Sportsday Fox Footy journalist David Zita (03.03.26)
Mar 3, 2026
David Zita, Fox Footy journalist and tribunal/MRO specialist, breaks down the Jai Newcombe hearing. He explains why the downgrade caused confusion. He discusses how tribunal subjectivity, head impact arguments and precedent shaped the ruling. He compares similar cases and explores the fallout for Hawthorn and public reaction.
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Downgraded Impact Creates Subjective Grey Area
- Tribunal downgrades create new grey areas because impact assessments now hinge on subjective judgments about force direction and injury potential.
- David Zita notes Hawthorn argued majority force went through hip/shoulder before head contact, so potential for injury wasn't upgraded to medium impact.
Potential To Cause Injury Drives Upgrades
- Impact upgrades rely on assessing 'potential to cause injury' which can override other factors like initial contact point.
- Zita explains upgrades happen based on potential rather than just actual contact, making decisions more subjective.
Zita Expected A Suspension Initially
- David Zita thought Newcombe would get a week when he first saw the incident because statistics favour upgrading for potential to cause injury.
- He was surprised when the tribunal found the majority of force went through hip and shoulder, leading to a downgrade.