“No way in the world”: Dogs defender Jones should be free to play final… but the AFL has made its bed

The Western Bulldogs face a nervous wait on Liam Jones.

The key defender is expected to be scrutinised by the Match Review Officer after he tackled GWS forward Aaron Cadman to the ground in the opening seconds of his side’s win in Ballarat on Sunday.

Jones pinned the arm of Cadman whose head hit the ground under the weight of the tackle, but thankfully the young Giant escaped unscathed.

However, it was a very similar incident to the tackle by Lachie Ash on Fremantle’s Hayden Young in Round 23 which led to a one-game ban for the GWS defender.

Compare the incidents below:

Kane Cornes and Nathan Buckley discussed the Jones incident and wondered where it would land.

Cornes says “there’s no way in the world” Jones should be missing a final for that action but just cannot see how he will get off given the AFL’s stance on such tackles.

Cornes asked Buckley on SEN Breakfast: “Liam Jones - one week or no weeks?”

Buckley: “You know my opinion about these.

“I just think if we go on outcome, Cadman is ok. So let’s just play on.”

Cornes: “But Young was ok the previous week with Ash.

“It’s exactly the same tackle.”

Buckley: “I know, but I think we’re giving too many.”

Cornes: “100 per cent, there’s no way in the world Liam Jones should be missing a final for a tackle like that.

“But unfortunately the AFL have made their own bed and there is no way he can be let off. They’re going to have to suspend him.

“The Western Bulldogs will take that to the Tribunal and you can look at whether the head hit the ground.

“There’s no way he should miss a final for that, but the AFL have no option but to suspend him.”

Buckley: “What would a reasonable player do in that circumstance?”

Cornes: “Oh, what a joke.”

Jones, 33, has played 199 career games for the Dogs and Carlton and has not yet appeared in a final.

The Bulldogs will meet Hawthorn in the Second Elimination Final at the MCG on Friday, September 6 from 7:40pm AEST.