Jerry Seinfeld said, “I choose not to run.” As for me, I choose not to bump – and I’m not alone. More players are making this decision, though some – such as Tom Stewart and Sam Durham – still take their chances.

Our 360-degree game has never been faster, more skilled, or more chaotic. There are already too many split-second decisions to make, let alone risking a bump that could concuss someone.

Collingwood’s Bobby Hill bumps the Brisbane Lions’ Keidean Coleman during the 2023 grand final.Credit: Photo: AFL Photos. Artwork: Stephen Kiprillis

The truth is, you don’t know how a bump will affect a player. Under the current match review system, it’s the outcome, not just the action, that matters – and often that outcome is beyond your control.

Players are being asked to play always with their duty of care to their opponents in mind. That doesn’t mean softening the game – it means evolving it. Die-hard fans may disagree, comparing this to a non-contact sport. But the bump or sling tackle, especially delivered with force, just isn’t necessary any more given the risks.

Going into a contest at uncontrollable speed without knowing the outcome is reckless. The potential danger is too great to navigate with the precision now required.

This debate will continue, but as players, we must adapt to where the game is heading. For the most part, we are — yet too many incidents still occur.

“I choose not to run” was a famous line from Jerry Seinfeld (inset) in his self-titled 1990s sitcom. Three-time AFLW premiership player Libby Birch has adapted that motto for her game. She chooses not to bump. Credit: Joe Armao / Sony

The AFL is right to prioritise our safety and protect us from concussion and serious injury.

To fans who recall footy as a game of “kill or be killed”, those days are gone. The game has evolved. It’s no longer about knocking someone down........

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