Hawthorn Football Club will push for changes to the bumping rule after Lance Franklin’s appeal against the AFL tribunal was rejected last night.
Franklin will not play in tomorrow’s crucial clash against Essendon and the first week of the finals if the Hawks defeat the Bombers and take the eight spot and a spot in the elimination finals.
Hawthorns football operations manager Mark Evens was disappointed with the ruling, saying: ”We put up a pretty good fight and got across a lot of points,” he said.
”The point, for me, still remains that I’m not sure this law is in the spirit of the game [and] we look forward to lobbying the AFL about what we can do to get that reversed to a much more reasonable position.”
The Hawk’s haven’t ruled out legal action, but Evans said: ”At this stage we’re happy with what occurred tonight and we’ll go home and sleep on it.”
The point of rule was argued based on an error in law, as “no tribunal acting reasonably” could have found Franklin guilty of rough conduct for his bump on Richmond’s Ben Cousins.
The bump took place in the third quarter of a match against the Tigers, which left the former West Coast star concussed.
If Hawthorn beat Essendon and win their elimination round match Franklin could return this season.
”I was disappointed Tuesday night and nothing’s really changed,” he said as he left last night’s marathon hearing.
The Hawks will play tomorrow’s important game without a tall forward, as Jarryd Roughead and Mark Williams are unavailable.
Thanks to Fox Sports for the above quotes. For more information visit their website.