BY STEPHEN BAKER

AFL boss, Andrew Demetriou has defended the match review panel’s finding that allowed two-time Brownlow medalist Adam Goodes to avoid suspension for a head-high bump on West Coast’s Adam Selwood.

In an exclusive interview with radio station SEN, Demetriou said he was comfortable with the panel’s explanation of their finding.

“I think the Adam Goodes decision they got it right, from what I understand,” he said.

“I know the match review panel’s explanation that the player had his head up, he didn’t have his head over the ball as before, and Adam Goodes obviously made contact and he received a reprimand,” said Demetriou.

The League chief refuted suggestions that Goodes escaped any penalty for the hit.

“He (Goodes) got the number of points and he’s ineligible for the Brownlow medal now, so he didn’t get off scott free. I think they got it right.”

Demetriou also threw his support behind AFL Operations Manager Adrian Anderson and his efforts in minimising head and neck injuries.

“I think Adrian Anderson has done a sensational game with the laws of the game committee,” he said.

‘If you think about players bending over the ball, we were really fortunate as a sport not to have more serious injuries from that.”

“Overall, the bottom line is we have just seen in the latest injury survey, we’ve had less head injuries than we’ve had in previous years and I think that’s a reflection of the new rules.”

Demetriou also lauded the players efforts to change their tackling style in adjusting to rule changes.

“I think players have adapted incredibly well to a new system which says that the head is sacrosanct.”

“You’ve got to be very careful, and I think players have changed how they tackle players now - they’re not as aggressive in going at the players who’ve got their head over the ball.”

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