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Showing content with the highest reputation on 23/03/22 in all areas

  1. The Rioli decision is the latest disgrace in what is an ongoing disgrace: the state of the AFL's MRO/Tribunal system. I can't use the word broken enough.
    10 points
  2. That makes it easy: Rivers for Salem.
    8 points
  3. Draper should have got 1 week. Rioli should have 2 weeks. Mitch Robinson should have been cleared. The Sloane one, I'm comfortable with a fine I think. What a horrible way to start the year for the AFL and tribunal.
    7 points
  4. well for one thing they could umpire 2 games every week......there's 2 days work out of 5 then there is obviously fitness training, rule and interpretation training and last and importantly extensive reviews of the previous weeks games additionally running training clinics for junior umpires plenty to do......at least as much as current players
    7 points
  5. Hawkins regularly recklessly clobbers opponents with forearm or elbow. Is every time an accident?
    7 points
  6. Sadly, there is and always will be. It’s just that most of them aren’t foolish enough to verbalise their Neanderthal beliefs (even in a ‘private’ chat), nor implicitly trust their knuckle-dragging mates. Even sadder is the fact that it’s not just in this industry. It’s in every domain.
    7 points
  7. There's an Essendon supporter I work with who's somewhere in his mid to late 20's. He remembers vaguely a flag while at primary school but as far as he's concerned they've been no good for most of his life. This is their young generation of supporters. Love his pessimism. Long may it continue. As for Hawthorn they were bottom dwellers for a fair while before Clarkeson took over. Remember Shane Crawford hanging on till his last game before he got his flag (That's what I'm talking about!). They were 'lucky' enough to hit the drafting jackpot with some strategic tanking landing Hodge, Lewis, Franklin, Roughy, Mitchell and Rioli in consecutive years. Hawthorn (and Geelongs) time at the top was also aided by the introduction of GC and GWS which hobbled the rest of the competition while they got their priority picks. Meanwhile they filled holes in their lists by cherry picking players from struggling clubs looking for success. Can they turn it around that quickly again .... I doubt it.
    7 points
  8. I'm really looking forward to seeing Taj Woewodin develop for the Casey Demons in the VFL. The great thing is that he won't get thrown to the wolves and will get plenty of time to mature and develop in the VFL. Fingers crossed he earns a senior debut in the AFL later this season, but there is absolutely no pressure and it's such a huge asset that we have (my favourite) Mark "Choco" Williams as our development coach!
    7 points
  9. If someone can see a relationship between free kicks and results, then they're doing better than me.
    6 points
  10. "Oh, Riewoldt? Great player." "Yeah, great player." "Did you ever play against him?" "Yeah, tore me new one. Great guy, but." "Me too." "Yeah, great guy." "You can't penalise Riewoldt." "Nah, he doesn't deserve it." "I remember he kicked 6 against us one day. What a player." "Yeah, he took a mark like that against us once. So gutsy. You can't penalise guys like him." "Penalise Riewoldt? No way." "I call for a vote." "Not guilty." "Not guilty. "Not guilty." "It's unanimous. Riewoldt not guilty. Send out the press release."
    5 points
  11. I assume our prep for this game will involve 6 hours of flying and sitting on the tarmac for 8 hours. Don't change a winning formula...
    5 points
  12. Here is a previously unreleased image of Jake Lever sustaining his plantar fascia injury. Hope to see you back out there next week, Rick!
    5 points
  13. I'm not surprised that they haven't appealed. The AFL have set up the MRO and Tribunal to be Outcome Based, not Intent Based. This was always bound to happen when the player that was hit didn't receive any "immediate" and evident damage. I say immediate because even though he wasn't concussed, the effect of minor knocks can build up under the surface. The AFL needs to completely overhaul the MRO and Tribunal to reduce the Outcome Based Factor and Increase the Intent Based Factor. After Rioli knew he would be second to the ball, he showed no intent to protect the oncoming player. Instead he only cared about his own safety. Rowell be damned!
    5 points
  14. Ta. No surprise at all. The silver lining with injury is that it provides opportunities for players banging on the door. And taking a super conservative approach with say a lever and/or hibbi means not having to consider dropping a player (at least for a week) like tomlinson or hunt, who both played ok and were dead unlucky last year. Another factor is being by being conservative and using a bigger pool of players, they mitigate a bit of the impact of a shorter off season (our shortest in 57 years!)
