Robbie57

I love the first ground for the appeal... brilliant. Go Dees.

Melbourne appealed the three-game suspension on three grounds:

1. the decision was so unreasonable that no Tribunal could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence;
   
2. the classification of the level of the offence was manifestly excessive;
   
3. the sanction imposed was manifestly excessive.
   

As I noted above the evidence just didn't support what was submitted.

Whilst I cant find the actual rules anywhere it seems to me there are several potential errors in the decision.

First the Medical report should not have been allowed into evidence. It is irrelevant to the rough conduct charge and the chairman directed the panel to ignore the consequences of the tackle thus he should have told them to ignore the report.

Second, the tribunal did not consider what constitutes "high contact" which was an essential ingredient of the penalty nor as far as i can see did Tinney address on that issue. The contact with the ground was a consequence of conduct and on the Chairmans direction it was to be ignored. Thus the type of consequential contact should be ignored for assessing penalty.Of course this depends on the definition of High contact in the rules. This may seem strange but it seems to me to be correct. The question is was the tackle itself inherently too forceful making it "rough conduct" and what type of contact was involved in the tackle itself not its outcome.

Third, there was no evidence that the tackle was executed for other than a legitimate purpose in the game or was otherwise negligent. Negligence again cannot be inferred from the outcome but from the manner in which it should have been executed what steps Trengove should have taken to avoid executing a tackle in that manner. On the limited transcript the AFL called no evidence of what a proper tackle is (other than reading the rule). The only evidence was to the contrary.

Robbie, its been mentioned ad nauseum on this board that Juice was elevated at start of season (because of no 2nd veteran rule)

My apologies, getting old.

Is Fitzpatrick injured as well?

according to match report : yes.

Can those with the knowledge let us know who we can actually pick for the team.

My recollection is that a rookie elevation requires a long term injury.

We only have two LTI's Grimes and Spencer, so can we elevate 2 rookies?

The rookies who are possible picks in the current climate are Juice, Campbell and Evans.

If so and given a knee may take longer than 4 weeks I'd go with the experienced ruckman in the first instance (campbell)and the mature forward (Juice).

Anyway this falls will require some careful thought by the selectors.

I have been critical of his performances to date but i think his performance on Sunday was outstanding.

I hope he brings that game every week.

Well done Col fabulous game.

Hope someone points out a tackle by definition pins the arms so the person tackled cant use the arms and second that under our laws to avoid an in the back you must rotate the person tackled in the tackle with the outcome being they can look like a sling.

I think we are running a big risk with this appeal based on the vision and outcome (not as clear cut as some psters have indicated) so these points need to be made to the tribunal.

Bate was slow and ineffective. Got caught with the ball in defence which led to a crows goal. Clearly our worst on ground.

We would be better off with Morton in his stead.

Out Grimes, Trenners, Bate

in Bennell, Martin, MacDonald

Agree Mum's come first but to those who say attendance was poor there was very few Crows supporters there.

I came down from Sydney and took my (very old) mum to the game which she enjoyed. A long time Saints supporter she was saying at the end "our boys" did very well and every time she has been to a game with me the Dees have won.

I see a few more long road trips....

Warnock - Brining him in allows Rivers to go forward and give us some structure, his form for Casey also warrants selection and would be a good match up for Tippett/Walker

Davey - Move him back, lets see him play like he did in 2009 rebounding.

Tapscott - In the guts, provides some strength and some bloody committment

Rivers - You might think it's stupid but when he was drafted he was drafted as forward, just ended up playing back. Who could blame them, look at our tall defenders from 2003 Lamb, Nicholson.... please. Moving him to CHF gives some structure, leave Dunn if the square to use body.

Watts - In the centre from the bounce, let him get a feel of the footy... could be what kick starts his career. With Jamar, Bail, Moloney, and Tapscott around him he's full of protection.

Wonnaemirri/Maric - Take your pick!

All worth trying but here is mine:

B: Frawley, Warnock, Bartram

HB: Rivers, Garland, MacDonald

C: Bail, Trengove, Grimes

HF: Wonaemirri,Watts, Petterd

FF: Jurrah, Martin , Green,

Ruck: Jamar, Moloney, Jones

Int: Tapscott,Sylvia,Gysberts

Sub: Davey

Week in week out this year on On The Couch Paul Roos has given some fantstic insights into the way we are playing, as well as the other teams. He's still a fantastic analyser of the way footy is played nowadays with all of the 'presses' etc.

Would be more than happy if he were to join us next year.

And if some people on here were so confident last week, and indeed last year, that we'd be beaten by the Eagles, how is it they finished stone cold motherless last in '10?

We all know what has to happen when the going gets tough.

Over the course of this year I have to the dismay of those around me been a critic of Sylvia who i think is not living up to his elite potential.

The clear message over the week has been a number of our players are likewise falling short.

Roos talked about it on the couch last night and its in the HUN this week.

I think the whole Perth trip had a holiday camp feel to it.

Whether Bailey is to blame or not its clear several players have to stand up and play with greater conviction.

Each of them has been a great contributor to the club in one way or other but at the end of the day they need to put it all on the park.

Sylvia: could win a brownlow but is coasting. Yes plenty of touches but could be as good as Swan. More talent than Moloney but less impact at the moment.

Davey: number one challenge is to find a way of losing his tag, make his footy fun and to run more with the ball. Come on Flash we all love the way you can play.

