Sorry doing a bit of research on this one and I think our chances of an appeal are low indeed.  The evidence Jeff Gleason will likely bring to the table to support upholding the AFLs ruling:

So it turns out that in 1566 Nostradamus "foreseen that in spoiling the way he did, it would have almost inevitably resulted in a forceful blow to Ballard’s head”.

Should have known that JVR and acted with a duty of care. 

I can't believe Gleeson's logic.

In the Newman/Neale case there is video and photos of Newman's forearm on Neale's jaw. Then Neale walks away rubbing his jaw. He gives evidence there was contact to his jaw.

Gleeson then finds that it was to the chest. He then says, if it was to the chest, it's not a strike.

WTF? 

Can someone explain the phrase 'almost inevitably' to me?

Perhaps this might be the perfect opportunity to manage JvR for a couple of weeks so that he’s fresh for the difficult phase of the season from Round 11 to 13 when we faltered last season. He is after all young and would have been rested sooner or later.

Just now, Elwood 3184 said:

Perhaps this might be the perfect opportunity to manage JvR for a couple of weeks so that he’s fresh for the difficult phase of the season from Round 11 to 13 when we faltered last season. He is after all young and would have been rested sooner or later.

stuff that

it should have been straight to the tribunal or no charge to face

2 weeks is just...silly

2 hours ago, binman said:

So, we can expect there to be a six oppo players suspended every week for missing the ball and instead smashing Max in the back of the head in a marking contest.

Really, such utter rubbish.

2 hours ago, jacey said:

Fox have a stupid segment called "ear massages" where they have dozen of examples every week. 

Chol was unreasonable with possibility to cause serious damage yet not cited. 

They pick and choose. 

Time for us to collate all the examples of spoils from this round which 'almost inevitably have the chance of impact' (read: all, they're spoils, duh) and send them to this farce of a tribunal.  This is truly ridiculous!

I'm in the minority here. It's a terrible decision but it seemed obvious to me that this would be the outcome so im not shocked. As soon as a stretcher was pulled out this was destined to be the result, regardless of the actual action or injury. 

Who knows how they will adjudicate the 20 odd similar incidents each round ongoing. 

I dont think Roo being out for 2 weeks (with one of them being the a Hawthorn game) hurts is that badly tbh. 

51 minutes ago, DemonWA said:

I'm in the minority here. It's a terrible decision but it seemed obvious to me that this would be the outcome so im not shocked. As soon as a stretcher was pulled out this was destined to be the result, regardless of the actual action or injury. 

Who knows how they will adjudicate the 20 odd similar incidents each round ongoing. 

I dont think Roo being out for 2 weeks (with one of them being the a Hawthorn game) hurts is that badly tbh. 

The loss of JVR is beside the point. We have been in this position so many times and we are always the precedent case. 

I guarantee you we will see at least a dozen more of comparable cases before season end and there will not be a single charge laid - not a single one. 

It’s absurd to think that it’s nothing but a coincidence, but FMD - I’m going to finish my thoughts on the conspiracy thread. 

On the Reddit AFL page there are 248 comments from supporters of all clubs. After scrolling through I saw maybe four that were pro-suspension, and the rest were all completely appalled by the decision. 

I can’t remember the last time a suspension was so unpopular amongst fans of the game. 

If the AFL have any sense of this they’re obliged to make it right, not just to Jacob and the Demons supporters, but AFL supporters at large. 

2 hours ago, layzie said:

This really is all a big joke 

Bud, this whole charade started on April 1. 

Shaping as one of the better pranks in history of the AFL. 

Edited May 9, 20231 yr by McQueen

I’ve been told Ballard identifies as a football. Play on. 

2 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I’ve been told Ballard identifies as a football. Play on. 

I reckon we’re burning a similar bud right now. 🤣💨

27 minutes ago, McQueen said:

I reckon we’re burning a similar bud right now. 🤣💨

I identify

4 hours ago, DemonWA said:

I dont think Roo being out for 2 weeks (with one of them being the a Hawthorn game) hurts is that badly tbh. 

