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Brian Lake: Choking someone is never ok

Roar Rookie
9th July, 2014
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Roar Rookie
9th July, 2014
56
1855 Reads

Outside of mixed martial arts, cutting off the supply of oxygen and blood to the brain is never okay.

The conjecture over Brian Lake’s four-week ban has me bewildered; I can only say that I am glad the majority believe the sanction is fair.

Football is a contact, not combat, sport.

I have listened to various talk-back radio shows since North Melbourne met Hawthorn at Etihad last Friday night and have heard much of what I expected – Lake’s actions were unacceptable and no matter the circumstance, choking an opposition player is not what we want to see on the football field.

Unfortunately, I have also heard many a blustering fellow call up claiming provocation, asking the question, “Have you ever had your eye gouged?” They have even claimed that Petrie was lucky not to cop worse from Lake.

After watching the video I concede that Lake did not grip Petrie’s throat in earnest until after Drew tried to unsuccessfully shift Brian’s full body weight off his neck and head, incidentally making clawing contact with his face. However, I have to reiterate that cutting off the supply of oxygen and blood to the brain is never okay outside of the octagon.

Even within the cage, the opponent has the ability to effectively state “I’m not having a bar of this” by tapping out.

In short, whatever the provocation, keep your hand away from you opponent’s neck.

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Brian Lake’s ban is a simple message from the AFL tribunal that this behaviour is completely unacceptable and the public consensus should be to give them a pat on the back for a job well done.

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