The problem is bigger than Tom Bugg

What you say is simply not true. There is a lot of blocking and players being taken out in the NFL who don't have the ball. Lots of it. Off the ball hits happen in almost every bloody play in the NFL! Seriously mate.

You clearly aren't familiar with the truism that 'All's Fair in Love & War'. A football match is a pitched battle, a War. You do whatever you can to get an advantage over your opponent. Whatever you can. Nick Riewoldt made a great play to get one over the Freo player. Silly duffer. He got what he deserved - as did Nick.

edit is doing my head in today ..

I just saw that Tomas Bugg has been given 6 weeks. With the time frames do you mean in an example where a player was charged with an offence after the game and then perhaps wait months before the matter appeared before court? If yes, I wouldn't be happy that a player is potentially under stress waiting for his appearance and possible conviction. Like death by 1000 cuts. I think at we need to treat the sporting field at elite levels like an arena that is combative. It is not an environment that the rest of us live our daily lives. I don't think we can expect in that environment people to behave in the exact manner we expect in ordinary society. I don't condone that type of striking, however I am convinced we don't want to treat incidents on the field in the manner we would expect to treat the same type of incident in what you'd type of incident in our normal lives. I think most reasonable people are capable of differentiating between the two.

I disagree (I think the timeframes for how they play-out would be very different for a start) but that's fine - good comment GJ.

predictive spelling is starting to irritate me today ..

I think for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I think that the governing body (AFL), needs to be and needs to be seen to be in control. I think change that although there has been resistance in from some quarters, and that some change has been reactionary, the AFL is trying to move with current social expectations (which would include medical advice). Having police intervention, on top of existing sanctions handed out by the MRP and Tribunals would become extremely unwieldy. It may also give the perception that the AFL were incompetent or undeniable to properly manage their business. We often look at the victim and the repercussions (and rightly so). However if any of these cases went to court for assault, the players and clubs would engage legal talented legal teams. The legal teams would make arguments based on AFL punishments already handed down. Financial costs, games missed etc. In a court character references are acceptable to include, and sometimes held with high regard and importance (Malcolm Turnbull and Waleed Aly no less). They would also take into consideration things like the effect on the player as result of the media attention and how that effects the player, his family, future career prospects. People underestimate how much emphasis can be placed in some cases on the perceived "trials that play out in the media (including social media)" when a magistrate considers sentencing. After all of that was dealt with, I imagine the only people who will get any benefit would be the barristers and/or solicitors. I can really see no benefit of direct police involvement.

I agree, the pushing shoving, elbowing is childish and unprofessional. It isn't what I want to watch. To me it tactics used by less skilled players/teams to negate the players we all enjoy watching. I understand why JJ gets targeted, because it's effective but I prefer to see him show his skills than watch a player hold and push him. The AFL and umpires are to blame because the rules exist to protect the skilled players but instead they allow the lesser skilled players to spoil our game. It has lead to many childish actions like Nick Riewoldt fooling the umpire to get 50 metres. The staging by Oliver, the constant appealing for free kicks. Some players are destroying the game and the AFL allows this cheating to continue. T

Unless you're Steven Baker - then you cop 11 weeks.

But GJ, why should the law not be applied on a footy field? That's like saying a corporate organisation is its own kingdom and should govern itself. Which is ok, until someone steps outside the law. We shouldn't be giving special treatment to footballers. I'm only talking about clear cases of intentional assault here.

Yes - there wasn't the same level of media coverage then as now. I only have hazy recollections. I believe if it were to happen now a player would have to make a complaint to the police (not 100% sure though). Personally, I would hate to see the police get involved. I think the AFL needs to and to be seen governing and in control. When the Mathews incident happened that was common. 1 field umpire, 2 boundary umpires. Not a lot of camera's. I think it is gradually getting better. You don't often see blatant striking now like Tomas Bugg.

Thanks for the link GJ. My interpretation of that article is that Lethal is questioning why his incident was singled out for charges by police. He's not saying the victim has to press charges, although you could be right about that. He just thinks it's unjust that he should have been singled out among other acts of thuggery that occur in the footy field. It would help reduce this stuff happening if police did regularly lay charges for anything obvious caught on camera.

It is a contact sport Big Al. But I do think that it has increased in recent years, but when the final siren sounds, everyone shakes hands & get along famously. It's not that bad. The fans are more volatile than the players.

King hits have been around for just as long ! Its only relatively recently that the powers that be have bitten the bullet and realised that for the continuing success of the game they have to be stamped out. They will realise that they will have to act on the culture that leads to this i.e all this off the balll pushing, shoving, jumper punching,. . . ridiculous. Name another serious proffessional sporting competition that carries on like that! NHL Ice hockey maybe ?

Leigh Mathews was charged with and convicted of assault. He received a $1000 fine. I had a quick look online. Apparently he broke Neville Bruns's jaw. The conviction was later overturned on appeal. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/matthews-charge-still-mystery-20130729-2quxt.html I am not 100% sure that this is correct. For some reason now, I believe the victim would have to press charges. So in this latest case for example, Callum Mills would have to go to the police and make a report. The police would then follow up and charge Tomas Bugg with assault. The article is worth a read

I don't understand why the police don't lay assault charges in clear-cut cases of blatant punching.

A bit of push and shove that's been around for 150 years is suddenly reason enough for a couple king hits? I've heard of so-called 'gateway drugs' but 'gateway push and shove'? Tell me another story.

This sort of behiour makes it easier to progress to the next level of . . . actually clockimg an opponent ! Unless you'd been sleeping for the last 2 weeks you would know that this is not "absolutely nothing"

Happens in all contact codes incl soccer - anyone who goes in with an injury has to live with consequences because the umpires/refs can never see everything...

So much hand-wringing over absolutely nothing.