Balls

I'm paraphrasing, but he said on 360 last night that he's not that concerned about his substandard form and that there were more important things in life like his family. That's great, but I'm sure if I wasn't performing at work, my employer's stakeholders wouldn't be pleased to hear that. He is a man who has already checked out of footy.

According to the Laws of Australian Football the offending team loses their whole score, gives away a free kick and a 50-metre penalty. You may also have read there was a similar incident in the NEAFL Grand Final on the weekend where the 19th man for Southport was identified by Sydney's captain while still on the field. In that case, a decision was required in accordance with the applicable NEAFL by-law "Where a player does not enter the playing field in accordance with these Rules, the Match Manager and/or field umpire(s) must report the circumstances to the AFL. Time and scores at the time of the breach are to be recorded. The AFL may determine the matter by way of fine, reversal of Match result or other sanction as it deems appropriate [my emphasis]." I'm unsure what SANFL's by-laws say about the issue, but it could have been that North's score may not have been wiped automatically had they been 'caught in the act', so to speak.

If you were presiding over the tribunal, do you think that if the Captain had called for a head count before the 19th man left the field, the 1.2 scored by North should have been deducted (and ultimately the result reversed)?

Can you blame him for lack of patience? Can you blame any of us??