The AFL is broken.
On the same day a champion of any era, Nick Riewoldt, announced his retirement, another, Patrick Dangerfield, was offered a suspension for not only laying a perfectly good tackle, but one in which he showed the appropriate duty of care to which his opposition was entitled.
Dangerfield has been offered a two-match ban, but can serve one week with a guilty plea.
We need to remove Dangerfield’s status in the game, that of champion, reigning Brownlow medallist, and most sensationally, equal favourite to go back-to-back in that award.
We must remove the fact that his team, Geelong, has the biggest two weeks of their season coming up, home clashes against Sydney and Richmond, both sides vying for a top four and even top two spot that is currently occupied by the Cats.
Geelong fans are outraged that he could even be cited. Sydney fans would be outraged if he was let off, given the Swans play the Cats this week.
Some feel there is a ‘superstar’ clause in MRP findings, that gives a discount to the bigger names, particularly those at the pointy end of Brownlow betting. Better to teach the appropriate lesson to the majority by sacrificing the jobbers, they say.
There are the journos baying for blood, which would better suit their never-ending quest for narrative and content.
And then there’s the interminable ‘optics’. Can we pass a law where we are allowed to shoot anyone who uses the phrase? Execute them right in the street. I’ll sign up.
Let’s strip away the names of the players involved, and thus the emotion.
Player A tackled Player B, and took him to the ground. Player B had disposed of the ball, but Player A is entitled to complete his tackle. The umpire could well have paid a free kick to Player B, but didn’t. In the eyes of all three umpires, this was fair play.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Player A initially pins both of Player B’s arms in the tackle. By the time Player B hits the ground, one arm is already free. It is not Player A’s fault that Player B does not have the wherewithal to use said arm to protect his fall.
One of the job descriptions of an AFL player is to be strong in the tackle. Player B failed in this aspect. Player A used his weight and momentum to better advantage than Player B, a taller and heavier man, in this instance.
Furthermore, Player A actually chooses to pull up the tackle on Player B, once he realises Player B’s head is in a dangerous position. This is clear both in real time and after being slowed down. Aware that he has a duty of care to his fellow professional, Player A fulfils it by not slinging, slamming or driving his opponent into the turf.
Player A takes all due care to ensure that there is no injury to Player B. Nothing more could have been expected under the circumstances.
Everything Player A did was fair and reasonable. Accidents happen in a contact sport. And sometimes those accidents cause injury. They should not then lead to suspensions.
Ask every single player on an AFL list if they would expect to be suspended if they were in the place of Tom Bugg on Callum Mills or Bachar Houli on Jed Lamb. You’d get 100 per cent in the affirmative.
Ask every single player on an AFL list if they would expect to be suspended if they were in the place of Patrick Dangerfield tackling Matthew Kreuzer. You’d get 100 per cent in the negative.
The MRP and Tribunal process is there to punish the illegal acts that can and do cause harm and injury.
They should not punish those responsible for accidental injury, when the player in question has taken all due care to avoid it.
The Fatman
Guest
Agree. it is a bad decision.
Rossy
Guest
I wish I could thumbs up this comment ??????
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Problem is, at least in the NRL, past the horizontal is usually an accident. The ball carrier is refusing to go to ground, so someone grabs one leg to tip him over. At the same time, another tackler decides to pull him down by the collar - and A over T the ball carrier goes. Then we have the now usual knee-jerk War Crimes Commission, because subtle physics is completely lost on the average fan (and a few others as well)
Aransan
Guest
A one vote penalty would allow Chris Grant the opportunity to share the Brownlow medal with Robert Harvey and correct an historical injustice.
Maggie
Guest
The TV footage as Kreuzer walked off showed he looked very dazed and the trainer walking with him looked very concerned as he talked to him.
Aransan
Guest
Bruce, there was vision from the bench with a concerned Jack Silvagni looking at Kreuzer wondering if he was all there.
Maggie
Guest
Cameron doesn't seem concerned about that. Disappointingly, neither does Patrick Dangerfield. He hasn't mentioned Kreuzer in any of his media sallies in the last couple of days. It's all been about 'moving forward', 'not thinking avout tne Brownlow' and 'putting the team first'. Even if he doesn't care about Kreuzer, I would have thought the Geelong media people would have schooled him up to express some words of concern about Kreuzer's health. A bit disturbing really.
Maggie
Guest
That's a really poor comment Cameron. I can't believe you are not aware of the disturbing medical research results on long-term brain damage from concussive injuries, including mild concussion, and even more so on multiple concussive injuries which are a particular risk in contact sports.
Maggie
Guest
Actually there are now only two levels: 'Careless' and 'Intentional'. The 'Reckless' level was abandoned several years ago. A pity as I think it is a description which fits some actions that fall between careless and intentional.
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Ahh forward flank, where they put you when you look like you might be able to take a mark but also have no ability whatsoever. I'm just about to complete my first season of Footy after 7 years of soccer, and we're still yet to win a game, but it's great fun. Nothing quite like grabbing the ball at half back and going for a 30m sprint through the middle of the ground, before kicking it 60m with a heavy wind.
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Unless you're hodge this week, no injury, fine and suspension
Bruce
Guest
What is involved in a concussion test exactly? Do you realise that even if only suspected of having a concussion, a player can be removed from the remainder of the game. The afl concussion recognition guidelines use vague language like "not feeling right", as the basis for a diagnosis. This entire exercise is arse covering from the afl on a massive scale, to fulfill their duty of care and stave off class actions from ex players. Kreuzer seemed more concerned with his wrist after the tackle and walked off the ground. Its not dangers fault he's had so many other knocks.
Birdman
Guest
x1000.
Mattyb
Guest
Chancho,I feel the same about Dale Morris,a champion player who always polls well in the B&F,come Brownlow and he can't even get a vote.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
By saying that you're almost ruling out 12 players per team from contention if it can't be the guys in the forward or back positions. I get the point that mids are the conduit... but equally good backs are necessary for intercepts and counter-attack, just as good forwards are for creating openings and leads for the mids to hit.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
This is another point that sticks in my craw...Josh Gibson was amazing in the years that he won the Hawthorn B&F but never placed anywhere in the Brownlow because he's not a midfielder.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
I totally agree Paul. I made a similar remark yesterday on Josh's article in that I don't really get the attraction of the Brownlow given we... 1. bemoan the rules committees constant changes and the feeling that the game is being overly sanitised (I'm sure Ryan did a piece showing the numerous rule changes the AFL have implemented while there had been none in the NBA) 2. are constantly frustrated with the umpiring and the lack of consistency, 3. have the same feeling towards the MRP And it's the action of all 3 of these that determine the the parameters for who wins the Brownlow. I don't need all these jobsworths telling me who the fairest/best player in the league is.
Powerboy
Guest
......not that you're counting, eh Cat?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Haven't been back for a while, AD. My parents now live on the south side near the Flinders Hospital. Rarely am I even in Adelaide now, let alone near Alberton. I'm not one of those sentimental people either. The SANFL is a good competition - you should get to a game.
GJ
Guest
Adelaide Oval, Richmond Oval (West Adelaide's home ground) would be next closest. The Parade (Norwood's home ground is only 5 minutes east of the CBD.