Dr. Gonzo

OHHHH HELL YEAHHHHH!! Justice prevails who woulda thunk it? No me!! Well done for standing up to them Demons. What does this mean for Schimma, Dunne & Moose? How can they sit again knowing they've acted "unreasonably"?

Does anyone know what the actual relevant rule is? An article on AFL.com.au last December talked about changes with regards to "electing to bump" and contact to the head being a foreseeable outcome but I can't find it in the 2014 rule book on the AFL website anywhere. This is a post I wrote on BF; Actually having a look at the rule book, the only relevant one I can find states; There is nothing else in the reportable offences section I can find which refers to rough conduct (which Viney was charged under) and the only reference to bumping is: which is not relevant in this instance as Lynch did not have his head down over the football. To explain what they mean by "head down over the football" there is a diagram under 15.4.5(n) which is the section which discusses free kicks. If there is another section of the Rule Book which applies I'd like to see it but from what I can gather the issue in this case is whether the circumstances were "unreasonable". There is nothing else I can find however I assumed the AFL had included something about "accidental head contact when electing to bump" which they have referred to as changing last year due to the Thomas/Reid incident however I can't see that anywhere and it's not on their website (that I can see) where they explain the rule changes for 2014. http://www.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL Tenant/AFL/Files/Images/2212 LawsAusFootball_Web.pdf http://www.afl.com.au/laws

Pay your memberships, turn up to MFC games but don't spend any money at the ground. No Footy Records, no food or drinks, no merchandise other than from the Demon Shop. Hurt the AFL where they feel it, in the hip pocket.

Was going to say this exact thing. I think Gleeson tried everything he could to get Viney off it's the 3 morons (all who used to play footy and should know better). Incidentally if my memory is correct it was Schimma, Henwood & Dunne who sat on the Trengove sling-tackle jury as well.

I can't like this post cause I've exceeded my daily limit but I agree 100%. To not appeal would be an act if cowardice from the club. What do we have to lose? Could they increase the penalty?

Don't have to boycott, only match worth watching is ours anyway.

What is the risk of the penalty increasing if we appeal? Can they recalssify it as high or severe contact? Because if not we have nothing to lose (other than perhaps $5k) by appealing,

In honour of the AFL embracing the "May the Fourth" Star Wars gimmicks over the weekend I suggest we run the Chewbacca defense.

Haven't read through the Viney thread but people are aware Deledio got downgraded to a reprimand and is free to play against us yeah?

How many weeks would Dane Swan or Gary Ablett have got?

2 weeks - 2 games against two clubs where Viney's presence could make a real difference. Absolutely disgusted with this outcome.

Allegedly can only appeal if we have new evidence? (according to the newsreader chick on SEN)

And Shaun McKernan doing the same thing last year, elbowing the West Coast player in the head - 2 weeks.

Exactly - pretty sure it was the same 3 bozos on the tribunal as well. Your comment about the bodyslam on Georgiou is spot on as well.

2 weeks

Utter disgrace - what appeal options do we have?

This is the Taylor Hunt bump which again is incomparable because Hunt clearly elected to bump a player off the ball (albeit within play). Again I think it is ridiculous Hunt got suspended but there are vast differences between this and Viney.

This is the Richard Douglas bump on Callan Ward a couple of weeks ago that some Crows supporters are trying to equate with Viney's - the two are clearly world's apart, Doufglas' occurred off the ball! This is the Fyfe bump which got 2 weeks. Again, I think this decision is ridiculous and Fyfe should have got off but the two are incomparable I think, Fyfe clearly elected to bump rather than tackle, Viney was going for a loose ball and when the other player topok possession he slowed right down to an almost stop and turned his body to absorb the impact of the oncoming players.

One thing to remember in all this is that this incident only got 2 weeks last year

Good question. Would probably depend on if they still considered Viney had elected to bump and hit Lynch in the head. If not then probably not.

Unfortunately none of that will be taken into account because the AFL have consistently said if you choose to bump and someone is hit in the head/injured you will be responsible for the consequences. Whether or not Lynch was tackled down, Viney tried to hit him lower etc is irrelevant. It will come down to whether they think he chose to bump (which I'd argue he didn't). If they find that he did choose to bump he will get anywhere from 2-6 weeks regardless of any other factors.

There were 32k at Ess/Bulldogs, I'll be happy if we beat that. Where are all the Bombers who were at ANZAC Day the week before?

I agree I think he'll get at least two weeks and possibly anywhere from 3-6 which is a disgrace. Looking at the replays again last night the thing that works against him is that although he had basically become stationary at the last split second before contact he steps into the path of Lynch/Georgiou when turning to brace for the contact which they'll probably look at and say he has initiated the contact. Once they determine that any subsequent argument will be irrelevant.

He barrelled in going for a loose ball - he did try to pick him off with a shirtfront lined up from 20 metres away Mark Yeates style. Once he realised he didn't win the loose ball and Lynch took possession he basically stops to a standstill, Lynch/Georgiou continue towards him and he turns side on to brace for contact. How this wasn't just dismissed by the MRP is beyond me. He didn't "choose" to bump, that wasn't his intention and that's not what occurred. His intention was to win a loose ball and when he didn't he turned his body so he didn't get collected front on by two guys 15cm taller than him.

Exactly which seems to be more of a "rugby" style and worse than just calling for a ball-up.