AFL legends Rory Sloane and Isaac Smith believe that Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini should not have received a suspension for a bump that resulted in Melbourne’s Harrison Petty being concussed. The incident occurred during a match in Queensland, leaving Petty unable to continue playing.
Commenting on the situation, Sloane expressed that the responsibility lies with Petty for not using proper technique when contesting the ball. He referred to the situation as a consequence of Petty’s "poor technique," stating on Nine’s Sunday AFL Footy Show, "I don’t think anything should happen to Fiorini; this is Harrison Petty who is unfortunately going to suffer the consequences." Sloane emphasised the importance of teaching correct fundamental techniques, particularly at junior levels, to prevent injuries like concussions.
In contrast, Alistair Lynch, a former Brisbane champion, described the collision at the time as "dangerous." This raised questions about the judgement of match review officer Michael Christian. The discussion is akin to a previous incident involving Carlton’s Adam Cerra and Essendon’s Sam Durham, where Durham was suspended for head-high contact. However, Smith pointed out that the circumstances differed significantly, arguing that while Durham intended to bump Cerra, Fiorini was merely attempting to gather a loose ball, and thus Petty’s technique was at fault.
Smith reinforced the notion that players have the right to protect themselves in such situations, suggesting that a player’s positioning—stepping over the ball and ensuring physical protection—should be a key focus. He concluded that a decision regarding the incident’s outcome would likely be announced later that evening, highlighting the ongoing debate about player safety and responsibility within the game.