Why Brereton believes the bounce could be dead

HAWTHORN great Dermott Brereton believes the bounce may be dead if players aren’t able to launch at centre bounces with their knees up.

While under current laws players are free to use their knees in ruck contests, an incident between Hawthorn’s Lloyd Meek and Geelong’s Mark Blicavs on Easter Monday has caused headlines.

Early in the first term of the clash, Meek kneed Blicavs in the ribs went the Cat opted not to jump during a ruck contest.

While Blicavs received a free kick, he was unable to take it as he hunched to the ground and then spent a quarter off the ground receiving medical attention.

In response to the incident, Cats coach Chris Scott called for ruckmen to stop jumping with their knees and Meek also received a fine from the MRO for the act which was classified as careless conduct and medium impact.

Given the bounce and ruck contests have been contested with knees up throughout the game’s history, Brereton believes Scott doesn’t have the right to tell players to stop utilising the technique.

“The bounce is an extraordinary situation, it’s not a perfect bounce, and we like that little bit of error in it and have for over a hundred years,” Brereton told SEN Afternoons.

“For 100 years ruckmen have been told to put their knee up in the ruck.

“As wonderful a coach as Chris Scott is, he’s calling to have that abolished in round four of 2023, you just can’t do that.

“This is a 100-year technique.”

Collingwood tall Mason Cox also weighed in on the contest, where he said the AFL should just abolish the bounce if ruckmen aren’t able to use their knees.

Brereton agrees with Cox as he feels the only tool rucks have to protect themselves is often putting their knees up, particularly if the ball isn’t bounced perfectively.

“I love Mason Cox and his takes on football,” Brereton said.

“Even though he’s learned the craft and he’s a really intelligent guy, he has this beautiful naive look about the sport as well.

“He says if we’re not allowed to put the knee up in the ruck, just bounce it, turn it into a jump ball.

“He’s got a point there, knee up in the ruck is a technique and to further explain if the ball comes over your head and the other ruckman gets a run up at you… you’re the vulnerable one.

“The other bloke has a run-up, he jumps and if he puts his knee up, it’s going into the ribcage or higher of the stationary ruckman trapped up the ball.

“The only defence he has is to put his knee up or vacate and give it the white flag and avoid contact.

“The only technique they have for that in 100 years is to put the knee up.”

While Brereton is a fan of the bounce, he feels that the AFL must get rid of the bounce and simply throw the ball up if ruckmen are asked to stop using the tactic in contests.

“I’ve always been a proponent of bouncing the ball,” Brereton said.

“But I think if we’re going to limit this knee-up situation now, I’m calling for every centre stoppage to be a ball-up from the word go so it’s fair and the ruckmen can have a run at each other and use their technique.

“That way no one is under the ball and vulnerable.”

– BY LACHLAN GELEIT/ SEN