    5 points
  15. Never thought the day would come where I was defending Mitch Robinson but I feel for the poor bloke. He could have gone full Michael Long / Troy Simmonds and caused some serious damage but instead he stopped and braced for oncoming contact. To my eye he displayed & exercised his duty of care. His only other option, given the speed of the incident, was to "flop". Had he done so, yes, contact would have been avoided but he'd have been mocked for the rest of his career and there'd be a conga line of former players / commentators going "soft" and "that's not good enough". The game remains a 360 degree contact sport. At speed. Despite all best efforts from players & administrators, accidents will still happen. Not every incident needs a scapegoat.
    5 points
  16. Professional doesn't necessarily equate to full time, like a 40 hour week. But it would mean more/better training sessions, instead of one or two after-work sessions a week, followed by game day. (It's been a long time since players did that.) Professional umps would have the time to watch all matches, perform peer reviews, attend club practice sessions. They would be able to practice things like judging how far 15 metres is when you're at ground level. How far 50m is. A professional umps dept would (I hope) have the resources to retain a number of players, perhaps recent retirees, or VFL players, say 12 or so, who could war-game scenarios that the umps have trouble with, or practice (eg) holding the ball scenarios over and over again. And if they do all those things and still have time to go down the beach, play X box til they're blue in the face, work on their model aircraft collection, or whatever, great.
    5 points
  17. While the concept of full-time professional umpires has some attraction, I struggle to see what umpires would do every day during the week and during the off-season. There's only a certain amount of fitness required (and they already seem to have that). Perhaps if being full-time involved a secondary role, such as mentoring junior umpires or working with clubs so everyone fully understands the rules, might help. There might not be enough work for all the field umpires to become full-time, but perhaps we can end up with a mix of full- and part-time umpires with every match having at least one full-time field umpire. I still think, by the way, that the low hanging fruit which would improve umpiring more than making them full-time, is an overhaul of the rules to eliminate as much as possible the subjective assessments wherever possible.
    5 points
  18. The funny thing about those that are defending Rioli is that they will be the same people screaming "Why didn't the AFL do something!" in about 10 years when all the lawsuits make the AFL bankrupt. It's coming, and cases like this will only make it harder for the AFL to defend itself.
    5 points
  19. arghhhh! Facts, facts facts! I want cognitive biases!
    5 points
  20. Welcome to the circus that is the AFL.
    5 points
  21. How the f*&k do Footscray get away with it? They've been throwing the ball for six years.
    5 points
  22. There was a time when I would have accepted 0.7 of a premiership. Now only a 4-peat will do.
    5 points
  23. i emailed the Club to ask them to tell Dogga that his lack of a signature is causing me considerable stress so I would appreciate him putting pen to paper ASAP.
    4 points
  24. Agree with everything you say, deespicable me. I’ve bored myself silly complaining about the standard of umpiring in our great game. There is no question it’s the biggest blight, and it’s just frankly bizarre that umps aren’t full time pros. The simple truth is that too many games every season are ruined by poor umpiring. Win-loss results plainly changed. Our loss to Adelaide last year a perfect case in point. And Geelong vs Swans twice! Acknowledged as such by the AFL observer crowd, admitted to by the AFL, then……..nothing. And what do we get this year? Not an effort to improve standards, just an effort to limit dissent. The question is, why aren’t they trying to improve it? It’s naive I think to just blame the pace of the game as an obstacle. At least try. Maybe figure out what natural skills (decision making, reaction times) the best umps have, and screen for those qualities. Like the players with biometric testing. Make them full time and bump salaries massively to make it attractive for those with the requisite skills. Something’s gotta change, cos it’s a woeful scar on Australian Football.
    4 points
  25. I must say I’m baffled by the Rioli decision, by the time he leaves the ground he’s taken his eyes off the ball and becomes totally ballistic. To use a Soccer analogy they give a red card to players who tackle dangerously the moment they leave the ground regardless of whether they get the ball. There must be a similar precedent set where if you choose to leave the ground in a dangerous manor and no longer show duty of care to your fellow player than you must be sanctioned. What’s the bet the Nibbler will do something similar and get 4-6 weeks.
