Hawthorn premiership player Campbell Brown has slammed the AFL’s handling of the David Mackay case that saw the veteran Crow sent directly to the Tribunal.
Mackay was found not guilty of rough conduct for his collision with St Kilda's Hunter Clark on Thursday night, with AFL operations boss Steve Hocking defending the league’s decision to overrule the MRO and refer the incident to the Tribunal.
The AFL said a three-week suspension was “appropriate” after Mackay “carelessly engaged in rough conduct that was unreasonable in the circumstances”.
The collision left Clark with a broken jaw that could sideline him for the rest of the season.
“I thought it (Mackay Tribunal hearing) was quite extraordinary,” Brown told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“I understand you don’t see bumps like that anymore in modern day football. Back when we played, we had Byron Pickett dishing those out every second week, but the game has changed, and the injury was significant.
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“What I will say is if this was handled on the Sunday or the Monday by the MRO and the AFL and thrown it out like it should have been … it would be over and done with.
“Instead, they sent it to the Tribunal without as much as a charge, that came 24 hours later, and the hearing was Thursday night which made it evolve into a far bigger story and situation than it needed to be.
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“For the second time in a month the Tribunal saved the AFL from themselves. They overruled the (Nick) Holman decision which should have never had to go there in the first place, and now this one.
“Right decisions were made, but whoever is making these calls and suspending players based on these football actions, I think they need to resign to be honest.
“If that’s how they’re seeing the game – a bump and a fair chase down tackle - if they think that they deserve a suspension, it’s time to go.”
Mackay is free to play in Adelaide’s Round 15 match against Carlton.
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