Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has launched a scathing attack on the AFL tribunal, accusing it of setting a dangerous new precedent after Will Lewis's staging fine was upheld. The tribunal dismissed the club's challenge, leaving Lewis with a $1000 fine for an incident during last Friday night's match against Sydney.
Beveridge Defends Lewis, Cites Medical Evidence
Beveridge insisted that Lewis could not breathe after being struck in the midriff by Sydney opponent Nick Blakey during a scuffle. The Bulldogs submitted a medical report to support their case, but the tribunal ignored it, according to Beveridge. He compared the situation to soccer, saying, "If you think of the round-ball game, the World Cup ... what the AFL are saying to us is if you get hit, regardless if you do or don't, if you stay down, you can still be charged with staging ... and fine you."
Tribunal's Decision Criticised
The coach expressed frustration that the tribunal disregarded the club's medical assessment. "We submitted a medical appraisal and assessment that he couldn't breathe, he wouldn't stay down otherwise. The AFL has obviously thumbed their nose at it and said, 'We just think you've staged'," Beveridge said. He argued that the decision was based on how long Lewis stayed on the ground rather than whether he was actually hit. "It's a change now to what staging is, it's totally contingent on how long you stay down, not whether or not you actually got hit — because he got hit," he added.
New Precedent Set, Says Beveridge
Beveridge labelled the ruling "a new precedent in that (tribunal) area" and expressed concern for Lewis's reputation. "I don't want him to be tarred with a brush where he's put on an act, because he hasn't," Beveridge said. He warned that the decision could have broader implications, stating, "It just means now that if doctors from the football clubs, if they put through submissions that a player is in discomfort, has actually been hit, the AFL will now ignore that and base it on what they see."
