Hawks throwing it about

[rpfc 28,052]

Love both players but a message has to be sent - even if you lose a game you can't send out your players to attempt to injure blokes the next week...

Hodge's elbow was intentional, not reckless, he knew exactly what he did. He should see at least three games from the coaches box.

And Lewis' one was a good ol' fashioned two week roundhouse.

[Frosty Demon 153]

Hodge intentional

Love both players but a message has to be sent - even if you lose a game you can't send out your players to attempt to injure blokes the next week...

Hodge's elbow was intentional, not reckless, he knew exactly what he did. He should see at least three games from the coaches box.

And Lewis' one was a good ol' fashioned two week roundhouse.

Id give them both one extra week. Gutless acts both of them.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,075]

I think we might also need to take into account the precedent set not so long ago by the tribunal: these incidents might have looked like blows to the head, might have felt like blows to the head, might even have sounded like blows to the head, but did anyone do a blood test?

Plus they would have to be comfortably satisfied that Hodge really did intend to knock Swallow's block off ...

[Demon Dynasty 17,094]

Rusty if I was running the AFL I would be happy for the Dorks to lose these two for three weeks plus so we can get some equalisation going. Because the clubs and the Commission are hopeless in that area this is our only hope. This extended domination by the Dorks and other top teams will cost the competition over time in my opinion.

I'm voting 1 for you at the next AFL Board spill Hood! Do it bro!

[Moonshadow 17,554]

In my helping out at the local primary school (that my kid attends), four 8 yr old boys in one class wrote with excitement this morning in their journal how they watched Hodge elbowing Swallow on the weekend. This is what kids pay attention to. It's time to send a message AFL that this is not acceptable.

[Earl Hood 6,058]

I am more than willing for the AFL to make an example of Hodge for the betterment of the game and the next generation of kids. Ten weeks?

[daisycutter 29,341]

I am more than willing for the AFL to make an example of Hodge for the betterment of the game and the next generation of kids. Ten weeks?

a noble sentiment earl, as i expect of you

[Red and Bluebeard 2,075]

I am more than willing for the AFL to make an example of Hodge for the betterment of the game and the next generation of kids. Ten weeks?

I like your thinking, Earl, but I think we could aim for the entire season. Imagine the impact ...

[CHF 2,696]

Lewis, 3 weeks reduced to 2 with an early plea.

Hodge dent straight to the tribunal for assessment - So you would imagine at least 3 weeks on the sidelines for Hodge.

[John Crow Batty 8,786]

Just watched the showreel,was getting flashbacks to the Dipper and Dermie days.Thugs!

That Lewis swing was so Rodney Grinter, the human clothes line. The only difference is Goldstein would have been carted off on a stretcher if Grinter delivered it.

[sendoff2014 18]

Fair dinkum.

I don't know if it's because we play them in a couple of weeks, but some of you are batshit crazy.

There is no conspiracy that favours the Hawks. Just because there are former Hawks on the tribunal doesn't mean they're going to give them any easier a time. There are more non Hawks on there then there are former Hawks. Make of that as you will, but they're not going to risk being fired from a high paying job that requires minimal work just because they used to play with someone and they think who they're dealing with is a "good bloke".

Just remember Jarrad Waite got off for an identical thing in the preseason and Lewis gets 2 weeks. It's a lottery controlled by the media. Little media in the preseason = little/no suspension. Little club that gets minimal media = little/no suspension. Big club/Big name that draws people to read newspaper article, watch football television shows and click online links = larger than comparative suspension.

[Undeeterred 3,045]

Fair dinkum.

I don't know if it's because we play them in a couple of weeks, but some of you are batshit crazy.

There is no conspiracy that favours the Hawks. Just because there are former Hawks on the tribunal doesn't mean they're going to give them any easier a time. There are more non Hawks on there then there are former Hawks. Make of that as you will, but they're not going to risk being fired from a high paying job that requires minimal work just because they used to play with someone and they think who they're dealing with is a "good bloke".

Just remember Jarrad Waite got off for an identical thing in the preseason and Lewis gets 2 weeks. It's a lottery controlled by the media. Little media in the preseason = little/no suspension. Little club that gets minimal media = little/no suspension. Big club/Big name that draws people to read newspaper article, watch football television shows and click online links = larger than comparative suspension.

I'd say it is the complete opposite. Little club, little media, big smack. Big club, big media, not a lot of punishment.

Having said that, you just can't swing an elbow at someone out of nowhere. No amount of big clubness gets you out of that.

[hemingway 7,615]

I must be getting soft or my views seriously out of date but the hits from both Hodge and Lewis should receive lengthy suspensions. Not much better than the infamous Barry Hall king hit. Both Hodge and Lewis deserve 6 to 10 week suspensions. Both hits could have killed or seriously maimed their victims. Both could be charged with assault. I don't get it.

