Fan issues escalate: FFA charge Wanderers with bringing game into disrepute

Oh no, grown men swore in unison? Wont somebody please think of the children!

Perry, I have no anti AFL stance, I don't go on the AFL tab. I could dispute every aspect of your comments too, but choose outlandish statements like you made. What I don't understand is the difference between idiots setting off flares & idiots getting rude & abusive & getting thrown out of the stadium. You mentioned Simon Hill & he called these flare throwers idiots, but he also highlighted the rubbish against football in this country. like I said this is a molehill, no worse then your beloved AFL fans acting in a stupid way.

They do provide plenty of scope, Ian.

"declaring the title is meaningless and the fans of that club should not count themselves as the title holders." Not at all. I said: If MV wins the title because WSW had points deducted I consider the title meaningless if it's won in this fashion. If Brisbane, City, or any one else wins in this manner I do not care.

I have to say RF, absolutely loving your varied descriptions of the RBB members who got themselves on the big screen.

Yes so the narrative is now set that another club wins the title if WSW are docked points we can hear how you wrote a post on 9 February 2016 declaring the title is meaningless and the fans of that club should not count themselves as the title holders. I'm sure if WSW came 2nd lets say to .......MV by 2 points, WSW fans will feel safe and secure that they were the best team all year and this possible points deduction - say 3, will result in a title giving ceremony at AAMI Park where MV hand over the toilet seat to WSW in front of a packed stadium with fans of both sides embraced arm in arm.

Yes I recall that flare mentioned by sunnysideup. Not sure if it was the first home game as that was a sunday arvo but it was earlier in the season. Yeah ok....we'll go back to that flare and rip points from Brisbane in case we are being hypocritical when we are talking about 20 flares at this match which the referee had to stop the game for,. It doesn't matter if coaches or any WSW fans come out and say vision was ok......it is the ref's call. I'm not even suggesting the almighty Melbourne Victory get sanctioned at all for one flare, or any other club. The incident at hand is 20 flares by the RBB. So I'd love to hear the narrative on why this incident is the same as any other incident. The reaction by learned football experts, such as Simon Hill which was quoted by some as being an excellent response, suggested a points deduction and a fine. The FFA seem to be taking this incident a lot more seriously than the other clubs quoted as having ripped one flare - and depending on the club that is one flare over a couple of seasons. We could fine city, roar, sfc, and victory 3 points each and how many points we will deduct from WSW? 12?

Mate are you suggesting that everyone in the country goes for their local club? I know blokes who have recently moved to QLD and go for the team where they used to live. Either way, the point I was trying to make (which you clearly missed), is that deducting points for the behavior of a small number of fans, is like giving the whole class detention because one kid forgot to hand in his homework. It's not the right way to go about it. sure get rid of these fans, but punishing the club is a joke.

#Punter haven't read a single one (Bec Wilson or Cornesy article) of late......at least not last few months if not longer (if ever re Cornes). Ironic given that I cited reference to Simon Hill and Francis Leach and you come back imagining Wilson and Cornes. Truly remarkable interpretation that!!! And re your proposition: the booing of Adam Goodes was an attack on the morality of the Australian society, took this country back 50 years, not a great look on the AFL to boo a man for his beliefs I commented on this quite broadly at the time. My feelings being: A. it was tough on A.Goodes to be named Australian of the Year whilst still playing his sport - post retirement would've been far better. This was therefore an imposition placed upon him AND his club/sport that was external to that sport. B. booing can and does occur, I'm not a big fan of it but must admit to booing umpires off at half time now and then. C. Goodes HAD been subject to some booing beforehand - esp from Hawthorn fans for a particular knees first incident. And some (many?) fans I gather feel that Goodes at times has been an 'umpires pet' with respect to free kicks and even Brownlow votes. D. What I took umbrage with was the justification in social media of why people booed - claiming things like "I'm not being racist but he played the race card". (A clear contradiction in terms). The 'race card' it appears was played because he became Australian of the Year and used that platform to continue his agenda. Also - there were those who complained about reference to 'invasion day' in his Aust of the Year speech (that being wrong, he didn't use that phrase in his speech but did afterward in an interview but didn't use it other than that he used to feel that way about Aust Day but had since changed his view). So - there was general ignorance by many of those booing if using that as their justification. This went far beyond supporters of any particular AFL club or the AFL community - - the whole notion of race relations, indigenous policy and rights and the date/role/nature of Australia Day is far, far beyond the AFL. The booing was but a small symptom of a greater debate within the Australian community (very unlike flares at the soccer which IS a sports specific action and very much a single sports cultural behaviour as modelled on overseas examples). I also acknowledge that as a North Melb supporter I attended a game in Melb against Sydney with Goodes playing - and initially there was no booing until the game evolved, the Swans started getting on top, some North supporters in their frustration then seemed to start booing Goodes (as a convenient target I suspect - a bit of the 'sheep mentality'). So - I suspect that played a role - and, that element has long pervaded Australian sports support - for example in cricket where the most hated opposition in the 80s was generally the best player - "Imran's and @anker" - was the old Australian back handed compliment, Ian Botham and Viv Richards among others were in effect 'revered' in that way. Perhaps there's an element of that. And none of that is racist - and other players in the AFL DO get subject to booing. Clearly what happened to Goodes went to far and was mired by the Australian of the Year politics/racial tensions. Feel free to over simplify it for your own anti-AFL agenda if you so desire though. FIUL certainly made his feelings felt at times.

