Alex Mckinnon

[Danish]

He wasn't 3rd man in and he doesn't drive. There's no precedence for that to be a suspension.

Doesn't drive? What do you call them all piling on top of him, causing the neck break?

[milanja]

I think the calls that the game is going soft, is totally reversed seeing that, to play the game and to never get a serious injury, a player can count their blessings.

[novice chook]

The NRL are in a no win situation here. What they have done is given Alex McKinnon and his family a few days to adjust as to what's happening without having to deal with the publicity. media and attention any hearing/suspension given to McLean will get. And it's only fair that they get a little breathing space. They have a lot to take in.

As for Jordan McLean, it's unfortunate that he has this unresolved but in the end, the NRL has to put Alex McKinnon and his family first and that's what they've done. I doubt McLean is in the right head space to play the game anyway, as I suspect he would feel that he played some part in the injury to Alex. And any games he misses will be taken into account when deciding his penalty, if there is to be one. I reckon the NRL have probably done him a favour by keeping him out of the spotlight for this week at least.

Let the dust settle on what's happened until the end of this round of footy this week, and then perhaps McLean can have his hearing next week, once Alex's condition has hopefully stabilised.

NC

[Guest]

Doesn't drive? What do you call them all piling on top of him, causing the neck break?

It was mostly his own fault, he bent his own head forward.. If he doesn't do that the tackle is fine.. the tacklers didn't see him bent his head forward so they aren't at fault..

[Guest]

Does anyone have a theory as to why McKinnon put his head in that awful position?

When I first saw it I thought he was trying to milk a penalty ala Inglis. But after replays I just assumed he got disorientated. Perhaps even thought he was about to be upended, which never happened and ultimately caused the injury.

Just a freak occurrence really.

Totally agree.. He did it to himself..

[Rooster_6]

Doesn't drive? What do you call them all piling on top of him, causing the neck break?

The neck break unfortunately is caused by him ducking his head for whatever reason only he knows.

Mclean doesn't take him beyond the horizontal and he doesn't drive, you're looking for something that isn't there.

[Guest]

Mckinnon tucking his head made the tackle a lot worse. I still don't understand why he did it.

[Easts75]

Totally agree.. He did it to himself..

Have to say I agree. Terrible news and feel sorry for him. I do believe though he ducked his head looking to milk a penalty. I'm not saying he deserved the injury, but no doubt he had a massive contribution to it himself. If you don't believe players do things like that, you've obviously never played the game or watch it closely enough.

[Danish]

The neck break unfortunately is caused by him ducking his head for whatever reason only he knows.

Mclean doesn't take him beyond the horizontal and he doesn't drive, you're looking for something that isn't there.

Looks passed the horizontal to me.

The neck break is caused by 3 players lifting him into a dangerous position and crashing down on top of him. If they don't up end him then come down on top of him and drive his head into the ground then there is no break. Granted Mckinnon didn't put his head in the best position but its ridiculous to put the majority blame on him given had it not been for the melbourne players tackling technique he wouldn't have been in a situation that could break his neck to begin with.

[Rooster_6]

Looks passed the horizontal to me.

The neck break is caused by 3 players lifting him into a dangerous position and crashing down on top of him. If they don't up end him then come down on top of him and drive his head into the ground then there is no break. Granted Mckinnon didn't put his head in the best position but its ridiculous to put the majority blame on him given had it not been for the melbourne players tackling technique he wouldn't have been in a situation that could break his neck to begin with.

I'm sorry but if that picture is the worst you can find then you're kidding yourself. His torso is still quite obviously still vertical to the ground there. The issue is when he ducks his head, I don't know why you're the only one who can't see this.

[Guest]

Looks passed the horizontal to me.

The neck break is caused by 3 players lifting him into a dangerous position and crashing down on top of him. If they don't up end him then come down on top of him and drive his head into the ground then there is no break. Granted Mckinnon didn't put his head in the best position but its ridiculous to put the majority blame on him given had it not been for the melbourne players tackling technique he wouldn't have been in a situation that could break his neck to begin with.

I think it went past the horizontal when the two up top tried to get him to the ground. It is one of those freak accidents IMO. He may have ducked his head fearing he was going to land face first, who knows.
Would the NRL have consulted the Storm before deciding to stand him down this week? Maybe it was a joint decision by the NRL and the club.
We can only hope he makes a full recovery and get back on the field as soon as possible

[Danish]

I'm sorry but if that picture is the worst you can find then you're kidding yourself. His torso is still quite obviously still vertical to the ground there. The issue is when he ducks his head, I don't know why you're the only one who can't see this.

His torso is vertical to the ground in that picture? Are you ****ing stupid or what?

Vertical means upright. If he were vertical he'd either be standing on his feet or standing on his head.

He is precisely horizontal in that picture, slightly past as his head and shoulders are closer to the ground that his hips and legs.

Blaming him for ducking his head is like blaming a cyclist who gets sideswiped by a car for his injuries because he wasn't wearing a helmet.

[Guest]

He wasn't 3rd man in and he doesn't drive. There's no precedence for that to be a suspension.

No Precedence?!?!

Set the f*cking precedence.

Whilst McLean can't be blamed for such a terrible thing happening, the NRL can't be excused from it happening.

This should be sending off all kinds of warning lights in NRL HQ. The poor bloke is in A COMA, and there is a distinct possibility he may not be able to use his arms and legs properly again, let alone play footy.

This tackle should be outlawed completely. No ifs or buts. You can come in and lift and leg at your own peril. If a player is tackled onto his head, the main culprit receives 12 weeks minimum. It just can't happen.

[Guest]

Looks passed the horizontal to me.

The neck break is caused by 3 players lifting him into a dangerous position and crashing down on top of him. If they don't up end him then come down on top of him and drive his head into the ground then there is no break. Granted Mckinnon didn't put his head in the best position but its ridiculous to put the majority blame on him given had it not been for the melbourne players tackling technique he wouldn't have been in a situation that could break his neck to begin with.

This picture to me shows that if he didn't tuck is head he probably would have just eaten some dirt but would have been able to play on. His body seem pretty parallel to the ground so if he didn't tuck his head I don't see how he could have broken his neck

[novice chook]

I'm sorry but if that picture is the worst you can find then you're kidding yourself. His torso is still quite obviously still vertical to the ground there. The issue is when he ducks his head, I don't know why you're the only one who can't see this.

Sorry R6 but I don't see it either. I believe that the way he was tackled is the main reason for him putting his head in the position he does. Once a bloke is lifted off the ground as he was, the tacklers take a risk that the player being tackled will get himself in an awkward position, usually unintentionally as he acts on instinct.


Yes, it happens in a llot of tackles and 99% of the time nothing comes of it. But it's that 1% that you need to worry about. And unfortunately Alex McKinnon is part of that 1%.

Putting any blame on McKinnon for his injury is unjust. It was an awkward looking tackle that went wrong. And any fault lies with the Storm tacklers.

NC