2 minutes ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

Interesting contrast from early comments  🤔 

The early comments were immediately after the game and how he felt on the field, which is fair because he may have been more focused on speaking to Greene about what was going out on the field. His comments now refer to how it looks from his point of view seeing the visuals and what it means to be an official. 

Can't believe he pleaded not guilty. Throw the book at him. 6+ weeks.

29 minutes ago, sue said:

That's exactly opposite to what the AFL usually does though. 

Good to see how brave Stevic is to not feel intimidated.  Would he ever say anything else?

I would use the word perplexed for the look on Stevic's face, post assault.

Wonder what would be crossing the mind of Umpires across the spectrum as to the result of this case. Confidence, unabated nervousness or just terror...

 

43 minutes ago, Grimes Times said:

 

Not Guilty to intentional contact. Hes admitted contact was made. Big difference.

I know, and I disagree with the strategy.

I understand what his legal team is doing. The charge is making intentional contact. He says he didn't actually intend to make contact. That's not necessarily relevant, because the AFL Guidelines say contact that is disrespectful, demonstrative, forceful or aggressive is deemed to be intentional. So his argument is that his contact was none of those four things.

The problem I see with his argument is that I think it's unlikely he convinces the Tribunal that his actions weren't disrespectful or demonstrative. I think they were comfortably both of those things. If this action is neither disrespectful nor demonstrative, what the [censored] was it?

2 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

But pleads not guilty... 🤔

The intent point is very important. Under the AFL Guidelines, he can only be suspended if the contact was intentional. Careless, unreasonable or accidental contact with an umpire just nets you a fine. If he gets off, the AFL needs to take a good look at its Guidelines (which, I've said a million times this year, are broken).

He says he had no subjective intention of contacting Stevic. If the Tribunal agrees with that (remember, they didn't agree with Viney's evidence a month back), the AFL has to show that the contact was disrespectful, demonstrative, forceful or aggressive, because the Guidelines say that if it's one of those things, it's deemed to be intentional.

 

Just now, dazzledavey36 said:

But pleads not guilty... 🤔

You can still be sorry for something you didnt mean to do.  

I wish he had just put his hands up immediately after the contact and apologised to him right then and there. That would have been the right thing to do.  He might have still got a couple of weeks, but  this whole click bait circus might have been avoided. 

"Not a good look for the game"........geez, wasn't there someone suspended for a couple of weeks recently???

 

What a bad bloke. 

 

 

Absolute waste of oxygen he is. 

Toby should spend more time on his vocabulary and less on bullying umpires. 

12 minutes ago, Jjrogan said:

You can still be sorry for something you didnt mean to do.  

I wish he had just put his hands up immediately after the contact and apologised to him right then and there. That would have been the right thing to do.  He might have still got a couple of weeks, but  this whole click bait circus might have been avoided. 

Like Tom Hawkins sorry he broke Steven May's eye socket.

Spare me. I don't buy those apologies - especially for serial offenders.  Having said this, ScoMo could take a leaf out of Toby's book

 

8 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Toby should spend more time on his vocabulary and less on bullying umpires. 

The irony of this on a fan forum where threads and match day pages are devoted to bullying and abusing umpires is not lost.

Imo,  everyone is missing the bigger picture here. Slamming Toby Greene, sure whatever, but totally ignoring the bigger question that afl supporters and culture is to abuse and disrespect umpires generally. Especially behind keyboards.

(Not in direct reference to this post WCW, you're always civil). 

🤣

 

2 minutes ago, Jjrogan said:

The irony of this on a fan forum where threads and match day pages are devoted to bullying and abusing umpires is not lost.

Imo,  everyone is missing the bigger picture here. Slamming Toby Greene, sure whatever, but totally ignoring the bigger question that afl supporters and culture is to abuse and disrespect umpires generally. Especially behind keyboards.

(Not in direct reference to this post WCW, you're always civil). 

If even the players show no respect to umpires how can you expect supporters to? 

Gleeson: It is simply not true to say you didn't intend to make contact with him, is that correct?

Just keep reframing the question in more confusing ways and Toby should break and start swearing and abusing the lawyer then case closed!

Soooo you'd say it's not untrue that you didn't think you should not have made contact?  I find that have to believe

Just now, Jaded said:

If even the players show no respect to umpires how can you expect supporters to? 

Lol. One player shows a bad look and the afl supporter base explodes in hypocrisy. Every weekend thousands of people hurl abuse over the fence and over their computers. And its play on. 

 

3 minutes ago, Jaded said:

If even the players show no respect to umpires how can you expect supporters to? 

you're not giving much credit to supporters there. We shouldn't limit our ethics or behaviours based on the worst behaved player.

Toby started as a supporter then became a player.  I agree with JjRodan that there is a bigger picture here many are missing. Given Toby 10 weeks won't change the culture around respect for umpires. There is much work to do. eg, if I yell abuse at the umps in my lounge room and my kids observe, etc etc

Toby: "I wasn’t swearing at him. I used a swear word. It’s part of my speak I guess, especially in a game. I use a lot of swear words when talking."

Another wonderful example for the junior sporting fraternity. Perhaps, I’m out of date but surely this is not indicative of a player coming from a good culture or wanting to set an example to others in the community!