Unsportsmanlike attack

Every now and again an AFL footballer demonstrates a chivalrous attitude that renews AussieRulesBlog’s faith in the higher ideals of sport.

 

Some years ago, Essendon’s David Hille turned back from following the ball to check on an injured Jamie Charman and call Brisbane trainers to his aid. More recently, a couple of players whose names we don’t recall have, similarly, called trainers to aid opponents who have been concussed in contests for the ball.

 

And then there’s the win-at-any-cost attitude that sees Lee Montagna and Justin Koschitzke ‘test’ a clearly incapacitated Ed Curnow’s shoulder by bumping him as players milled around at the end of a quarter. There are plenty of precedents. Jack Riewoldt attempting to punch Tayte Pears’ injured hand, Steven Baker punching Steve Johnston’s injured hand, Mal Michael bumping Nick Riewoldt’s injured shoulder, Steven Kretiuk and Matthew Lloyd’s hand, . . .

 

Some readers will be thinking as they read this, it’s a man’s game and what happens on the field stays on the field, or if you run out onto the field you’re effectively saying you’re fit enough to compete. Well we agree with these sentiments — up to a point.

 

Sport should be about striving for ideals, about competing fiercely in the contest and respecting your opponent. The modern game appears to be leaning toward, figuratively, kicking an opponent when they’re down and the physically-strong oppressing the physically-weakened.

 

It’s about respect. Not just respecting opponents, although that’s very important. It’s about respecting yourself and treating others as you would want them to treat you.

 

Let’s not beat around the bush: Lee Montagna and Justin Koschitzke were unsportsmanlike in their attack on Curnow. There’s no other way to say it. They brought the game, and sport in the wider context, into disrepute.

 

Such incidents must be made illegal and automatically referred to the tribunal. There cannot be any justification for such attacks outside of a genuine contest for the ball.

 

Over to you, Andrew and Mike. Do we want our game to promote respect? Or are you happy to see it descending into unprovoked mob violence?