North Melbourne's young defender, Jackson Archer, has been handed a three-match suspension for rough conduct following his alarming collision with Western Bulldogs defender Luke Cleary during their Round 1 clash at Marvel Stadium on March 15, 2025. The suspension marks a significant disciplinary measure as the AFL seeks to maintain player safety amid rising concerns over head injuries.
The incident occurred late in the fourth quarter of the game, which the Bulldogs won 17.11 (113) to 14.13 (97). Archer, 22, lunged for the contest, but his knee struck Cleary's head, resulting in Cleary being knocked out on the field. Medical staff quickly attended to Cleary, who was later taken to the hospital but fortunately avoided serious structural injury. He will, nonetheless, enter concussion protocols before returning to play.
Initially, North Melbourne sought to contest the decision on the grounds of the assessment's reasonableness, claiming Archer's actions were justified within the flow of the game. Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge remarked on the incident, likening it to the infamous 'Malachi Crunch', asserting, "From the box, it just looked like just a bad crash," highlighting the unpredictable nature of such physical contests.
Despite their appeals, the AFL Tribunal upheld the suspension on March 18, as Chairman Jeff Gleeson stated, "He approached the contest at excessive speed, giving himself no reasonable opportunity to avoid harmful contact with Cleary..." The match review officer had categorized the incident as demonstrating careless conduct with severe impact and high contact, which solidly supported the tribunal's decision.
After the tribunal's decision, Jackson Archer revealed he had reached out to Cleary via text message the day after the collision, expressing remorse for what had transpired. He shared, "I wanted to give him a little bit of time but I was feeling bad for him. I waited until midday the next day and shot him a text saying sorry about the incident, I didn't have any intentions for what happened to happen and hoped he was ok." Archer noted Cleary responded positively, assuring him he did not believe Archer was at fault.
Archer will now be sidelined for matches against Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney, presenting North Melbourne with a tough hurdle early in the season. While many fans have taken to social media to express their grievances over the tribunal's decision, calling it "disgraceful," others within the footy community, including Beveridge, defended Archer, asserting, "I don’t think he should be out of the game," indicating the need for clarity and fairness within the disciplinary processes.
Some commentators have also weighed in, with David King from Fox Footy stating, "Sometimes things just happen in footy… I think Archer is unreasonable in one way but so too is Cleary. He’s got to protect himself in those instances… we don’t want players leading with their head like this, especially when there is oncoming traffic on the field.” This statement underlines the complexity of player responsibilities during high-pressure moments on the field.
With this decision, the AFL's stance on head injuries becomes increasingly significant. The league has faced mounting scrutiny over its handling of concussion protocols and the safety of its players. The appeal of Archer's case was unsuccessful, but North Melbourne has yet to confirm whether they will approach the AFL's appeals board for consideration. The suspension could serve as a precedent for future conduct cases, stirring discussions on player accountability and how best to protect all athletes on the field.
Looking forward, the Kangaroos will need to strategize without Archer, potentially reshaping their line-up for the upcoming games. The hope within the club and among their supporters is to remain competitive during his absence, but the focus on player safety continues to be the primary narrative stemming from this incident.