Green: Best leader and kick for goal last year and there is absolutely no reason he cant do it again.

Frawley: Needs to back himself more the way he did last year.

Morton: Playing at about 50% of his potential.

The whole list needs to toughen up and slam the tackles.

I'd like to see everyone putting in the way Trengove, Watts and Tappy did last week.

Watts was encouraging last night no doubt about it.

Last night was the first time I've had a look at NikNat in a while, and frankly I just don't reckon he's that good. Sure, he's "exciting", but he can barely do the basics right. He's lucky he didn't go pick 1 or the blowtorch would be well and truly on him by now. No wonder the media has turned to "Watts vs Hurley".

Watts was good and clearly has taken "the advice" on board.

Nic Nak has no skills just a run and kick if he is in the right position. He may develop but I doubt he will be anywhere as good as Watts in the long run.

Living in Sydney we have had the spectacle of Wayne Bennett announcing his intentions to move whilst coaching another club.

So why not this scenario: Malthouse is signed by the Dees for the 2013 year with him saying (as he has to that he will honour his obligations at Collingwood). He can be signed up right now. Leaves Eddie in the position of making him sit out 2012 but it would throw the cat among the pidgeons and given Malthouses recent demeanour I think he would delight in doing it.

I like Roos as a coach who turns average players into important team players with a never say die attitude and I dont care how ugly our premiership win is.

Finally what if neither is available or wants to coach us who is the next best alternative?

We need to have a different backline with MacDonald and Warnock back in for maturity.

Grimes must be taken out of defense and taught how to kick under pressure. He turns the ball over far too often at the moment.

Petterd comes in. Dunn has been useless in recent games.

Green must be moved back to a leading forward position with Jurrah alongside.

Green should not go outside the 50 and be leading the forward pressure when the ball hits the ground.

Morton will be out.

Bennell mystifies me.

Sylvia is just doing enough but he (and others) who have experience and talent should be ashamed of their efforts (Davey, Green, Sylvia, Frawley)and one of them should be dropped as an example that half hearted efforts from our better players will not be tolerated.

On a positive note Watts finally responded to his critics and put in with a physical and spirited display. He was much better than Nic Nak, who wanders around the park showing little skill unless the ball falls in his lap.

Jones and Trengove battled hard for the red and the blue showing those more talented and older respectively what can be done.

He has proven fragile and injury prone which is no doubt why he was offered up for the 11th pick which now looks a good deal in our favour.

At 25 you would hope to have a good 6 years to go but that seems doubtful.

Dont think so. But if he is, then i will say goodbye to my neck.

Sorry you snuck in between posts, I mean Le Cras.

I am hoping your neck is safe.

Is he going to be the sub?

Either that's a clever gag about the media targeting him or he's extracting the urine - Jack has been kicked to in the forward line about once this season.

I'd have to see the tape before I believed that, was it a mis-kick? (must have been from Grimes).

Certainly a silly post. Olympic athletes, runners, jumpers, swimmers and many tennis players wear track suit pants before their events as a precaution against muscle damage due to cold. Footballers not allowed? I think no one could dispute the man's attention to physical fitness during his entire career. If you respond by saying no other footballer does it, does that make it wrong? Ever heard of personal preference or freedom of choice?

I think thats the point they have disappeared so his freedom of choice might have gone.

A bit like the hird comment on some Essendon players (who knows their names) coloured footy boots.

No doubt he was told we dont do that around these parts.

He was there and looking in high sprits. Connolly introduced him as "Jack Watts, number 1 draft pick and #1 forward target"

Thanks. A very upbeat introduction. Was it a message to his team mates?

Was Watts there there was a piece in the australian which suggested he was being left back in Melbourne?

Isn't that good enough for you? Highly-credentialed assistant coach, formaer captain and father of future draftee has no problem making this public statement.

I agree its not good enough because in every department our younger team should be learning right now that tactics are important and will change over time.

That doesn't mean we will always have the skills to execute.

You obviously do not know Lyon. What would Lyon add?

Your right I dont know him.

I do know he was a terrific player for the club, is a loyal dee and close to Jimmy.

He was a hard at the ball player.

I think he would bring passion and his playing ethos.

He is also still in the right age bracket to be a direct mentor to players.

I see elsewhere on this site he may be already doing that.

My point was that we may need to consider some more one on one mentoring of specific players and our current coaching in some areas seems to have stalled this year.

Thats what the tweet says. I will keep an eye open for them.

All I will say is that is very good news that they are travelling together.

Probably a sponsorship obligation.

Wellman was a big loss and our backline is showing a lack of direction.

Roos was successful because he is smart and in touch with the players (hird is the same. Boht have built solid coaching units around them.

I really like Bailey but I dont think he has demonstrated a winning game plan yet and the easter break should be a time to rethink that issue.

The decision to leave Watts off the ground against the GC Youngs baffled me. It was a great chance for him to play in a game and have some impact improving his confidence and building some faith in his team mates.

No doubt the Board is considering the options as is their duty.

Our number one priority at the moment is to get some cohesiveness back into the backline. We need to be frank that our current coaching in that area is not translating onto the field and get the best we can find to help out in that area.

in addition Gary Lyon should be asked to take a couple of players under his wing for one on one sessions each week, he could add a lot to the development of Morton, Watts and Grimes.

If he is not available then lets get an experienced ex player with some mojo in the role.