Gold Coast SUNS assistant coach Matthew Primus said he would rather his team tackle than bump, but admitted it’s a difficult balance for players to get right in the heat of battle.

The bump has been the talk of the AFL following Demon Jack Viney’s suspension and subsequent clearance on appeal last week, while a handful of players were cited for high bumps by the Match Review Panel after round 8.

Three head-high bumps were graded as negligent by the MRP, with Bulldogs forward Liam Jones rubbed out for two matches, while Hawks star Jarryd Roughead and Eagles goalsneak Mark LeCras were each outed for one game.

The GC SUNS had their own bump controversy earlier this season when defender Steven May was charged with engaging in rough conduct after crunching Dayne Zorko in the win over the Brisbane Lions in round 3.  May was cleared by the judiciary after he appealed stating the contact was made to Zorko’s body and chest, but not his head.

Primus said the SUNS were encouraged to wrap their arms around opponents with the ball, but sometimes other contact is unavoidable.

“I think the big thing is don’t bump, tackle,” Primus said.

“If you do that, you take a lot of the chance of bumping and hitting someone high or making some sort of injury to the opposition out of the equation.

“That’s easier said than done in that split-second when it happens.

While Primus said coaches at the club wanted players to go hard at the ball, they had to be mindful of how the rule is currently being interpreted.

“Our players are aware of what the rules are and what the AFL are looking at and what’s legal and illegal,” Primus said.

“While players are aware of it, once that ball’s in the vicinity, it’s very hard to change your dynamic or your attack on the ball.

“We do drum in to our players to go and win the ball.  If we don’t, get it back off the opposition really quickly, so it’s a fine balance.”