Brisbane Lions ruckman Stefan Martin believes the AFL tribunal must come down hard on Jeremy Cameron to deter potentially career-threatening hits like the one on Harris Andrews.
Martin said it was “hard to watch” Andrews convulsing on the Gabba turf after copping an elbow to the chin from GWS star Cameron, who will learn his punishment on Tuesday night.
Andrews suffered a severe concussion and a small bleed on his brain and will miss at least the next two weeks but is expected to make a full recovery.
The incident has opened up old wounds for the Lions given their history of players with head knocks.
Justin Clarke was forced to retire at just 22 due to ongoing symptoms from a concussion he suffered at a training session.
Veterans Jonathan Brown and Matt Maguire also factored in their records of previous concussions when they decided to hang up the boots.
Martin, too, knows what it feels like to be on the receiving end of an ugly hit after wearing a head-high bump from Gold Coast’s Steven May in 2016.
May was slapped with a five-week ban with Cameron widely expected to receive a similar, if not worse sanction.
“All players know these days that those kind of hits are going to be met with some repercussions,” Martin told reporters.
“I think it’s probably appropriate. We’ve seen enough times that it can end careers.
“Having said that there’s no reason so far from what the neurosurgeon has said to make us think that’s even on the cards. He’s really confident that Harris is going to fully bounce back.
“But it always goes through your mind, especially the way we saw him on the ground. It didn’t look good.”
Martin hadn’t given much thought to the debate over whether the AFL should introduce red cards, but he said he would after acknowledging the Lions were seriously hampered by losing Andrews so early during their clash with the Giants, who ended up winning by 27 points.
“Harris has been our most important player for the last month or two. No doubt it changed the momentum of the game,” Martin said.
“With him on the field, he just stems attacks and gives us run. Who knows what effect that had on the outcome.
“He’s been a star for us and we’ll miss him a lot … you can’t sort of replace a guy like Harris.”