    4 points
  26. Unfortunately WCW we as a people are still in transition most of us have gradually been re-educated by our more enlightened children and reading and listening to those that have suffered but there are still a lot of people in society that have a long way to go.😪😢
    4 points
  27. At times, you've got to wonder what goes on behind the scenes. So the head isn't sacrosanct. Good for the lawyers to know re duty of care..
    4 points
  28. His hip flushed him in the head. He did not have eyes for the ball. He crunched a bloke with eyes for the ball and then his team got a goal 15 seconds later. message for players - leave the ground, smash blokes and you’ll be right
    4 points
  29. So you've never said anything in front of, or behind the back, of someone that you regret?
    4 points
  30. On the morning of the 31st July, 2021 an aircraft carrying the Melbourne team for its recently rescheduled game against the Gold Coast Suns was diverted to Brisbane Airport after the Queensland Government made a snap decision to lock down the South East of the State. Forced to return home to play the game against the Suns at an empty Marvel Stadium on the following day, the dominant Demons easily won that encounter and never looked back. The rest became history. The opposition on that day was cooked after a long disrupted season, ravaged with injury, a young side lost in a tough competitive system and bereft of confidence. Things are going to be far different when they clash at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night. They were unbeaten in the preseason and opened proceedings for 2022 with a win over the Eagles — their first ever victory in WA, after booting eight goals straight in the final term. The Suns’ young guns are strutting around like true winners, they’re playing on home turf this week won and they have every reason to feel confident this week because after all, they are champions of Round Two having amassed a 4 zip record in that Round over the past four seasons. The catch is that they’re coming up against the reigning premiers who were in good form in the opening Round so their young guns in Rowell, Anderson, Rankine and Lukosious will need to be at their absolute best again to make it five in a row. But this time, the Demons are a fair way from having their best team on the ground with five premiership defenders under a cloud on the injury list. They are Michael Hibberd (calf), Jake Lever (foot), Harrison Petty (calf), Trent Rivers (knee) and Christian Salem (knee) and at ref time of writing, only Rivers is considered a chance to play on Saturday night. Coach Simon Goodwin needs to shuffle players around which could see Angus Brayshaw and Tom McDonald playing in defence again, joined by the likes of Jayden Hunt, Joel Smith and Adam Tomlinson. Whilst the shuffling will also have consequences on the rest of the line up, Melbourne is fortunate to have a solid and ever-reliable, star studded midfield and those hardworking small forwards ready to contribute to another Demon victory. The Gold Coast Suns are up and coming but I expect a total eclipse is on the cards. Melbourne by 38 points. THE GAME Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium Saturday 26th March, 2022 at 8.00pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall - Gold Coast Suns 3 wins Melbourne 12 wins At Metricon Stadium - Gold Coast Suns 1 win Melbourne 2 wins Past five matches - Gold Coast Suns 0 wins Melbourne 5 wins The Coaches - Dew 0 wins Goodwin 5 wins MEDIA TV - live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 18.20.128 defeated Gold Coast Suns 4.6.30 at Marvel Stadium, Round 20, 2021 One of the passengers on that flight north in late July was debutant Jake Bowey who made the AFL’s longest trip for a first up game but when the time came to play, he was certainly no passenger. The 98 point win was a great start for the youngster and he continues to play winning football every time he steps on the field. May that run continue well into the future. THE TEAMS GOLD COAST SUNS B: D.Swallow 24 S.Collins 25 S.Lemmens 23 HB: R.Atkins 2 C.Ballard 10 W.Powell 27 C: J.Sharp 20 T.Miller 11 - C B.Ellis 4 HF: N.Holman 7 L.Casboult 30 J.Lukosius 13 F: S.Flanders 26 M.Chol 1 B.Ainsworth 9 Foll: J.Witts 28 - C M. Rowell 18 N.Anderson 15 I/C: A.Davies 5 B.Fiorini 8 C.Graham 46 A. Sexton 6 Sub: D.Macpherson 44 Emerg: J. Corbett 19 In: R.Atkins S.Flanders Out: MELBOURNE B: A. Tomlinson 20 S.May 1 J.Hunt 29 HB: T.Rivers 24 J.Smith 44 J.Bowey 17 C: A.Brayshaw 10 C.Oliver 13 E.Langdon 15 HF: K.Pickett 36 B.Brown 50 J.Harmes 4 F: B.Fritsch 31 T.McDonald 25 A.Neal-Bullen 30
Foll: M.Gawn - C 11 C.Petracca 5 J.Viney 7 I/C: L.Jackson 6 C.Spargo 9 J.Jordon 23 T.Sparrow 32 Sub: T.Bedford 12 Emerg: J.Melksham 18 S.Weideman 26 L.Dunstan 27 In: T.Rivers Out: C.Salem (knee) Injury List: Round 2 Kade Chandler - Abdominal | Test Michael Hibberd - Calf | Test Jake Lever - Foot | Test Trent Rivers - Knee | Test Harry Petty - Calf | 3-4 Weeks Daniel Turner - Foot | 4-6 Weeks Christian Salem - Knee | 6-8 Weeks
