1. He barely gets any of the ball if at all, might just be the hit to head that moves the ball

2. The mark is already completed

3. The elbow hits flush to Pedersen's face and there's no motion towards the ball

No one ever gets a suspension thrown out for a bump due to it being a legitimate attempt to bump. It's why we have negligent and reckless gradings.

Biggest bugbear: The MRP seem to have just taken Lynch's opinion in the commentary and run with it. Guess who Merrett's manager is - Lynch of course!

As an afterthought the match day umpire reported Merrett and the mark was completed . Shouldn't that be 50 metres and a probable goal

Fair enough Chook, but the way people are reacting on here, you could be forgiven for thinking that Merret had gone at Pedersens head with his elbow cocked and no other intent than to take his man out, which is complete and utter BS. And that's not to mention the fact that many on here seem to be labouring under the illusion that there's a major conspiracy against the MFC.

Well more fool them. I'm not suggesting Merrett deserves anything worse than a reprimand or a 1 week ban, but to clear him is to condone such an intensely reckless spoiling technique. In a day and age where we're so worried about concussion and head injury, it seems a little short-sighted.

Edited August 4, 201410 yr by Chook

Imagine if he hit Buddy.

OMG!

Conca only getting 2 weeks is a bigger disgrace

Jeezus, this is like OJ Simpson all over again.

High contact, high impact - I don't get it?

Conca only getting 2 weeks is a bigger disgrace

agreed. His cowardly hit is what we are trying to stop on our streets.

agreed. His cowardly hit is what we are trying to stop on our streets.

Agree... Conca's hit to my mind was far worse than Vickery's and potentially more dangerous. He should have been given the rest of the season on the sidelines at least.

Our game is soft enough when it comes to punishing contact... I'm not upset Merrett got off, would have been nice to see one of our blokes go that hard when the ball was there to be won...

And before u get your knockers in a knot it was a spoil attempt not a king hit... Watch netball if u dislike contact

Jeez not impressed with the MRP this week, Merritt was late and had high impact. It was a poor "legitimate" attempt to spoil, he knew he was going to make impact with Pederson the moment he left the ground. I could cop him getting a week, a reprimand would've at least recognised he was in the wrong, but to be totally cleared is BS.

Makes the response from the players even more pathetic, he literally got away with it in every respect.

Conca's one I'm not overly surprised with but the fact it was such a weak act, and behind play I hope was taken into account.

Edited August 4, 201410 yr by Pates

Merrett was certainly late to the contest.

Like the umpiring, my main gripe is inconsistency.

Merrett was certainly late to the contest.

Like the umpiring, my main gripe is inconsistency.

The only problem with that photo is that it doesn't show the speed at which both players were closing in on the ball. I honestly could not see Merrett pulling up (or out of) that contest at all. Just an unfortunate incident.

The only problem with that photo is that it doesn't show the speed at which both players were closing in on the ball. I honestly could not see Merrett pulling up (or out of) that contest at all. Just an unfortunate incident.

No doubt about the speed, I'm just surprised that he was cleared based on other incidents.

High contact, high impact - I don't get it?

Yes isn't it reckless, high contact and medium to high impact, not sure how they judge broken noses and buckets of blood versus mild concussion. The former is not a good look for the game. The real issue is that bumps have been judged all year on the consequences. Once the contact was high, you were in trouble and at the mercy of the medical report. Accidental or not didn't count, the head was sacrosanct at all times. If you choose to bump and go high you are in trouble but not if you clobber someone with your forearm? Hip, arm, forearm what is the difference?

Plenty of time for Merrett to pirouette out of the way.

The only problem with that photo is that it doesn't show the speed at which both players were closing in on the ball. I honestly could not see Merrett pulling up (or out of) that contest at all. Just an unfortunate incident.

He has already taken the mark before dog merret leaves the ground. It was after the mark.

Not even a 50m penalty.....

Yes isn't it reckless, high contact and medium to high impact, not sure how they judge broken noses and buckets of blood versus mild concussion. The former is not a good look for the game. The real issue is that bumps have been judged all year on the consequences. Once the contact was high, you were in trouble and at the mercy of the medical report. Accidental or not didn't count, the head was sacrosanct at all times. If you choose to bump and go high you are in trouble but not if you clobber someone with your forearm? Hip, arm, forearm what is the difference?

Agreed Earl and I and wish you luck in achieving the high office of Marquess in the next Honours List.

What Merret did was reckless. From watching the replay there was clear intention to hit Pederson and cause injury. Even if they do argue negligence, this [censored] should still be held liable as a precautionary. He's going to keep doing this cheap [censored]..I'm sure of it...because now he knows the AFL won't punish him. [censored] this makes me angry.

Thanks Clint, that's what I thought I saw when watching live. I haven't bothered to watch the replay because I will back my first impression over MRP interpretation every day of the week. I agree that the players response was p-weak! I would encourage our off-field team to be outraged and to fire off a "please explain" to the AFL ASAP!

The only problem with that photo is that it doesn't show the speed at which both players were closing in on the ball. I honestly could not see Merrett pulling up (or out of) that contest at all. Just an unfortunate incident.

your argument is not looking too strong hardtack

the mark has been taken and merret hasn't even left the ground

definite 50 metres penalty

strong case for negligent or reckless

at a min should have got carry over points after any deductions

again mrb lacks consistency

Yes we need to! What he did was Fukin criminal! He needs to be brought to justice. How do I write mails to the club? (Not entirely serious because I know they probably won't care or listen). Look if he looked remorseful I would drop it..but he didn't...he dived in a attempt to get a free kick when Frawley pushed him

Edited August 4, 201410 yr by Moneider96

Just watched AFL 360 and saw what Stevie J copped a week for. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE [censored] KIDDING ME !!!!!

JKH was just as late in a marking contest later in the quarter but instead if fisting towards the head, he recoiled and made it look as though he was trying to avoid late contact, negligent late contact at least. Don't bull$41t me and say Merrett couldn't have done the same thing.

He had also recently tried to rip Jetta's head off late in a contest with a horizontal arm earlier in the game. Would love to see him standing under a ball with Hogan running at him next year.

Edited August 4, 201410 yr by mrtwister

Just watched AFL 360 and saw what Stevie J copped a week for. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE [censored] KIDDING ME !!!!!

told you elsewhere bbo, the knee is sacrosanct (even if it's your own)

ridiculous. He was so late, he didn't just hit cams head, he destroyed his nose. should've been 50 and a week or 2 on the side lines.