Swans try not to use the bump
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire says it has become too risky to try and lay an effective bump
Longmire believes it has become too risky to try to lay an effective bump.
"I guess I try to take the Match Review (Panel) out of it. I can't control what they do," he told reporters ahead of training at the SCG.
"All we can control is how we coach our players and we try to make sure that the bump's not something they use too much, to be honest.
"We try to focus on the tackle and the pressure.
"The hard thing from Jack's incident is it looked like he went in to smother.
"It's very difficult in that situation.
"But I think it's getting to the stage where the bump, obviously you do it at your own risk.
"You're not quite sure what the outcome will be, you're not quite sure what the other player will do, so you're better off maybe putting it in the kit bag and trying to tackle or put some pressure on."
Ziebell received a three-week suspension for a high bump on Adelaide's Jarryd Lyons.
North Melbourne decided against contesting the ban on Tuesday, meaning Ziebell will miss games against Gold Coast, Fremantle and GWS.
It is the third time he has been suspended for a high bump.
Longmire said the Match Review Panel's crackdown on forceful contact off the ball meant players had to be careful not to 'bump' when shepherding their teammates.
"I’m not sure if it's the end of the bump, but I try not to actively encourage it because you're just not sure," he said.
"But at the same time you're allowed to shepherd. The difference between a shepherd and a bump is a pretty fine line.
"In the general sense, we try not to encourage too much bumping, but if you're there to shepherd, you should shepherd.
"But once again, don't get it wrong."
Longmire also revealed father-son selection Tom Mitchell, who was an emergency for Friday night's game against Collingwood, is also getting closer to his AFL debut.
"He's played seven weeks now (in the reserves) and he's doing a lot right," Longmire said.
"That's the challenge now for the match committee is that he's getting a lot of the footy, he's tackling really well and doing the things we want him to do.
"We have to sit down at the match committee table and see how far away he is."
Another father-son prospect, Bombers forward Joe Daniher, is also in contention to make his debut at the SCG.
The son of Anthony Daniher, who played 118 games for the Bombers and 115 games for the Swans, Joe could have ended up in red and white.
"Yes we did look into it, just a little bit," Longmire said.
"He's a fantastic young prospect, there's no doubt about that.
"He's tall, he's a fantastic kick, he's a great kid, (but) when you're sitting in the lounge room of the Daniher residence knowing you look out the window and see Windy Hill, it makes it a little bit difficult to get him to Sydney.
"I'm sure he'll have a great career. Let's hope it doesn't start this week."