The rules on this are clear and state:
22.1 OBLIGATION TO REPORT
22.1.1 to Controlling Body
An Umpire shall report to the Controlling Body any Player or Official who commits or
engages in conduct which may constitute a Reportable Offence:
(a) during a Match; or
(b) on the day of the Match and Within the Immediate Proximity of the Arena where
the Match is conducted.
22.1.2 Other Appointed Persons
In addition to an Umpire, a Controlling Body may authorise a person or persons to report
any Player or Official who commits or engages in conduct which may constitute a
Reportable Offence. Any person so authorised shall have the same powers and duties
as imposed upon an Umpire under this Law 22.
The rule does not say that the umpire or other appointed person "may" report a player who engages in conduct which may constitute a reportable offence, the word used is
shall report there is no discretion. This is as it should be, a report is just stating that the umpire or official has observed an incident which needs to be looked at.
Whether Rampe or Dangerfield for that matter should be penalised is for the tribunal to decide. They should be cited.
This rule is clearly to protect players and is part of addressing the concussion issues. With a rule that says any incident which is reportable shall be reported the AFL is protecting itself by having a rule in place to try and prevent concussions. However, if there are situations where players do get knocked out and the rules are not followed then the AFL is going to get law suits, and they will lose the law suits, because their defence that they have rules in place to prevent this as far as practicable does not apply because they did not follow their rules. With the concussion issues getting more prominent I will be surprised if a player being knocked out doesn't become an automatic visit to the tribunal in years to come, otherwise the AFL will just open itself up to being sued.
Part of the issue (as per usual) here is the inconsistency of applying the rules. One player gets knocked out and the response is immediate and decisive, another player gets knocked out and nothing happens. They really need to fix this up as it happens too often and players are suffering ill effects for decades.
DS