished spending more time with his family while being away from the cut and thrust of coaching an AFL club.
“I hope you understand that I’m not being cagey about this,” Longmire said on AFL 360, where he has a weekly segment. “I just haven’t allowed myself to think about it (coaching again) because I’ve had other thoughts going on and other things in my life that I’ve tried to be present with.
Loading
“I spent so many years thinking about what I needed to do, the next step, the next step, and the footy club, and I’ve just tried to be a bit more present this year, and what I’m actually doing with my family in particular.
“And at the moment, I’m loving what I’m doing, and I’m staying present in that now. If that changes, well, I need to have a think about it at some point, maybe. But at the moment, it hasn’t changed.”
More to come
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