[poita 3,874]

Lewis's hit on Goldstein was so late it was ridiculous. Goldstein had taken the mark before Lewis started his spoiling attempt. Two weeks is a pathetic penalty by a MRP / tribunal that has been terribly lenient this year.

We'll see what Hodge gets tonight, but I'm sure they will try to argue it down to reckless and low impact. Again, anything less than three weeks served would be a disgrace.

The AFL talk the talk when it comes to removing thuggery from the game, but they seldom walk the walk. If you take the penalties from the current system and double them, then you might start to see these acts disappear from the game.

[ManDee 7,124]

I would be happy with a send off rule but only when the 3rd (4th) (5th) umpire has reviewed the replay.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,075]

I would be happy with a send off rule but only when the 3rd (4th) (5th) umpire has reviewed the replay.

I think in Hodge's case, which was clearly intentional and out of play, can be classified as 'order off immediately'. Lewis's was late, but at least in some sense in play. That one could be sorted out via replay or the MRP.

For that matter, call me old school, but I am of the opinion that intent and not impact is the key attribute. Even if Hodge had swung and missed (perhaps due to Swallow ducking), for mine the penalty would be the same.

[ManDee 7,124]

I think in Hodge's case, which was clearly intentional and out of play, can be classified as 'order off immediately'. Lewis's was late, but at least in some sense in play. That one could be sorted out via replay or the MRP.

For that matter, call me old school, but I am of the opinion that intent and not impact is the key attribute. Even if Hodge had swung and missed (perhaps due to Swallow ducking), for mine the penalty would be the same.

R&B I don't think the order off immediately rule should be applied until reviewed by video umpire. That may take 1 minute, but that is well worth avoiding a mistake. Alternately the field umpire could have an immediate send off for the time it takes for the replay (say 1 minute) then 20min to 1 game depending on severity.

[PaulRB 6,297]

I think they should introduce the "blind eye" rule, whereby the umpires adjudicate immediately on the Hodge or Sewel incidents and if found guilty, they will turn a "blind eye" to any on-field retaliation for the remainder of the game.

That would be entertaining.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,075]

R&B I don't think the order off immediately rule should be applied until reviewed by video umpire. That may take 1 minute, but that is well worth avoiding a mistake. Alternately the field umpire could have an immediate send off for the time it takes for the replay (say 1 minute) then 20min to 1 game depending on severity.

Sounds sensible, ManDee. I don't really have a fixed process in mind, but I think any order off rule is a good thing. I get stuck into the maggots as a supporter as much as anyone, but I do think there is something about a send off rule that shifts power to the umpires in a way that improves the game. I recall hearing how it was always possible to tell NSW recruits in the old days, because they grew up in rugby territory, in which send off rules have always been present, and hence the players are always polite to the umpires.

[Melbman2 226]

For that matter, call me old school, but I am of the opinion that intent and not impact is the key attribute. Even if Hodge had swung and missed (perhaps due to Swallow ducking), for mine the penalty would be the same.

The AFL does not punish intent, be it assault or "supplements".

[PaulRB 6,297]

Hodge 3 weeks and Lewis out for our clash with the Hawks!

And most likely Jack Viney back for that game.

Maybe we're a chance?

[Earl Hood 6,058]

Lewis was reckless, high and medium impact so he gets three with a discount to two if he pleads guilty. Hodge is deemed intentional, high contact and medium impact and gets three? Have I got this wrong? Doesn't reckless vs intentional get you an extra week or two? So Hodge should be given four minimum.

[Demon Dynasty 17,094]

R&B I don't think the order off immediately rule should be applied until reviewed by video umpire. That may take 1 minute, but that is well worth avoiding a mistake. Alternately the field umpire could have an immediate send off for the time it takes for the replay (say 1 minute) then 20min to 1 game depending on severity.

Man i think if the effected player (ie., in this case Swallow) is decked off the ball and it's proven via video umpire as you say then it's minimum 20 minutes in sin bin. If Swallow gets concussion test and is advised not to return to the field and doesn't, then the offending player misses the entire match also PLUS he is also up for tribunal penalty. This would take away the advantage a team (player) may gain by knocking out an opponent and having an extra player to rotate off the bench as well as the opponent potentially losing a key profile player to an act of thuggery.

But i agree, no one should be ordered to sin bin until video ump has reviewed, even if it takes a few minutes.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Rusty Nails

[Willmoy1947 3,971]

These two should never have been allowed to pick which weeks they wanted off.

The Tribunal should have had the discretion to rub them out for important ladder changing games.

They just jagged a very important win and were probably given a bonus by the club at the expense of injuring two important Scragger players.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,075]

The AFL does not punish intent, be it assault or "supplements".

No surprise there, unfortunately ...