HAWTHORN great Dermott Brereton believes the bounce may be dead if players aren\u2019t able to launch at centre bounces with their knees up.<\/p>\n
While under current laws players are free to use their knees in ruck contests, an incident between Hawthorn\u2019s Lloyd Meek and Geelong\u2019s Mark Blicavs on Easter Monday has caused headlines.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Given the bounce and ruck contests have been contested with knees up throughout the game\u2019s history, Brereton believes Scott doesn\u2019t have the right to tell players to stop utilising the technique.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bounce is an extraordinary situation, it\u2019s not a perfect bounce, and we like that little bit of error in it and have for over a hundred years,\u201d Brereton told SEN Afternoons.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 100 years ruckmen have been told to put their knee up in the ruck.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs wonderful a coach as Chris Scott is, he\u2019s calling to have that abolished in round four of 2023, you just can\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a 100-year technique.\u201d<\/p>\n
Collingwood tall Mason Cox also weighed in on the contest, where he said the AFL should just abolish the bounce if ruckmen aren\u2019t able to use their knees.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t bounced perfectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love Mason Cox and his takes on football,\u201d Brereton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though he\u2019s learned the craft and he\u2019s a really intelligent guy, he has this beautiful naive look about the sport as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe says if we\u2019re not allowed to put the knee up in the ruck, just bounce it, turn it into a jump ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s 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\u2026 you\u2019re the vulnerable one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other bloke has a run-up, he jumps and if he puts his knee up, it\u2019s going into the ribcage or higher of the stationary ruckman trapped up the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only defence he has is to put his knee up or vacate and give it the white flag and avoid contact.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only technique they have for that in 100 years is to put the knee up.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always been a proponent of bouncing the ball,\u201d Brereton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think if we\u2019re going to limit this knee-up situation now, I\u2019m calling for every centre stoppage to be a ball-up from the word go so it\u2019s fair and the ruckmen can have a run at each other and use their technique.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat way no one is under the ball and vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n