Stevo's Sting: AFL's war on punches forgot the weapons

It wasn't difficult to predict where the match review panel was headed the moment the newest member was grilled on RSN's breakfast show yesterday morning.

"If you don't change the parameters, I'm not sure what we're supposed to do," Jimmy Bartel said, matter-of-fact as usual.

Bartel was talking about AFL footy boss Simon Lethlean's unusual press conference last week, where he leaned on the MRP to go harder on punches.

The message was clear to players that punches would not be tolerated, and the MRP was, by extension, given licence to change its ways.

On borderline cases, it seemed no longer would players be given the benefit of the doubt.

“It’s a tough job on the MRP - the broad performance of the MRP has been strong ... and they have my full faith and support," Lethlean said.

“But we will not accept on-field punches of the nature that we have seen in the last few weeks and we’re resetting and making that clear to players going forward."

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But the league didn't change the formula or the boxes to tick in a punching-to-the-body case.

That needed Commission approval. Bartel was spot on - the MRP had nowhere to move.

There was little point in Lethlean coming out so strong if the MRP didn't have the weaponry at its disposal to arrive at a one-week suspension.

Jack Steven, in particular, was seriously lucky to avoid suspension for his whack to the guts of Marcus Bontempelli. Even St Kilda coach Alan Richardson thought so.

But it was impossible for the MRP to grade it medium force given past findings. It had to stick to its criteria and maintain its integrity.

Without a change to the MRP formula for body punches, it is impossible to see a player being suspended for the offence at all this season.

If Ben Cunnington doesn't miss a week, no one does.

So the AFL presser last week put players on notice (kind of) but after yesterday's findings they can keep tummy tapping safe in the knowledge they will be okay.

It is not too late to change the table of offences. Otherwise the public warning was a waste of time.

A warning, and a tweak to the MRP formula, should have been made in unison.

If Zak Jones or Steven had been rubbed out, perhaps a tribunal hearing was inevitable.

Why wouldn't they challenge, argue precedent, and win? So a crackdown at the MRP would have led to a likely overturn at the tribunal anyway.

Bartel, a smart man, raised the tribunal reversal as hypothetical yesterday. And it is completely relevant.

Unless the 'parameters' are overhauled, the MRP can do little to follow through on the league's concerns.

Over to you, Commish. If you don't like punches, make a mid-season change. No one will argue.

If not, then all the talking counts for very little.