Match Day Thread Round 7 vs Geelong

[stellation]

Win position for ball? How? So if he had struck him in the head instead would that have been okay too because he was going for the ball?

Steve Johnson cleared contact J McVeigh ? panel said Johnson?s actions not considered reportable as he was trying to win position for ball.

? Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) May 18, 2015

It's a strange ruling- I am willing to believe that Johnson didn't mean to hit him where he ended up hitting, but he clearly was swinging with a clenched fist to give him a whack in the stomach (at best). Does this interpretation now set a precedent that swinging a clenched fist into another player is okay if you're in the general vicinity of the football? It certainly seems like it does.

What bothers me with this is that they explicitly include the activation points for the location of the contact as "Head or Groin" for 2 points, "Elsewhere on the body" for 1 point. I don't understand why this didn't instantly trigger at its lowest level being negligent contact, low impact and groin = 4 points/level 1 offence.

[giant]

Win position for ball? How? So if he had struck him in the head instead would that have been okay too because he was going for the ball?

Steve Johnson cleared contact J McVeigh ? panel said Johnson?s actions not considered reportable as he was trying to win position for ball.

? Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) May 18, 2015

Mind-blowing.

[mcs]

It's a strange ruling- I am willing to believe that Johnson didn't mean to hit him where he ended up hitting, but he clearly was swinging with a clenched fist to give him a whack in the stomach (at best). Does this interpretation now set a precedent that swinging a clenched fist into another player is okay if you're in the general vicinity of the football? It certainly seems like it does.

What bothers me with this is that they explicitly include the activation points for the location of the contact as "Head or Groin" for 2 points, "Elsewhere on the body" for 1 point. I don't understand why this didn't instantly trigger at its lowest level being negligent contact, low impact and groin = 4 points/level 1 offence.

That was my view too Stella. Don't think for a minute that he was trying to hit him in the nether regions, but he clearly had a closed fist, and was trying to hit him - and I'd argue he wasn't really that close to the vicinity of the ball.

The MRP never fails to cease to amaze.

[dejavoodoo44]

That was my view too Stella. Don't think for a minute that he was trying to hit him in the nether regions, but he clearly had a closed fist, and was trying to hit him - and I'd argue he wasn't really that close to the vicinity of the ball.

The MRP never fails to cease to amaze.

And it does give a further level of absurdity, to all those suspensions where the player clearly seems to trying to bump shoulder to shoulder and accidentally makes contact with the head.

[Nico]

It's a strange ruling- I am willing to believe that Johnson didn't mean to hit him where he ended up hitting, but he clearly was swinging with a clenched fist to give him a whack in the stomach (at best). Does this interpretation now set a precedent that swinging a clenched fist into another player is okay if you're in the general vicinity of the football? It certainly seems like it does.

What bothers me with this is that they explicitly include the activation points for the location of the contact as "Head or Groin" for 2 points, "Elsewhere on the body" for 1 point. I don't understand why this didn't instantly trigger at its lowest level being negligent contact, low impact and groin = 4 points/level 1 offence.

What it tells me is that the so called stars of the game are exempt from any offence. It also tells me that the sly hit is back and condoned. The more you look at the Fyffe incident the more I see if it was a lesser ranked player then he was gorn. When I saw it replayed tonight it was a broken leg possibility; and he gets off. Initially watching the game I thought, reflex action. It was a deliberate kick.

- - - Updated - - -

And it does give a further level of absurdity, to all those suspensions where the player clearly seems to trying to bump shoulder to shoulder and accidentally makes contact with the head.

If he was found culpable then it would have been 9 offences in 3 years. He is a serial sniper of the first order. Some would call him a dog.

[BRISWAN]

DOG !!!!

[Hotpotato]

I agree with Robbo (360), both Fyfe and SJ got off lightly.
I thought tripping attracted a much heftier penalty than a $1000 fine . The player he tripped seemed to roll with it to prevent an injury which saved Fyfe .

[ScottH]

Mind-blowing.

Nuts!!

[Conor_Dillon]

You could tell instantly by Fyfe's reaction that it was intentional...he even called it a 'brain fade' after the game which generally means it was a deliberate action performed without thinking. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love him as a player and he will be a deserved brownlow winner but he can consider himself very lucky. I guess that's karma for how unlucky he was last season with that ridiculous suspension.

As for Stevie J, I was under the impression that you're responsible for where you collect someone regardless of whether or not it was intentional...had to be a week at minimum.

[dimelb]

You could tell instantly by Fyfe's reaction that it was intentional...he even called it a 'brain fade' after the game which generally means it was a deliberate action performed without thinking. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love him as a player and he will be a deserved brownlow winner but he can consider himself very lucky. I guess that's karma for how unlucky he was last season with that ridiculous suspension.

As for Stevie J, I was under the impression that you're responsible for where you collect someone regardless of whether or not it was intentional...had to be a week at minimum.

And he's a serial offender.

[Conor_Dillon]

And he's a serial offender.

I find it hard to believe that somebody with such amazing and precise skills/vision, both by foot and hand could be so 'clumsy'.

[Beerman]

You could tell instantly by Fyfe's reaction that it was intentional...he even called it a 'brain fade' after the game which generally means it was a deliberate action performed without thinking. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love him as a player and he will be a deserved brownlow winner but he can consider himself very lucky. I guess that's karma for how unlucky he was last season with that ridiculous suspension.

As for Stevie J, I was under the impression that you're responsible for where you collect someone regardless of whether or not it was intentional...had to be a week at minimum.

Fyfe's incident was a slide tackle. In soccer you would be red-carded for that. Given the level of force and the risk of a broken leg I think that 1-week would have been reasonable. ($1,000 isn't even a slap on the wrist). I do think that they are going easy on him because of the incident last year.

As for Stevie J - I normally would shrug my shoulders and call it "accidental", but he is such an idiot and has so many priors I think he deserved a week for that. (He did look very concerned for McVeigh as soon as he did it).

[AnnieH]

The ball was nowhere near the ball-tampering incident.
Should have been suspended.
I don't like the new rules. Fyfe should have been suspended too.

[Doctor]

Last year, Johnson and Fyfe were both gone.

[Ludwig]

I wonder what the outcome would have been if the names were changed:

Change Steve Johnson to Adam Goodes.
Change Jarrad McVeigh to Joel Selwood.