Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says the bump is very risky.Credit:Getty Images
The major talking point in football this week,however,is the bump after Geelong superstarDangerfield copped a three-match ban at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night for his high bump on Adelaide’s Jake Kelly.
Speaking on Wednesday after Melbourne’s training at Casey Fields,Goodwin effectively said that he was instructing his players to avoid bumping where possible.
“It’s been one of those debates that’s been going on for two or three years now. I’m pretty clear with our players that we’ve got to tackle,” Goodwin said. ″The bump’s very risky and you’ve got to tackle the right way now too. Anything to do with the head you’re in trouble,and you run the risk if you bump and you run the risk if you sling tackle. The message for my players is pretty clear:tackle where you can.
“It’s very important. You see what’s happened[with concussion] with some of our players.”
Loading
The round-one win over Fremantle has things looking pretty rosy for the Demons with experienced quartet Viney,Jake Melksham,Michael Hibberd and Aaron vandenBerg all getting through a VFL practice match on the weekend to stake their claim for an AFL spot against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
But while Viney should slot straight back in,the others look likely to need to wait.