Harry on Report

The West Australian

The AFL match review panel must throw out Harry O'Brien's rough conduct report today or the new rule for contact below the knees cannot work again.
O'Brien did everything the new rule demands. He kept his feet to win the ball. Hawthorn star Luke Hodge chose to go to ground. He should have conceded a free-kick to O'Brien.
The umpire was behind O'Brien so probably didn't have a great view of Hodge. That may have impacted on the decision. But O'Brien does not deserve to be suspended.
He wasn't negligent. He wasn't reckless. He definitely bumped Hodge in the head but Hodge's head had no right to be there. That should be enough to make th MRP realise that the Magpie would have been expecting Hodge to remain standing.