Earl Hood

I think it is really his decision.

Agree Evans is a major part of the problem not part of any solution.

Not sure whether this has been covered but Brad Scott in an Age article today points to the source of the problem and he is saying all the clubs have caused this over-reaction due an incident last year with Lindsay Thomas Scott argued that Viney was now in danger of suspension because of one of his players, Lindsay Thomas, escaped suspension at the start of 2013. In last year's opening round Thomas delivered a hefty off-the-ball bump to Collingwood's Ben Reid that forced the taller key defender from the ground with a bloodied face - not from the bump itself but from the resulting clash of heads. It was for that reason that Thomas was spared suspension, triggering angst not only from Magpies coach Nathan Buckley but also the AFL. In December the AFL's football operations chief Mark Evans announced, following a consultation period with clubs, its rules had been amended to allow players to be charged with rough conduct for bumps where the impact is caused by a head clash. "The 2014 guidelines will reinforce to players their duty of care when they elect to bump an opponent, and that a clash of heads is an action that could reasonably be foreseen," the AFL announced. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/brad-scott-chides-rivals-over-charging-of-viney-20140506-zr5ho.html#ixzz30zkiBOe8 So now we have the usual over-compensation from the AFL when they try to target certain behaviour. It seems obvious to me that the tribunal members are under instructions from Football Operations. I am not confident about the appeal, it could lead to a review of the level of impact to high and more points. But agree we should push this travesty as far as we can

Yes and I certainly know about strings when I see them!

Maybe the umpires should blow the whistle and call dead ball if they see a ball in dispute and opposition players heading for a potential collision. Don't want anyone hurt after all do we. The next step will be some off side rule to eliminate the chance for a collision err I mean nasty bumping!

The Ox on SEN said the jaw break was on the left and caused by Viney. I smell a rat too. Gleeson obviously briefed by AFL Footy Operations to go hard and I assume the tribunal were briefed as well. Maybe the Moose held out for 19'minutes, he did play one game for the Dees. Was it a unanimous decision, do we see a full report of their decision? And I wouldn't be surprised if PJ has had a phone call from HQ already about any thoughts of an appeal. "Of course it is your right but just to let you know that we are looking at your equalisation payments for this year, need to find savings somewhere, if you get my drift!"

Yes I am definitely going to try to get to the Touch Footy this Saturday night.

Gee the more you look at that one, the more you shake your head. Premeditated, Intentional, high contact but because by pure luck he didn't concuss or break something, there is no case? Again I say the AFL is just acting if there is damage. All the forensic evidence in the world is useless. If someone is concussed or has a broken jaw, someone will be punished. Oh umm unless you play for the Hawks that is.

Yes you can imagine how Eddie would be carrying on if this was a Swan or Pendles! But we are on AFL welfare so PJ and GB have to just bend over, grin and bear it.

It now seems to be only about the collateral damage. I do a Viney and accidentally break a jaw in a freak set of circumstances I get done for 2 to 3. I deliberately snipe someone with an elbow but fail to break anything I get a reprimand only? I am Josh Gibson and I line up a forward from behind and belt him across the head, but he gets up dazed but not concussed it must be an accident. Result, move on nothing to see here! Broken bones, concussion determine guilt from now on it seems. Someone must be punished.

Would not help. They are not listening to evidence on this one. There seems to be an agenda, a need to set a precedent. Again we are the soft target to enable the AFL.'s message to be sent out. Sling tackles, tanking and now impacts to the head, however they may occur.

Yes I asked earlier if anyone knows whether the rule has changed since 18 June 2013 when Hodge contested an MRP rough conduct charge and got off of course. He was up for a high elbow hit on Henderson and a collision with Murphy where Murph had to go to hospital with a fractured cheek bone and missed 4 weeks. Googled the case and the defence and it was something about his natural attack on the ball, Roughy got in my way so I had no choice but to protect myself etc. Gleeson was involved again but he seemed less than agressive in his questioning. DSI Dunne and the Moose were again in charge and took less than 5 minutes to throw it all out. So I say if the rule has NOT changed since last year, then the tribunal is under instructions and something stinks big time!

Looks like Jack Watts is the prototype AFL player of the future now. Plenty of skill, no aggression. Basketball style zoning, corralling that is the future for the AFL.

Not happy Jan! Can someone tell me if the rule has changed since Last season when Hodge collided with Murphy, fracturing his cheekbone in the process. Hodge claimed it was an accident, with no malice intended. That is correct, but the head is sacrosanct isn't it? If that happened last week Hodge would go, after all he had a choice, don't go for the ball. Well actually, come to think of it Hodge wouldn't go down, he is from a big club. So will every impact injury need a culprit to be punished from now on? The forensic evidence presented tried to show this was not a predetermined decision to bump, but a collision. Why bother, the three clods on the tribunal are either under instructions or extremely dumb. Galling when you think Moose Henwood and DSI Dunne spent much of their careers lining up opposition players.

I think it is Crazy Guggenheim, used to be good mates with Joe the Bartender.

Gleeson ~The Devil's Advocate! As in the Spanish Inquisition?

Can we rename this thread "The Lynch - Viney Collision" just to make a it clear what actually happened?? This incident was not one player lining up another

Watching it again this morning, this is not a bump, it is an unplanned collision of two players attacking the ball. Viney managed at the last second to get side on to protect himself, Lynch couldnt because he had Georgiou hanging on. Collisions happen in a contact sport. We are still playing a contact sport aren't we?

Looked at the replays again and again. Viney turned in late to protect himself. Surely that is his right. No issue. i say. Any finding against Viney will be a travesty but I am confident the AFL will do exactly that.

At the end of the day the gongs mean nothing, it is what they do in the subsequent years that counts. It is probably better we get FA recognition and then get it together and catch them by surprise, next year and after.

Back on topic, I am staggered that by all accounts today, Tony is still hellbent on this Deficit Tax, err sorry Levy. There are two things that surprise me. One he is still pushing this one despite the blow back from business, his own MPs and the general populace who regard it as a broken promise and secondly why he hasn't called it the LIL, the Labour Incompetence Levy! Not like Tony not to join every dot for the gullible and ignorant. After all that is Tony's strength I thought, preaching to the ignorant and ill informed.

Rjay, re Box Hill, still remember an unfortunate collision in under 17's with Alle Dewolde where I never saw him coming, last home and away game of the year I think. Had issues with sore ribs and lower back for several years after. I said at the time it should have bypassed the MRP and gone straight to the tribunal!

If the medical report shows Lynch's jaw was most likely broken by Georgiou's head clash, surely that has to be taken into account. Watching it again from several angles on the News tonight you can see Georgiou pushing Lynch forward and down just as Viney is arriving and turning to protect himself or take a hit to his mid section. He didn't come in from the side, they were coming at each other almost head on at high speed. What is he supposed to do in this situation?

A la Blease I think we all live in hope, that is all. At least he was one of the picks from that abominable period where BP was calling the shots and he had an obvious weapon, that maybe BP actually saw, who knows. He is quick and gee do we ever need leg speed on the outside but unfortunately it seems Sam's brain will never catch up with his speed of body. And if after 5 years he is still learning to be defensive in the magoos well, let's just move on, which is a real shame. I have watched him play in the VFL and he looks the goods but he so often wins the ball and unloads a spearing pass straight to the opposition. It is so frustrating.