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Lohmann re-signs with Lions until 2027 | 00:54
The AFL has drawn a line through one of its most quarrelsome tribunal loopholes on Wednesday, with a player’s good character no longer a valid argument to downgrade a suspension or financial sanction.
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The competition’s legal definition of “exceptional and compelling circumstances” for Tribunal matters has changed, with the league stating on Wednesday morning that ahead of season 2025, “the definition of exceptional and compelling circumstances will be limited to expressly exclude a player’s character and standing in the community.”
The law in question was most scrutinised last year when a one-match suspension handed down to star Brisbane forward Charlie Cameron was waived due to his “exemplary character and record.”
The act, which saw Cameron lift Lever off the ground and drive him into the ground, was graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact by MRO Michael Christian.
As of Round 6 last year, Cameron had never been suspended across 207 career games — though he had been fined five times, including three times for rough conduct.
AFL great and Fox Footy expert Eddie Betts was called upon to speak on the 30-year-old’s character in his former teammate’s defence.
Prior to Cameron’s case last year, former Richmond defender Bachar Houli successfully used references from then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to reduce his sentence for knocking out Carlton defender Jed Lamb. Comments on Houli’s character from TV presenter and personality Waleed Aly were also used effectively in a lighter penalty.
The move from the league is not totally unforeseen, with chief executive Andrew Dillon flagging the process would be reviewed at the end of the 2024 season.
