Jack Higgins’ tackle on Aliir Aliir on Friday night has sparked fierce debate among the AFL community.
St Kilda’s Higgins slung Aliir to the Adelaide Oval turf in the second quarter with the Port Adelaide defender’s head slamming into the ground.
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The impact saw Aliir take no further part in the contest as he was subbed out after failing a concussion test.
With dangerous tackles under an intense spotlight from the league, Higgins is sure to face scrutiny from the match review officer.
The incident has however divided opinions with many believing Higgins is staring down weeks on the sidelines, several greats of the game however believe Aliir may have contributed to the fallout.
“That’s what they’re trying to bring in to protect,” Luke Hodge said on Channel 7. “He’s forcefully pulled him down.”
“If you pin the arm and bring him forcefully to the ground you’re going to be in trouble.”
Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis said if Aliir had of held the ball in as the tackle was being laid he would have been able to better protect himself.
“I feel for Higgins,” Lewis said on Fox Footy’s halftime show.
“If Aliir Aliir understands that he’s being tackled and doesn’t then try to kick the ball then there’s probably no case to answer for.
“If you’re looking at what player’s contribute to that, I think it’s 50/50, I think Allir contributes 50% of that force by going to the ground trying to dispose the ball.”
Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon agreed with Lewis’ outlook on the incident, but AFL legend Nathan Buckley wasn’t having it and said Higgins is at fault.
“It’s a very interesting point, I thought that Higgins would get a week every day, but the fact that he tried to kick the footy means he was more off balance than he perhaps would’ve been,” Lyon said.
Buckley interjected: “I would love that to be the case, but the fact is that the duty of care is slated to the tackler, which means Higgins is responsible for any negative impact of it.
Lyon added: “I understand all that, I just think it’s a little different because the kicking of the ball comes in … it may not mean anything but I do think that the fact that his legs came up to kick the ball adds to the momentum.”
The perplexing incident left footy fans watching on equally as divided as greats of the game.
Commentator Rod Jameson said on ABC: “The problem is, the tackle was good. The art of the tackle, he couldn’t dispose of the football … I think he’ll get a game, but I think he’s got a case to answer.”
Journalist Jake Benoiton wrote: “Not sure what else Jack Higgins can do there. Alir attempting to kick results in the sling.”
Journalist Ronny Lerner wrote: “Jack Higgins is a great bloke. So he’ll be fine.”
One user wrote: “If the AFL suspends Jack Higgins from that tackle, they are a joke.”
Another added: “Jack Higgins has earnt himself a week or two off.”
Higgins will learn his fate over the weekend when the Match Review Officer assesses the incident.