The bump

[Gorgoroth 13,117]

So here it is.

I think the bump is now dead, any bump will probably end in a suspension.

I think Buddy should have been fine, not even cited.

Maxwell should have gone due to he had time and options and really lined him up (which is fine but he hit his head)

[The Emblem 1]

I don't think the bump is dead but that it is becoming a high-risk option for the player laying it.

[Craig Drinker 179]

What this recent ruling means is that taller players are no longer able to bump shorter opponents as there may be head high contact.

Ludicrous overaction by the AFL.Franklin has been served an injustice.

[beelzebub 23,384]

I thought both Maxwells and Buddys hits were within the spirit of the competive nature of a physical game. Buddy's ban is just a joke. A beautifully executed bump.. altogether Reasonable..and hes rubber out..wtf !! a joke..a blight on the game

I dont advocate open slather on reckless hitting.. but the bump is a rather unique part of the game.. I can only imagine how other code's followers must be laughing at how sissy the games governors want it to become.

[45HG 1,559]

I thought Maxwell and Franklin's bumps were very different.

Cousins had the ball and was ducking and weaving, Franklin cleaned him up (legally in my view).

Maxwell ran passed the ball, ignoring it, and cleaned up a player front on hitting him in the head.

[beelzebub 23,384]

Strange ,I thought its perfectly legitimate to bump someone within 5m of the ball... whether they have it orl not

Edited August 27, 2009 by belzebub59

[H_T 3,049]

I don't think the bump is dead.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

It has never been legal to bump a player in the head.

Franklin bumped Cousins in the head.

Simple.

[beelzebub 23,384]

It has never been legal to bump a player in the head.

Franklin bumped Cousins in the head.

Simple.

The head wasnt the intention..it was a consequence..light years of difference

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

The bump is dead... until the rules are changed again and it comes back to life.

When the current powers that be, including KB, move on perhaps we'll see a bit of change.

[loges 6,767]

It has never been legal to bump a player in the head.

Franklin bumped Cousins in the head.

Simple.

Thats right Clint but as long as the arm was tucked in it used to be just a free kick, not a report!

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Thats right Clint but as long as the arm was tucked in it used to be just a free kick, not a report!

The only issue is that Cousins was clearly hurt by the incident and it would take a lot to hurt him like that.

There is head-high contact all the time that doesn't result in suspension, but that's because the damage is far less severe.

[beelzebub 23,384]

What the tribunal has effectively advocated is that seemingly efforts that result in head injuries will be penalised irregardless of intent or opportinity etc. The tribunal itself rules the bump was reasonable. I.e it was fair play .But he got hurt. Well heres a newsflash..its a contact game and you might get hurt. Could even die. You could be attempting a smother and get kicked in the head.. So what does that become ?? You take( or not ) a specky and land awkwardly on your neck head..and thats you...never walk again. Am not trying to be glib..just emphasising how quick and easy fortunes can change.

Someone coathangers you.. thats bad.. thats reportable. deserves everyhting... you bump someone fairly and youre disadvantaged because you just might be taller than your opponent...wtf is that ?? So whats next..we line up all the sub 6 footers at one end..give them a ball..all the talls down other ..give them a ball.. ?? Its football. , its a fast hard contact sport with bodies crashing all the time. There are rules to direct with regard to intentions and play. You can never predict or constrain accidents. SO ..its al Buddy's fault for running that way..and not Cousins ?? Yes the whole notion ins nonsensical isnt it.

The AFL have created another Catch 22

Edited August 28, 2009 by belzebub59

[Gorgoroth 13,117]

Who's to say the bump did not actually give ben concussion, merely jolted a small amout of crack still lodged in his brain and he was on a high

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

It has never been legal to bump a player in the head.

Franklin bumped Cousins in the head.

Simple.

If Cousins hadn't have fumbled his head would be in a different position and would not have been touched.

If he hadn't have fumbled, a bump was the only legal option to retard Cousins.

Maybe Cousins should get 2 weeks as his fumble led directly to head high contact.

This suspension is a joke, though not as big a joke of the hastily worded rules.

[Swampfox 190]

The only reason this is an issue and an emotionally charged one is because their is a star player involved and next weeks game has a final 8 position up for grabs

Making head contact with someone whether its accidental , incidental or on purpose and your in trouble

This size difference between players is a cop out

Adjust the way your execute the skill

The Bump isnt dead

End Of Story

[TheVoice 33]

The bump is dead!!

It will be coached out of all players from this point forward as the risks associated with getting it wrong are far too great for it to be worth doing.

I dont like seeing guys get knocked out but this is a contact game and there are far greater ways of a serious injury occuring in our sport than

what buddy did. What happened to ben cousins is an unfortunate result of what happens in a contact sport. Unfortunately our game is becoming

increasingly sterilised and structured in a manner that will see it unrecognisable from what makes it soo great.

I know the rules must be obeyed and I dont even blame the match review panel for citing him. What is a joke however is that a tribunal and appeal

board have no ability to bring common sense to the table and call it what it was, unavoidable high contact in a contact sport. Free kick - Yes. 50m

penalty - maybe. Report and suspension for 2 weeks - laughable!

[RalphiusMaximus 6,099]

I say that the bump is not dead. Players will still go for it, although they may be more careful about it some of the time.

As for the rule change, I agree that they must rethink it, but I can't agree with Maxwell getting a week still, so I had to vote no on that one. Maxwell made the right decision to bump so that his teammate could get clear with the ball and he executed perfectly, hitting his opponent well below head height. The fact that his target's head snapped forward and hit him is not his fault and should not come into consideration when judging his act. Even more so than in the case of Franklin, it was a perfectly executed Hip and Shoulder and as such should not be penalised.

[Sir Why You Little 37,239]

I don't think the Bump is dead. It's a good headline to sell newspapers.

Coaches & players will refine the art, that said i don't believe that Franklin should Have been Done for 2 weeks.

He Had no intent on hitting the Head, so i think that should have been factored in.

It's not hard to see when a player possesses intent.

Footy is a brutal Game & shall stay that way.

Each case should be judged on its own merit, under the present system it doesn't happen.

[Gorgoroth 13,117]

Lloyd should get 4 min for his hit on sewell if Buddy got 2.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,099]

Lloyd should get off (as Buddy should have). He was going for the ball, not the man, and changed his motion at the last moment to make contact. He was practically front-on when they hit. I think that the call to defend him by claiming he was pushed is a poor choice. They should be using the "going for the ball" part of the rule. If they can show that he was making a legitimate attempt to win the ball like Rance has repeatedly gotten away with this season then he's safe.

[Gorgoroth 13,117]

No such thing Ralph, he came off the square and dropped the shoulder, could have tackled, could have pulled out, he had a lot more tha 0.4 seconds Franklin did, must get 4 and I hope he gets more, I hate Llyod.

And the thing is is if Franklin got 2, Lloyd has to get double that, he hit him flusk on the face (franklins did not hit that flush, sewell was out for the rest of the game, got sttretchered off all these things Vlad and wankerson will hate and tell the panel to throw the book at him.