A highly-paid consultant has advised the AFL that new thinking was required in relation to tattoos, in the wake of the Des Headland-Adam Selwood clash.
Dr Fotherby Poindexter-Smythe, of the Ponds Institute for Sporting Interaction, said he believed the dispute had come about because Headland’s tattoo of his young daughter was not clearly marked.
“It’s fine for players to sport tattoos of faces or tribal symbols or whatever, but if other players don’t know what they are looking at, sledging errors like Selwood’s are bound to occur,” he told thebladder.com.
“It’s just like the Spida Everitt incident recently where his Lion opponent looked at the massive tattoo on Spida’s arm before the following exchange took place:
"Opponent: ‘I fucked that last night.’
"Everitt: ‘What are you talking about? That’s my pet octopus.’
"Opponent: ‘Yeah, it’s a slut.’”
Dr Poindexter-Smythe said any player with a visible tattoo should also have to have an explanation tattooed clearly next to the ink work.
“In Headland’s case, he would have the lovely tattoo of his daughter, with large letters saying something like: ‘This is my young and precious daughter, so please don’t make disparaging remarks while in the heat of battle.’”
Dr Poindexter-Smythe said it was up to League officials to work out the largest practical font for such statements above or below meaningful tattoos.
A spokesplayer for the AFL Players Association said Dr Poindexter-Smythe’s recommendations had merit and would be discussed by AFL PA representatives, League officials and other interested parties at the League’s next pizza and porn night.
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New tattoo laws needed: expert