 

4 hours ago, Elwood 3184 said:

Perhaps this might be the perfect opportunity to manage JvR for a couple of weeks so that he’s fresh for the difficult phase of the season from Round 11 to 13 when we faltered last season. He is after all young and would have been rested sooner or later.

Disagree here.  Unless his overall output improves, I'm not 100% convinced that JVR will hold his spot in the side as the season progresses, so him playing now against some of the lesser likes of Hawthorn in particular is a good way to build his experience at senior AFL level without compromising the team overall.  Even playing Hawthorn AFL team are probably a step up from your average VFL team and playing at the MCG Vs Casey, with the likes of Trac, Viney, Gawn, Kossie & Co would be quite different too, so good to give him this exposure.

5 hours ago, Deevout said:

 

Our former Captain and number 2 doesn’t seem to agree with the decision either. 🔴🔵

Pretty ballsy from Chunk given he 'presently' has a chanel 7 contract

Has he just kissed any renewal goodbye?

Change AFLW competition name to AFLF (AFL Female) The AFLW can be the corporate brand of the overall game AFL Woke. 

5 hours ago, Redleg said:

I can't believe Gleeson's logic.

In the Newman/Neale case there is video and photos of Newman's forearm on Neale's jaw. Then Neale walks away rubbing his jaw. He gives evidence there was contact to his jaw.

Gleeson then finds that it was to the chest. He then says, if it was to the chest, it's not a strike.

WTF? 

Fits my hypothesis that the AFL are looking after their 'select protected list' of 'nothing to see here' marquee clubs and players Red.

Namely their 4 biggest Vic clubs...

Pies, Tigers, Bombers & the Blues

and all interstates

Plus a special list of Marquee players including but not limited to;

The Bont, Danger, Hawkins, Buddy (see 1 week vs Kozzy 2 for a much more damaging incident), Dusty (less so now vs when he/Richmond were up and about), Cripps (gets off and wins Chas) etc.

That's not to say players from these clubs / marquee list won't get cited or suspended but more often than not they're suspensions are initially not severe eg; sometimes just a week or a fine and/or they quite get often have original finding reduced on appeal or suspension is reversed (Newman vs Roohey just one example).

Edited May 9, 20231 yr by Demon Dynasty

Spin the giant wheel of MRO/tribunal punishment, where will it land next?!

1 hour ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Pretty ballsy from Chunk given he 'presently' has a chanel 7 contract

Has he just kissed any renewal goodbye?

No.

He's allowed to have an opinion. 

Edited May 9, 20231 yr by dazzledavey36

25 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

No.

He's allowed to have an opinion. 

Every other commentator who hung JVR prior to the suspension was allowed to have an opinion. So can Jones post tribunal I guess. 
 

And for those saying it’s a good chance to rest Roo, this is completely besides the point. 
What if this weekend was a final and the player in question was Oliver? If we don’t fight this charge we are setting a precedent we don’t want to deal with later down the track when it really matters. 

This bites 

Does anyone know what time today we have to appeal by?

 

Appeal Appeal Appeal 

The tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson KC said that although it was reasonable for the young Demon to assess the situation in the way he did they decided “a reasonable player would have seen that in spoiling the ball in the way he did would almost inevitably have resulted in a forceful blow to Ballard’s head”.

But that’s wrong. I’d agree if there was a swinging arm. I’d agree if he looked directly at Ballard.  JVR is clearly trying to spoil. Ballard was not concussed. He hurt his neck on falling.  The fact that a stretcher came out seems to be a major factor.  

How could JVR stop ? He’s in the act of contesting the mark.  Last week the Fogarty spoil was play on.  That was worse than the JVR incident.  

8 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

It is an absolute farce… there is literally no difference.

There is actually.  In this case it was forearm vs head: in JVR it was bicep v neck and NO INJURY OCCURRED.