Why some AFL experts want Gary Rohan suspended for knocking out Geelong teammate Jeremy Cameron

AFL fans and commentators have been left divided over the ugly collision between Geelong teammates Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan, with some questioning why the league’s crackdown on high shots does not apply to the Cats forward.

The AFL’s crackdown on high shots, intentional or otherwise, has been well documented since the hammer came down in 2022.

Since then a number of players have been suspended for accidental high contact with opposition stars.

However, the Geelong versus Melbourne Demons match tossed up a new variable: what happens when a player accidentally strikes a teammate high?

Cameron was left prone at GMHBA Stadium for around five minutes and was taken from the ground by medicab and hospitalised after collecting friendly fire from Rohan.

Now analysts and fans alike have questioned why he has no case to answer at the AFL Tribunal.    

The contact between Rohan and Cameron that left the Geelong forward ruled out of the match and taken to hospital

Plenty of AFL fans asked the question whether Rohan should be suspended, like he would be if the hit had been on an opposition player

Rohan has previously served a one-match ban for a high tackle on Hawthorn defender Changkuoth Jiath.

He was unfairly slammed by fans for being involved in a marking contest that resulted in club champion Patrick Dangerfield being injured last week against Port Adelaide, despite not making any contact with his teammate.

SEN Radio asked whether Rohan would have been suspended if he was wearing a Melbourne jersey instead of a Geelong one.

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes said he would have been rubbed out if was wearing the blue and red.

‘I was just studying it… I don’t know what he was doing, by the way, he put himself in a really awful position,’ he said.

‘He had no right to be in Jeremy Cameron’s way and then at the last minute tried to get out the way.

‘I think he would get suspended if he was an opposition player.’

Rohan checks on the welfare of Cameron as medics tend to the injured forward in the first quarter of their clash against Melbourne

Kane Cornes also agrees that Rohan would have been suspended if he was wearing a Melbourne jersey instead of Geelong colours

Cameron was treated for around five minutes on the ground before being transported to hospital for scans

The AFL has ramped up its crackdown on head-high contact this season, no matter whether that contact is intentional or accidental.

That has led many footy fans to echo the thoughts of Cornes, saying it shouldn’t matter what team players are on if they strike another player high.

‘Gary Rohan took his eyes off the ball. Aware he couldn’t contest the ball, he turned his body side on and elected to lead with his shoulder,’ one fan posted.

‘There was no duty of care for any player in his pathway!! Why should he escape sanction just because it was a team mate he knocked out?’ 

‘If Jeremy Cameron was a Melbourne player Gary Rohan would be in serious MRO trouble. Late and he braced for contact, grading would be careless, high contact and severe impact,’ posted another.

‘Obviously he won’t get suspended but does the AFL need to address it?’

‘The Gary Rohan hit would be 4+ weeks if made to an opponent. Just goes to show really how often these collisions are accidental,’ added another.

‘Will Rohan be suspended for bumping and concussing Cameron? Tribunal and AFL reminds us every week that accidents and intent don’t matter – the only thing that matters is protecting players from head injuries?’ asked another.

‘I guess players can use ‘accident’ as a defence now?’ 

However, fellow SEN panelist and former North Melbourne AFL champion David King disagreed.

‘No one is seriously suggesting that, are they? I can’t believe you’re going with the affirmative on this,’ he said.

Last year AFL head of umpiring Dan Richardson clarified the high contact rule, saying players would not be rewarded for ‘putting themselves in vulnerable positions to draw a free kick’.

The rule states: ‘Where the tackle is applied, and there is prior opportunity, and the ball carrier creates the high contact through any of the above means, they will be penalised with holding the ball.’

But there is no mention of contact between players on the same team.

Former North Melbourne champion David King thinks the whole notion of suspending Rohan for smashing his own teammate is ridiculous

Rohan managed to overcome the incident and turn in a massive game – including the match-winning goal – to help secure victory for the Cats

Geelong coach Chris Scott was proud of the way his forward was able to manage the incident and still turn in a blinder

Despite the incident, Rohan emerged as a key figure in the Cats’ win over Melbourne and kicked the goal that sealed the victory.

Geelong coach Chris Scott praised his forward for rebounding from the collision to influence the result in a positive way.

‘Gary Rohan was really rattled by it, as you would expect, but his approach and maturity to really attack the game – if anyone won the game for us, it was him,’ Scott said.

‘Because he is the person he is, it did rattle him, and I respect him more for that because he is not a sociopath. He’s got some empathy for one of his best friends who is accidentally knocked out.

‘The way he could refocus on what the team needed, it was very admirable.’