Wild accusation emerges behind AFL's club memo on illegal boot studs

7NEWS

4 days ago

There has been an intriguing layer added to the AFL's illegal boot studs drama with claims that a 'top club' is going to extreme lengths to 'break the rules'.
It emerged on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters on Tuesday that the league has sent a memo to clubs, reminding them they are liable to a $40,000 sanction should a player be caught in metal or illegal stops.
'This is a timely reminder regarding the type of football boots which may be worn in AFL matches, specifically the prohibition of metal stops, which pose a serious risk of injury to players,' the memo said.
'To prioritise player safety, the AFL strictly enforces regulations that prohibit the use of metal stops or studs on football boots.
'As such, it is the responsibility of all AFL clubs and players to ensure that boots worn during matches fully comply with these rules.
'Under AFL regulations 4.8, clubs may be sanctioned up to $40,000 breach.'
Despite the memo, veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson said coaches around the league were still concerned because the injuries keep happening.
'According to many coaches and footy bosses I've spoken to today, these boots, often the stops, are really sharp and dangerous. The coaches say this is happening more and more; horrible injuries from boots,' she said on Tuesday.
South Australian radio host Chris 'Ditts' Dittmar has accused one club of a wild act of deception, saying the players are deliberately breaking the rules to get an advantage.
'I've delved a bit deeper into this. So what's happened is the rules did change and it turns out that clubs were told previously, you can't wear that's those types of boots any longer, and it will be a fine, OK, $40,000, quite hefty,' Dittmar said on Triple M Breakfast.
'Going on from Caro's story, what I've learned ... is that there's a club, and I'll say they're a top club, they're going pretty well, one of the top clubs, have got players, would you believe, painting the studs on their boots to make them look different?
'So they're deliberately wearing illegal studs for better grip.'
Dittmar said fans and commentators 'get frustrated' when they see players 'slipping over'.
'So I asked a leading player one of these questions (about the boots). He said, 'Well, we have to wear these moulded soles that are slippery. They've got too many studs in them,' according to this player.
'Whereas if you wear the other ones that are better for wet, longer stops, less studs, that makes it better to grip, believe it or not, with less studs.
'(But) there's a club out there that are breaking the rules, and we think that's why this memo has been sent again this week.'
Channel 7 commentator Dale Thomas speculated that the new plastic blade-style boot could actually cause more damage.
'The plastic, blade style, they become more sharp than the metal ... it's a longer blade along the boot, rather than just a stud, it's almost making it worse,' he said.
On the weekend North Melbourne's Jack Darling suffered a large gash in his shin when he tangled with Carlton's Jack Silvagni during the first quarter.
The veteran was in immediate discomfort by the large wound, which raised concerns around infection.
But he heroically managed to play out the match, but was taken to hospital after the match where he had the wound stitched up.
Silvagni was cleared of any wrongdoing with his boots given the tick of approval.