In making the report public, the AFL released the following comments on a number of other issues which were raised in the media following the game.
Contact between Essendon's Mark Johnson and St Kilda's Aaron Hamill before the first bounce of Saturday night's game was reviewed. It was Peter Carey's view (the video report's officer) that the contact was insufficient to warrant a report.
Contact between Essendon's Dean Rioli and St Kilda's Andrew Thompson from the 11.30 mark of the second quarter of Saturday night's game was reviewed. It was Carey's view that the tackle did not lift Thompson high enough to be in danger of landing on his head and that Thompson landed on his side with Rioli falling on top of him. No further action was required.
Contact between Essendon's James Hird and St Kilda's Andrew Thompson from the 5.30 mark of the fourth quarter of Saturday night's game was reviewed. It was Carey's view that Hird would not necessarily expect contact from an opposition player with the ball out of bounds. Thompson ran directly at Hird at speed. Hird put up his hands to protect himself and it appears his intention was to push the St Kilda player away. Contact was made with the left forearm to the neck and the video shows Hird has raised his arm to protect himself from Thompson. It was Carey's view that there was not a deliberate action from Hird to strike Thompson and his action was neither reckless or negligent where contact was likely to cause injury. No further action required.
St Kilda's Aaron Hamill leaving the field under the blood rule at the 7.58 mark of the first quarter of Saturday night's game has been referred to AFL Investigations Officer John Coburn.
