Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (โ‹ฎ) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - STEVEN MAY

Featured Replies

Choosing to throw an elbow backwards is not accidental itโ€™s careless. According to the text below Hawkins should receive at least one week.ย 

80-EF157-C-7606-40-EA-B90-E-69-E50-EA221

ย 
ย 
16 minutes ago, Nasher said:

My assessment is just from looking up the MRPโ€™s chart for assessing incidents. I am not angry or emotional about it, and Iโ€™ve got nothing against Hawkins. I accept it was an accident, but thatโ€™s not the question.

I donโ€™t believe there is room in our game for players having bones in their faces broken in regulation contests. If it was a head-on collision we were talking about, I might agree with you. Butย I canโ€™t see how swinging an elbow backwards like that is any less than โ€œcarelessโ€ (per the MRPโ€™s chart), and surely the impact is at least โ€œhighโ€, if not extreme, given the injury. Which part do you disagree with?

My view wouldnโ€™t change,ย irrespective of which players or clubs were involved.ย 

In this instance, I think it is.

This isn't a sling tackle or a bump, which are actions that we can identify as problematic and to which we can then apply the careless/intentional matrix.

This has to be one of the offences listed in the table. Is it a strike? If it's an accident, then I don't think so. Is it "unreasonable" contact to the face? If the latter, how can an accident also be "unreasonable"?

If a player flies for a mark with outstretched hands, doing nothing other than playing the ball, but in the process his elbow hits another player's head, do we call that "careless" and suspend him?

One of the problems with the MRO process is that we focus on the outcome too much and the action not enough. I think that's happening here again.

To quote Titus O'Reilly "Hawkins should get the benefit of the doubt. Heโ€™s only been cited for striking seven times in the last five seasons."


14 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

In this instance, I think it is.

This isn't a sling tackle or a bump, which are actions that we can identify as problematic and to which we can then apply the careless/intentional matrix.

This has to be one of the offences listed in the table. Is it a strike? If it's an accident, then I don't think so. Is it "unreasonable" contact to the face? If the latter, how can an accident also be "unreasonable"?

If a player flies for a mark with outstretched hands, doing nothing other than playing the ball, but in the process his elbow hits another player's head, do we call that "careless" and suspend him?

One of the problems with the MRO process is that we focus on the outcome too much and the action not enough. I think that's happening here again.

Have you seen the photo of May?ย They have a ranking for โ€œunreasonable contact to the face, careless conduct, high/extremeย impact, high contactโ€. If this situation doesnโ€™t meet that definition, whatย situation would, in your view?ย 

A player flying for the mark with arms outstretched is an expected action in the game. I wouldnโ€™t penalise that for the same reason we donโ€™t penalise (other than a free) when defenders accidentally punch players in the head when attemptingย a spoil. Itโ€™s mal-execution of a normal skill in the sport. What normal football skill involves flinging oneโ€™s elbow backwards at head height? I didnโ€™t see any otherย head high reverse elbows fling about in this match, or any of others. Did you?ย 

Whether the MRP should assess actual outcome or not is irrelevant. The fact is they do, so we can only judge Hawkins on what the rules are, not what they should be in your opinion.

ย 

I must be one of the few on here who thinks itย was accidental and just part ofย play?

He was being tackled while handballingย and May actually pulled him as part of the tackle which contributed to his arm being closer to his head. Hawkins is definitely a dirty player, but not sure heโ€™s talented enoughย to defy gravity to get a cheap shot in!

Yes itโ€™s sucks one of our most important players got hurt, but Hawkins has noย case to answer for IMO. Unluckyย hit, move on.


1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Better then the 2-4 months that was mentioned on here yesterday..ย 

I reckon that's what it will feel like though daz

2-4 weeks is a big big let off for what could have been season ending. Thank god he sustained no permanent damage to his eye.ย 
ย 


Back for the swans game to play on Franklin, only tough one he will miss is tigersย if that works out

Edited by Garbo

1 hour ago, bingers said:

If May had caused this injury to Hawkins, would he be cited?ย ย 

I think we all know the answer to that.

Yes the answer is no.

