rjay

It actually won't at all 'Earl', if anything it makes matters worse for them. Any legal action will make the point that the AFL rules weren't strong enough to protect the ball player. This decision will come back and bite hard. I don't think they have any option but to appeal.

I seriously hope he breaks down at training, I could wish worse but that will be enough...

He seemed to have plenty of time to turn his body and bump. If he had no time to react he would have run straight into Gus with his arms up in the air trying to smother.

Interesting discussion also on 360 with Scott & Lyon. Whilst neither directly threw Maynard under the bus you could read between some pretty pointed lines. AS for the comments made by many about him not having time to react...Lyon made a comment along the lines of have you seen how quick these guys make decisions in tight spaces these days. Scott commented that if it was at training do you think he would have knocked out his teammate.

Is that more games than Cornes??? I think Mundy wins.

Particularly as it was a lame attempt...or should I say poorly disguised.

...been saying this for a while 'jnrmac'...it's obvious his intent was to put pressure on the kicker. If he was trying to smother he would have jumped toward the ball which was on his right hand side. He didn't he just waved a hand at it. ...then carried on to his original target, Gus. I'm not saying that he deliberately wanted to knock him out, but I'm pretty sure he wanted to let him feel it.

See Tom, that's the problem. He didn't jump up on the spot. He jumped at him you DH...

Just heard Malthouse's comment. He is spot on...thanks goodness some in the AFL community are prepared to break ranks and call it for what it is. Also just watched a replay of the Offsiders and they were all of the view that Maynard should go. As Roy said, he couldn't see why anyone could argue the fact.

Didn't watch it live today but just watched the replay. Great team performance. As others have said, they really are fun to watch. A couple of things... I love how Mick moves them around a bit. He's not afraid to mix it up...at the end of the game he even had Gillard playing deep forward. ...and a host of players moving through centre bounces. The other thing...I'm looking forward to seeing Aimee Mackin debut, but it must be hard to break in at the moment.

I think we've both played enough to have a pretty good idea of what was going on 'Macca'. The BS coming from former VFL/AFL players grates on me more than a bit. They know...

3 big games to finish off...been a great player for us.

Look at the behind the goal footage. If he was really attempting to smother the ball he would have jumped in line across the kick. In the end he waved a right hand at it as it went past, he was nowhere near in line with the ball. He ran directly at Gus. His attempt was to put pressure on the kicker purely and simply...and he came unstuck. I wish Kornes and some of the other past players would be just tell the truth and not come up with this football act garbage. It was an old football act to take out your opponent in play and that's yesterdays game thank goodness. I've played and coached enough to know what he was doing.

I think there's some truth in this. Looking at the behind the goals view you can see Maynard doesn't jump at the ball at all but does jump at Gus. I believe he was trying to pressure Gus. As for protecting himself, that doesn't add up. Gus had no momentum as he had already kicked the ball and was wide open and on the back foot.

I learned that the hard way many years ago 'Jaded', not a good result.

The pre finals bye to my mind makes it slightly easier for a team to bounce back if they're good enough. The teams that win through get another week off and on this years form most have lost off the bye. Plus we have a nice 8 day break, then if we win probably another 8 day break to the Prelim. At the moment I would still have C/Wood as flag favourites but for us all is not lost. ...but Goody will need to pull a rabbit out the hat to get us a winning score.

It's really not...it's a player issue. The strategy is about making the most of what we have. Only 2 class forwards. You can't put the blame on Stafford for that. To be in the position we are in with a pop gun attack is a credit to the coaching staff.

So, it's Stanford's fault that we don't have a good key forward. ...and the only promising one we had (Petty) got injured. Go figure.

Maynard protecting himself... Seriously, from what. Gus was in the act of kicking the ball, he was wide open. Maynard was in no danger and took a cheap shot.

Should have been a premiership player at Geelong last year. The ideal of the one club player is fading fast.

I think we will be in the market for a good young prospect that in time could take Max's position. Forward craft would be a bonus. So, as you say probably not going to be much change left out of the Grundy deal to move a player like this.

I guess the important thing is to get the right understudy to Max now and that will give us some coin to do the job.

Me too...I couldn't watch.

Really...there were some great performances that deserved reward.

Thanks again 'Mel'...much appreciated.