Kerr's charge withdrawn!!!!!

[dawson]

A STRIKING charge against West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr was withdrawn today by AFL field umpire Mathew James.

Kerr had been reported for striking Sydney's Brett Kirk during Saturday's match at Subiaco which the Eagles won by 27 points.

But after viewing video footage of the incident today, James decided that the contact was made with a bump and did not constitute a strike.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9585785-23210,00.html

[Go Swannies]

Is that the same as declaring the duck shooting season is open? Like, wouldn't it be nice to take Crawf and Vandenberg out of the game next week?

[hammo]

A bloody disgrace!

[pillowtalk]

What

His elbow definately came up ... How can an umpire withdraw a decision already made ? It should be left up to the tribunal. Wonder how Kirky feels

[Ryan Bomford]

I thought, mistakenly it appears, that Kerr was booked for a charge not a strike. It is obvious that I don't know the rules about charging, maybe someone could explain, but I now know, from Ump James assessment, that a player has a free license to line up an opponent who is playing the ball, from 10 metres and try to take his head off!

[Sanecow]

It's the wrong decision IMHO, but what a big surprise that the umpires and I don't agree.

[AussieAnge]

The precedent was unfortunately set the other week when Lloyd got off with a raised elbow. At least they are being consistent. Not happy about it though.

[Rob-bloods]

Only saw it tonight when charge was dropped,(lost vision on Saturday during match) looked awful first up, is it open season around the ball again?

[NMWBloods]

All the guys at On the Couch tonight said they thought it was a charge and should have gone to the tribunal.

[Mike_B]

Yep, there was no intention at all to go for the ball, or even put on a bump like a Voss where you are still on your feet and ready to go after the ball.

A joke that the charge was withdrawn and that he didn't even have to front the tribunal.

[ScottH]

What the ?????

[Tooth Fairy]

I'm disgusted, but once again the tribunal system hasn't surprised me.

[Barry Schneider]

On another post I said he shouldn't have been suspended so I agree with the decision.It was a great hip and shoulder to a man with the ball.It is supposed to be a man's game though you wouldn't think it with the soft frees paid constantly.
I presume Kerr was told to take out Kirk as he was killing Cousins and he did so legally.
For the life of me I can't understand how teams let their best players be tagged without the tagger being smashed whenever there is the opportunity.
Kirk is a brave player because he puts his body on the line and cops big hits(Kerr,Pickett).You won't have brave players if the big hits are taken out of the game.You will just have a bunch of soft athletes masquerading as footballers.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Barry Schneider
On another post I said he shouldn't have been suspended so I agree with the decision.It was a great hip and shoulder to a man with the ball.

Correction: It was a great hip and shoulder to the head of a man with the ball.

If Kerr does that 22 times on Sunday they may even beat the Aints. More a face-front than a legal shirtfront. Seriously, if Kerr had managed to replicate that manouver once or twice more on Saturday do you think he would be fronting the tribunal tonight? How do you reckon it would have been treated if it was Bazza not Kerr who had done that?

And it's not like Kerr is an innocent who just made a silly mistake. He's got form. But it was only the Swans (and a dirty tagger at that) and it took place on the other side of the country.

[sharp9]

Originally posted by Barry Schneider
On another post I said he shouldn't have been suspended so I agree with the decision.It was a great hip and shoulder to a man with the ball.It is supposed to be a man's game though you wouldn't think it with the soft frees paid constantly.
I presume Kerr was told to take out Kirk as he was killing Cousins and he did so legally.
For the life of me I can't understand how teams let their best players be tagged without the tagger being smashed whenever there is the opportunity.
Kirk is a brave player because he puts his body on the line and cops big hits(Kerr,Pickett).You won't have brave players if the big hits are taken out of the game.You will just have a bunch of soft athletes masquerading as footballers.

What the @@@@ is wrong with you, Barry?

It is not legal to hip and shoulder a man in the head!!!!!!!!

The Picket bump was IN THE CHEST!!!!! (a great part of our game I agree)