Archer loses tribunal case despite victim saying clash was not his fault

Kangaroos defender Jackson Archer will miss the next three matches after he failed to have his suspension overturned at the AFL tribunal.

Archer fronted the tribunal in a bid to get a three-match ban for a clash with Western Bulldogs defender Luke Cleary overturned. 

The incident was initially deemed graded as careless conduct with high contact and severe impact by the AFL’s match review officer, Michael Christian, after Cleary had been knocked out as a result of the high-speed collision.

The AFL argued that Archer’s conduct was “unreasonable in the circumstances” with evidence presented at the tribunal revealing Archer had initially been running towards the contest at a speed of approximately 29km/h before attempting to decelerate.

“The reason we don’t see these types of incidents very often … is because players simply take more care in a situation like this,” the league’s legal counsel, Andrew Woods, said.

North Melbourne’s legal counsel, Justin Graham, retorted by saying, “This was an awful collision that involved two brave footballers. It’s an unfortunate accident. It’s not more than that”.

Archer was asked whether he had interacted with Cleary since the incident took place and revealed the pair had exchanged text messages.

He added that no Bulldogs players approached him regarding the incident when he returned to the ground after play resumed following a stoppage to get Cleary stretchered off the ground.

Archer told the tribunal his actions were largely determined by a pressing defence he and his teammates are urged to play when the opposition is in possession of the ball.

He said he did not expect Cleary to go to ground after taking possession of the ball as Kangaroos players are taught to stay on their feet in order to avoid giving a free kick away for below the knees contact.

“When he starts to pick up the ball, I’m starting to slow down enough where I can make a fair tackle,” he said.

“It’s not until his knee hits the ground that I realise he’s chosen to go to ground.

“I’m bracing trying to stop my momentum. My bum’s down, trying to slow down as much as I can, hit the brakes, obviously he’s going to ground. 

“I don’t want to be in that situation and I don’t want him to be in that situation either.”

North Melbourne’s evidence even included a discussion on the Oxford English dictionary’s definition of the word ‘rough’, but ultimately it wasn’t enough to convince the tribunal.

“Archer approached the contest at excessive speed, giving himself no reasonable opportunity to avoid harmful contact with Cleary in the circumstances that foreseeably arose,” tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson said when delivering the verdict.

“His duty of care required him to slow more appreciably and earlier in order to give himself the opportunity to avoid or minimise head high contact.” 

Archer will miss North Melbourne’s clashes against Melbourne, Adelaide and the Sydney Swans over the next three weeks.