FCS stop looking for something that isnโ€™t there. It was an accident and they happen in footy

Why are people so desperate for Hawkins to get suspended? It footy, [censored] happens. He didn't king him ffs.ย 

1 minute ago, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

Why are people so desperate for Hawkins to get suspended? It footy, [censored] happens. He didn't king him ffs.ย 

Because Geelong is a club full of dirty cheating [censored] who have gotten away with doing this stuff for far too long.ย 
Hawkins has form. He did not need to swing an arm.
I donโ€™t think he meant to cause such damage, but gees heโ€™s one clumsy guy isnโ€™t he? ?

7 minutes ago, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

Why are people so desperate for Hawkins to get suspended? It footy, [censored] happens. He didn't king him ffs.ย 

Because he has a long history of carelessly / recklessly elbowing opponents in the face, head and guts.ย 


2 minutes ago, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

Why are people so desperate for Hawkins to get suspended? It footy, [censored] happens. He didn't king him ffs.ย 

Because Hawkins has a long track record of hits, with lame excuses each time. You donโ€™t need to king hit a player to be suspended. Careless, yes, unduly rough play, yes, high contact, yes, causing serious injury to another player, yes.ย 

Second concussion in 5 weeks is probablyย more concerning than the fracture.ย Give him the 4 weeks off - make sure we are taking care of him! ??

1 hour ago, Jaded said:

Because Geelong is a club full of dirty cheating [censored] who have gotten away with doing this stuff for far too long.ย 
Hawkins has form. He did not need to swing an arm.
I donโ€™t think he meant to cause such damage, but gees heโ€™s one clumsy guy isnโ€™t he? ?

My view is it was accidental. If you look at the replay in slo-mo, May actually pulled Hawkins towards himself by the jumper at the same moment Hawkins handballed. That exacerbated the close contact and brought his swinging arm from the handball closer to May's face.

I don't see how you could possibly charge Hawkins with an offence, let alone think he did it in any way deliberately.

ย 

ย 

I'm sure that if the roles were reversed and it was Hawkins who was injured, Demonlanders would be adamant that it was an accident and that May had no case to answer.

I havenโ€™t reviewed the video so have no opinion on the incident. But with a record like he has it is perfectly reasonable for his actions to be closely scrutinised.ย 


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • NON-MFC: 2026 Opening Round

    Finally the 2026 AFL Premiership Season is upon us. While Melbourne sits out Opening Round, there is still plenty of footy to enjoy with five non-MFC clashes to kick off the new season. It all begins on Thursday night with a blockbuster at the SCG as Sydney hosts Carlton in what should be a strong early test for both sides. On Friday night, Gold Coast gets its chance to open the season in front of a home crowd when the Suns and Christian Petracca take on Geelong at People First Stadium. Saturday features a double-header, starting in the afternoon with Greater Western Sydney and Clayton Oliver meeting the Hawks at Engie Stadium. That is followed on Saturday night by Brisbane Lions hosting the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, with the Lions embarking on their campaign to win the Threepeat. Opening Round wraps up on Sunday night at the MCG, where St Kilda takes on Collingwood in the only game in town in the first week of the season. There is no shortage of storylines across the round, so discuss all the action from the non-MFC games of Opening Round.

    • 38 replies
  • PREGAME: St. Kilda

    With just over two weeks until their opening match of the 2026 AFL Premiership season, the Demons are already well on the path to redemption and have the Saints firmly in their sights ahead of their mid-March clash at the MCG. What do you think the team will look like when they run out on to the G?

    • 110 replies
  • REPORT: Richmond

    Mars is not usually a place known for lighting strikes but on Friday evening it happened twice in the vicinity of the stadium in Ballarat that carries the name and is a half completed building site with limited capacity for spectators.

    • 4 replies
  • POSTGAME: Richmond

    The Dees ran another clinic for the second week in a row as they easily accounted for the Tigers in the lightning interrupted shortened match at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

    • 118 replies
  • VOTES: Richmond

    Kozzy Pickett was the man of the match last week and has a vote lead over backup ruck Max Heath who didn't play this week and 5 votes over former Saint Jack Steele. Who gets the votes in this weeks shortened match win over the Tigers? Your votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

    • 15 replies
  • GAMEDAY: Richmond

    It's Game Day and the 2026 AFL Premiership season is almost upon us as the Demons take to the field for their final practice match before the first ball is kicked in anger in 16 days time. What are you expecting to see from the Dees today as they take on the Tigers at Mars Stadium in Ballarat?

      • Thanks
    • 337 replies

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions โ†’ Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.