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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
“Stupid and ridiculous”: Why the AFL must elevate Durham suspension
Andrew Slevison • June 9th, 2025 10:37 am
The AFL must elevate any suspension for Essendon’s Sam Durham after his bump on Carlton’s Adam Cerra in Sunday night’s eight-point loss at the MCG.
The Bombers midfielder attacked the second-quarter ground ball contest side on while bracing to bump, making contact with Cerra who had his head down as he gathered the ball.
Luckily for Durham, the hit only grazed the face of Cerra with the brunt of the force collecting the shoulder of the Blues midfielder.
It is assumed by many that Durham will receive a one-match suspension, but Kane Cornes and David King have both called for a heftier sanction.
Cornes felt it was a very dangerous act.
“I thought it was one of the most dangerous things I've seen on a football field for a long, long time,” he said on SEN’s Fireball.
Which prompted King to urge the AFL to crack down on Durham even if Cerra did avoid concussion.
“Yeah, but how have we got here?” King asked.
“I’ve bashed my head against a brick wall about players not addressing their behaviour. We're still bumping players.
“Essentially, it's the decision to go in at speed to a situation where you don't really know the outcome.
“The potential for serious injury with this Durham one… I hope they do elevate it (the suspension).
“I’ve got nothing against Durham, he plays the game exactly the way you want.
“This should be elevated because of the likelihood to cause serious injury.”
Cornes labelled it a “stupid” and “ridiculous” decision by Durham to choose to bump.
“It was just one of the stupidest things,” Cornes added.
“It appears as though it'll be one week because he (Cerra) escaped with no concussion. He did have a big shiner on his right eye though, Adam Cerra.
“I just couldn't believe what I was seeing that you would think to do that in 2025.
“We outlawed this with Byron Pickett, the front on bumps. Very rarely do you see players suspended for bumps.
“Durham's decision was stupid and ridiculous.
“When Cerra has got his head over the football in that moment, and Durham has a play on the ball and chooses to take his eyes off it, brace himself, get him front on…
“It could have been catastrophic.”
King further explained how Cerra was extremely lucky to avoid serious injury.
“If Cerra had put his head in a normal, natural position, there is every chance he's in a wheelchair today,” he said further.
“He had his head lifted, which was an abnormal position, wasn't it? It's so dangerous.
“We’ve got to find a way through this, and we're crying out for the players to help us, really.”
Cornes concluded: “One week doesn't quite feel serious enough for that.”
King added: “I’d be happy with three weeks.”