    3 points
  31. Rehearsing "Freed From Desire" maybe?
    3 points
  32. The guy had no time at all to sum up the situation or make a conscious choice to take action. He did not perform an aggressive act ... "oh look, here's an opportunity to send this guy into next week" ... he just stood there basically. There is a difference between choosing to bump someone -- taking the risk that your bump will inflict damage -- and standing there while some bloke runs into you. Yes, he didn't mean to run into him. Nor did Robinson mean to harm the Port guy. But the AFL have to accept that in a contact sport, sometimes players get hurt in spite of everyone's intent.
    3 points
  33. So they wont appeal coz they AFL dont think that their apoeal read again THE AFL WHO RUN THE GAME,...Dont think they will win ABSOLUTE BASKET CASE IF THIS IS TRUE AMATEUR HOUR AT PLAY Not just the tail waggin the dog, the flea is waggimg the dogs tail!
    3 points
  34. saint nick's advice for growing old: "grow a porntache"
    3 points
  35. Lord Nev is. Pure as the driven snow. Or so he'll have you believe.
    3 points
  36. There is no way Beveridge knew anything about Tom Morris’ other indiscretions before the Press Conference of last Wednesday night. He just doesn’t want to add anymore to it
    3 points
  37. To see Alves, Hassa, Wells, Barassi et al - altogether legendary.
    3 points
  38. Don't they realise that Riewoldt took the mark; didn't spoil it.
    3 points
  39. Generally speaking, you've come to the right place.
    3 points
  40. Interestingly he was for a long time the AFL's preferred advocate for Tribunal hearings. This year he was appointed by the AFL to sit as its sole chairperson for Tribunal hearings. So they took their advocate, planted him into the Tribunal seat, and then on their first real test he found against them. It's kinda funny in a way, but not because I think he's got this one very wrong.
    3 points
  41. I honestly reckon we might have 2 of the top, say, 10 most under-rated players in the comp in Langdon and Salem. What Langdon does is freakish and I'm not sure there are many other wingmen in the game (Gaff maybe?) who can do what he does.
    3 points
  42. If Rioli kept his feet he may have been able to make a last minute decision to turn out of the way as he was second to the ball. He left the ground, and he turned his hip into a weapon. We are trying to stop that behaviour.
    3 points
  43. I also have been a doubter, but lately l can see he does give us added dimensions down back: quicker than the others except Hunt; better mark than any of them except Lever; and taller than all of them except Lever and May. What is there not to like…?
    3 points
  44. Rioli getting off is a completely unfathomable decision. The Tribunal have just confirmed they are completely out of touch with the average fan. Bizarre
    3 points
  45. Good point. Bevo has got off basically without any penalty, other than having to read a statement that someone else probably wrote for him. To me he gave the appearance of somebody reluctantly reading an apology, that he didn't really believe in. The club has donated $20000.00 to one of it's own charities, big deal. This bloke bullied a journo on national TV, without giving him any chance of reply. It was disgusting. For the AFL to not punish Bevo, seemingly condoning extreme bullying, at its own media conference, is just more hypocritical behaviour by this organization, yet again. The Morris incident the next day is irrelevant, unless Bevo knew of the Morris comments when he made his and then played a part in their distribution, which seems very unlikely. If someone employed by the Dogs or AFL, or wherever, is behind the release of the Morris audio, that person probably deserves the same fate as Morris, as distributing it to the public and hurting an innocent person, is a worse crime than Morris's, which was making some drunken, repulsive comments, in a private setting.
    3 points
  46. 3 points
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