AFL officially appealing Greene's three-match ban

I noticed that you didn't include Franklin, Cotchin or Liberatore in those examples. Great players but revert to type when things don't go their way. Ask Yattuzi in his jacuzzi about his upcoming article on thugs.

So if in a preliminary final, you do something that would land a 1 game suspension in the home and away, do you get suspended for the first quarter only of a Grand Final? Also, if the value of a final is more than a home and away game, shouldn’t the penalties be greater?

I agree. For all the stupid things he does, Toby always seems yo get off lightly. This time the AFL isn't standing for it.

Good to hear. Throw the book at him.

I totally disagree. When you say “character”, you really mean thug. I hate the thuggish manner in which he plays and I think his contribution to the game as a spectacle is totally overblown. I have no idea what you mean by ” robots”??? The game is full of talented and entertaining players. Maybe Toby should model himself on players like Dusty and Fyfe instead of trying to be a modern day Rhys-Jones!

I hope Toby gets a suspended sentence. I'll be there on Friday night as a neutral and Toby playing would make it worthwhile. We have not had a character like Toby in the game for many years - the game has become very boring. I am becoming sick of the robots that grace the game these days.

He admitted he was wrong – he has apologised to the individual on video, fronted the press, he was publicly shamed (deservedly), was kicked out of the club in the short term, paid financially through lost sponsorship and marketing and has been suspended. I am not sure how much more you want out of him which has been the focus of your discussion – it is not as if Walker has murdered anyone – he made a mistake and paid for it which is a lesson to all. Yet what perplexes me is at the same time you use him as a comparison which is in part a defense of Greene whose act last week tears at the very fabric of the game – hence the AFL’s reaction.

I agree racism needs to be censured assertively. Not sure if Walker has been punished adequately. He has actually broken a federal law (though racial vilification is a civil rather than criminal offence). However there’s no doubt Walker’s standing has been irreparably damaged and there’s doubt he will play again. One significant difference is that his suspension was club imposed and had nothing to do with the Tribunal, though I think the AFL signed off on it. A club suspension probably makes a bigger statement to a player because it’s being shamed by his own football fraternity.

Yeah, I seriously can't disagree with you. Look at the double standard of our pollies, all of them, at all levels. I think it's because most people in positions of power don't have the guts to do the right thing. There's always some squeamish excuse to avoid proper responsibility.

While I like the logic, it means you would have to review eg if Giants get knocked out this week, he would need to miss 4 games next year as well?

No Neale got just a fine. It's just the AFL yet again changing their stance in the middle of a season instead of following their own rule that they brought in a couple of years ago. Now I get that they're two completely different grades of contact but purposeful contact nonetheless.

they'd be getting very nervous about these new truckie hot spots thats for sure, I'm getting nervous myself thinking please dont lose the prelim here and have to play somewhere else, which i thinks a each way bet at the moment.

Even then I struggle and probs just go without, when I was younger I'd probably scull some if it was the only thing left but otherwise I'll pass.lol.

Alchemist, Okay, I saw the video of Neale grabbing the umpire's attention with an open hand to the shoulder to let him know he had blood on his face. I don't think the Neale situation is as severe as the Greene situation, which was a shoulder bump to the chest without any attempt to change direction. Neale I think, was given a week off plus a fine. Maybe he should have been given 3 weeks because the same principle applies - don't touch the umpire. So I guess the tribunal used their suspension of one week for Neale as a guide to Greene, which was more severe, of 3 weeks. At the time, the AFL might have felt the circumstances allowed Neale the benefit of the doubt. By contrast, there is no possible benefit of the doubt to Greene. So, in fairness Neale should probably have got 3 weeks, & Greene should get 6 weeks. If we remain calm & rational, that is how it should have panned out.

Alchemist, I don't remember the Neale incident, or I have only the vaguest recollection of it. Both (ie, he & Greene) may have done the same thing, but the circumstances could be completely different. I would have to source a video of the Neale incident to determine if it is similar to Greene or not.

What I mean is, you can't compare different types of cases. Racial abuse and umpire abuse are quite different. I would have been happy with deregistering Walker. Not permanently but say 12 months like happened to Cousins. Then let him apply to return. As for BT and Razor, I don't know what they did, so can't comment.

You absolutely need to compare cases because that's how anything is set. Otherwise you can't send messages or set standards. I think the AFL should have deregistered Walker. I think Brian Taylor and Razor Ray should have been fired for the slurs they said on broadcast too but I know that was never going to happen because, again, it's not actually about setting a standard or making the game safe.

I wonder if Toby is Gil's shark.

Why greene? Why not Neale? This is why the AFL aren't taken seriously.

Not been tracking the AFL tribunal lately? It's clearly not about the act and all about outcome. Gut punches and head high bumps have crept back into the game but because no one has been injured it's been deemed ok.