The AFL’s Match Review Officer Michael Christian has decided on a penalty for Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield after the 2016 Brownlow Medallist appeared to strike Matt de Boer off the ball at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
Dangerfield has been offered a $2000 financial penalty only, leaving him free to play in this week’s Easter Monday clash versus Hawthorn at the MCG, and still eligible for the Brownlow Medal.
The incident comes just a week after Dustin Martin was fined for striking De Boer in a match which also saw him suspended a week for striking Adam Kennedy.
Another incident between Dangerfield and De Boer during the second quarter was also assessed but the MRO ruled that the force involved was insufficient to constitute a charge.
Meanwhile, Carlton young gun Will Setterfield will miss the next two matches after being charged with engaging in rough conduct with Gold Coast’s Wil Powell.
The incident was assessed as careless conduct with a high impact and high contact.
If accepted, the ban will see Setterfield miss Carlton’s matches against the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn in the next two weeks.
Of course, the Blues have the option of challenging the decision at the tribunal.
Luke McDonald has also been offered a one match suspension.
Esava Ratugolea, Joel Selwood, Tom Bellchambers, Kamdyn McIntosh, Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington have also been fined but not suspended for incidents occurring during Round 4.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Worse still Conny, if de Boer was a non Victorian and hit the protected species, he would have got 2 !
Fred
Guest
What about Zac Jones off ball hit on Clayton Oliver??? Oliver was off the ground for most of the quarter. No media coverage = No AFL interest. Effing hypocrites!!
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Jeez, that's a bit rough. I'm not that old.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
It's always good to read your perspective on footy doc. So sad to see a stale political veiw (typical of a rich old white man). Next you'll be telling us there is a difference in the two 'major' parties, we just need to look hard enough. ;)
shifty
Roar Rookie
Who's setterfield?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
You should join the Greens party. They tell people they're the problem too when they cannot figure out their ludicrous ideas.
Macca
Roar Rookie
I find it a little annoying that Setterfield gets 2 weeks for laying a good tackle where the player chose not to extend his free arm to protect himself but Martin ends up with 1 for throwing an elbow at someones head.
Shane
Guest
Conflating a deliberate elbow from behind with a backhand to break a tag is the inconsistency here - not the MRP finding. The problem is with people who can't figure that bit out.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
There was nothing in Danger's hit. Common sense has prevailed. Consistency throughout the year has been poor due to a lack of common sense. If they want to remove these types of incidents then they need to also crack down on the antagonists. This won't happen. As such, these outcomes will continue to be inconsistent due to poor procedures and protocols in place along with a one-man band deciding the outcomes.
Larrikin
Roar Rookie
Dangerfield , Dusty, Fyfe and Frankin all have there own little club its called the protected species. shame on you MRP , your teachers pet syndrome is a blight on the game
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
You agree that it's inconsistent, yet you believe common sense prevailed? Isn't that a contradiction, or am I reading your words wrong?
IAP
Guest
Good. There was nothing in it.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
One of the many pw decisions of a fixed system.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I agree but with one massive caveat: Start penalising players for niggling the superstars off the ball. The Gaff incident never would have occurred. Since that is never going to happen, I have no issue with these outcomes. Common sense has prevailed today, which is good to see for the first time this year.
shifty
Roar Rookie
So you can whack someone behind play and get away with it if your a "star" of the game.
Confused
Guest
If de Boer hit Dangerfield it would have been a week. If the hit was a few cm lower then could be the same a Gaff. The fine is a joke.
dbjm
Roar Rookie
Great inconsistency by the AFL again. They make a big noise about wanting to get rid of these incidents from the game, but when push comes to shove they dont follow through by penalising players. The fact that these incidents are brushed aside will lead to another Gaff incident down the road. Start penalising the action, not the result