Only if Wanderers are top, this 'show cause' is only against them, does not appear any other team is included (despite as has been shown other groups are 'guilty' as well. So only do that if Wanderers are still on top by some miracle.

Ben Williams was the person responsible for stopping the game, he told Fox that it was because the smoke obscured visibility on the pitch. It doesn't matter what some fans say, what some coaches or players say to fans later, it matters what the ref did. His perception is the reality of the whistle, just like when judging penalties. He thought it should be stopped and he blew his whistle as the person responsible. I suppose if the ref disallowed a goal because he couldn't see it, Popa and Muscat would still have no issue? Players and coaches aren't going to get the fans off-side, but the ref has a responsibility to the game.

Bill, I took my 4 & 5 year old to the Jets home game with the WSW. Like most families we sat next to the RBB. My kids loved it, though a flare was ripped (goes without saying). On the way out we walked with the RBB. No trouble, no threat, just a great day. Don't get taken in by fear mongering

Agree Lionheart, but those same people blame the FFA for absolutely everything

I suspect Horto thinks "Valium" is a type of car

How I second that Real!

Oh my Perry, you have really been reading too many Bec Wilson & Graham Cornes articles of late. Let me try one on you, the booing of Adam Goodes was an attack on the morality of the Australian society, took this country back 50 years, not a great look on the AFL to boo a man for his beliefs. Try that on for size.

Your description of what happens with d and d's is exactly how most flares are dealt with.

#Punter The D&D's at sport is not the issue unless they then rip flares and set off detonators. D&D's are easily enough handled - in the main, identified and evicted. The cricket in particular in the long form (full day cricket) has to handle this in certain areas (MCG 'Bay 13' area) than others. Part of the issue for the FFA is that with security concerns - in general - and we saw the 'ring of steel' fencing around the MCG, and we see the secret service in charge at the Superbowl - and we see full body pat downs etc - which to me tells me that this is a serious issue. Well - it's a pretty poor look that fans bring flares and detonators into A-League matches seemingly with the FFA powerless to stop them. The problem here too is that the 'individuals' that people seem to like to claim who are the issue seem to be part of a larger group who appear to condone the actions and thrive in them. A larger group that seems to spend precious little time with their faces to the action and more intent on baiting opposition supporters. The question of whether these people are there for the 'game' or there purely for engaging their 'mob' mentality/behaviours is something that people like Simon Hill and Francis Leach are openly questioning. #Realfootball - I sympathise for you. There are people who are hijacking the game you love.

There was a flare at First home game this season under a huge Den banner. Some young guy who was quickly removed and not a member but if the banner had caught fire would have been very bad. The previous year a sydney away fan lit a flare.

While this behaviour puts gallop and the ffa in a difficult position a deduction of competition points would be rather insulting to the members and fans of the club who support their team all season long in an appropriate fashion