Serial divers - a blight on our game?

[goswannie14]

I was watching "Footy Classified: last night and there were a series of incidents shown from the weekends games (and a couple from a few years ago involving Brent Harvey), where senior AFL players took dives and claimed head contact when contact was made to the chest/midriff.

I think the umpires should be clever enough to not get sucked in by this, but they seem to get sucked in most times and give the diver/faker a free kick or 50 metre penalty. The two offenders identified this weekend were Brian Lake from the Bulldogs and Brent Harvey from the Kangaroos. We all know that Matthew Lloyd has a history of doing it too.

Should the AFL be cracking down on this, soccer style, as they have done with other styles of play, or should they just let it go? I think it could turn out to be a blight on our great game and the AFL should warn clubs that it will not be tolerated, and try to stamp it out post haste.

[steps down off soap box].

[Wardy]

After that pathetic attempt of diving, Wakelin should never be allowed an actors equity ticket - he cant act for @@@@! 2 weeks suspension for bad acting I reckon.

[BeeEmmAre]

After that pathetic attempt of diving, Wakelin should never be allowed an actors equity ticket - he cant act for @@@@! 2 weeks suspension for bad acting I reckon.

But it worked a treat didn't it? Got Bazza suspended by league and club for nothing.

[Wardy]

But it worked a treat didn't it? Got Bazza suspended by league and club for nothing.

I know - thats where it all fell down - so to speak!

[ugg]

I think the umpires should be clever enough to not get sucked in by this, but they seem to get sucked in most times and give the diver/faker a free kick or 50 metre penalty.

Not sure what you mean by 'clever' enough? If the umpire thinks the player is faking, he's not going to award the free kick. But if he incorrectly assumes it's a dive, he's going to get pilloried for it as well. Damned if you do, damned if you don't

The two offenders identified this weekend were Brian Lake from the Bulldogs and Brent Harvey from the Kangaroos. We all know that Matthew Lloyd has a history of doing it too.

Buchanan's probably the biggest offender at the Swans. Goodes sometimes does it as well. They tend to exaggerate their head jerking back movements if contact is around the chest/neck area, trying to imply a head-high tackle

Should the AFL be cracking down on this, soccer style, as they have done with other styles of play, or should they just let it go? I think it could turn out to be a blight on our great game and the AFL should warn clubs that it will not be tolerated, and try to stamp it out post haste.

Emulate soccer and award free kicks if you suspect someone of diving? Could be interesting if the player wasn't actually faking it. I think the best solution would be for the coaches to have a word to the serial offenders. I think Garry Lyon's anecdote yesterday was a very salient point - if you get the reputation of being a serial faker/diver, then in the future, umpires are less likely to 'believe' you, even if it was a legitimate free kick.

[Triple B]

The MRP look at every game.

In their reviews, if they identify cases of blatant diving or similar cases of trying to induce the umpire to give a free kick by blatantly exaggerating contact etc., they should fine them for bringing the game into disrepute.

A few fines and serial offenders will not only be lighter in the kick, they'll also be outed and shamed and as Garry Lyon noted last night, players who gain a reputation for staging for free kicks find it difficult to then receive free kicks, even when warranted.

[swantastic]

The MRP look at every game.

In their reviews, if they identify cases of blatant diving or similar cases of trying to induce the umpire to give a free kick by blatantly exaggerating contact etc., they should fine them for bringing the game into disrepute.

A few fines and serial offenders will not only be lighter in the kick, they'll also be outed and shamed and as Garry Lyon noted last night, players who gain a reputation for staging for free kicks find it difficult to then receive free kicks, even when warranted.

Then you tell me why Matty Lloyd gets heaps of fress then.When some like Bazza hardly ever stages for frees and hardly ever gets any even tho he's had his head ripped off.

[573v30]

Then you tell me why Matty Lloyd gets heaps of fress then.When some like Bazza hardly ever stages for frees and hardly ever gets any even tho he's had his head ripped off.

The umps just take one look at him and think that he can take care of himself.

[Chow-Chicker]

The AFL would be best advised to get the real stuff under control. Such as how can one bloke (Koz@@@@ski) be suspended for a jumper punch to the face and another scumbag (Didak) be totally exonerated for exactly the same thing?