He said he suffered a corked right arm and tingling fingers at the time, and neck soreness the following day. I don't think it was accidental at all.'' Nicholls' sole concession was that Curley had not deviated off his line. But, as Collis was to say ominously later in the hearing, ''it's a question of whether he ought to have seen him''. Otherwise, he said, there could be mayhem. Peter Schwab, Hawthorn coach and Gieschen's predecessor, said he understood the AFL's concerns about player-umpire contact, but added he didn't believe any player intentionally ran into an umpire.
All players say that.
They are focused on the ball and their man, they say convincingly. The problem, though, is it is extremely difficult to believe that the peripheral vision of league footballers doesn't allow them to see blokes in white uniforms in or just off their path. Collis said even if Nicholls moved into Curley's path, which was debated vigorously during the hearing, ''he was going to pass perilously close'' had the umpire held his ground. 2001 News Limited, Channel 7, Australian Football League. All rights reserved.