#AFL Round 21 Weekly Discussion Thread

[Markwebbos]

What are peoples thoughts on the Brown bump on Saad? Looked really bad in that he wasn't expecting it and it was late but head high contact wasn't involved but whiplash and potential neck injury was a factor. Does anyone think that it was a bit of an over reaction to send it straight to the tribunal and that maybe the MRO would have sufficed?

He’s concussed and has whiplash. If you are right and it wasn’t head high, but the player still got a head injury, then I’m not sure how to adjudicate?

[Blood Fever]

He’s concussed and has whiplash. If you are right and it wasn’t head high, but the player still got a head injury, then I’m not sure how to adjudicate?

It was late and I thought his shoulder made contact with his head. Probably a misjudgement in terms of where he wanted to get him but he chose to make contact and must pay for the consequences. 4 weeks in my book but probably not necessary to refer it to Tribunal. Bit of an over reaction after Gaff incident.

[707]

He’s concussed and has whiplash. If you are right and it wasn’t head high, but the player still got a head injury, then I’m not sure how to adjudicate?

Can be dismissed at the Tribunal if there's no head contact. Reckon it's just the MRO handballing for safety.

I saw it and thought it was ok, just that Saad wasn't expecting it and it was a heavy hit with whiplash, that's not suspendable.

[Beerman]

It was late and I thought his shoulder made contact with his head. Probably a misjudgement in terms of where he wanted to get him but he chose to make contact and must pay for the consequences. 4 weeks in my book but probably not necessary to refer it to Tribunal. Bit of an over reaction after Gaff incident.

The new system provides for a lot more cases to be referred directly to the tribunal. In the old days it was an indication of something shocking, nowadays it just means it's at the upper end of severity.

It was much later and higher impact than Jones' hit, but less impact than Cameron's. So between those two. Four weeks seems likely. If he's offered 3 weeks he should take it straight away.

[707]

Very ordinary supporters. Before their recent dominance, they were renowned for leaving early when their team were losing. Now insufferably arrogant and nasty to boot. Not all of them of course but a good number.

Entitled wankers. It was them that started the Goodes booing. Hope we knock them out of the finals in round 23.

[MattW]

Well, that was handy.

[liz]

I was baffled and disappointed by the Ablett booing. I only turned on at half-time, having watched the NEAFL game first, so wondered if maybe he'd been involved in some incident. But it appears not.

When I first discovered Australian Football, booing star players was a bit of a thing. Carey probably copped it the worst (in my time) but he wasn't the only one. It carried on into the 2000s, and I think Goodes copped some of it when he was at his absolute peak. It wasn't as loud or sustained as 2015 but was there.

It seemed to have died out in the last decade or so, with booing being reserved as a short-term thing for players playing against their old side (mostly just the first time), players kicking for goal (sometimes), players who'd been involved in an incident, or "one-off" issues like Milne for the first couple of games after he was charged, and Watson the first game after he admitted taking a dubious supplement. Neither of the Milne nor Watson booing persisted for long. It was only Goodes who copped it that ugly level for an extended period of time (and no need to rehash the discussions of why).

I've noticed a return this year and it saddens me. Buddy has been audibly booed in a few games (notably the North game a few weeks ago) and Ablett was today. It's such an ugly sound, and I really have no idea what drives people to do it.

[Hotpotato]

Port are stunned .

[Markwebbos]

I was baffled and disappointed by the Ablett booing. I only turned on at half-time, having watched the NEAFL game first, so wondered if maybe he'd been involved in some incident. But it appears not.

When I first discovered Australian Football, booing star players was a bit of a thing. Carey probably copped it the worst (in my time) but he wasn't the only one. It carried on into the 2000s, and I think Goodes copped some of it when he was at his absolute peak. It wasn't as loud or sustained as 2015 but was there.

It seemed to have died out in the last decade or so, with booing being reserved as a short-term thing for players playing against their old side (mostly just the first time), players kicking for goal (sometimes), players who'd been involved in an incident, or "one-off" issues like Milne for the first couple of games after he was charged, and Watson the first game after he admitted taking a dubious supplement. Neither of the Milne nor Watson booing persisted for long. It was only Goodes who copped it that ugly level for an extended period of time (and no need to rehash the discussions of why).

I've noticed a return this year and it saddens me. Buddy has been audibly booed in a few games (notably the North game a few weeks ago) and Ablett was today. It's such an ugly sound, and I really have no idea what drives people to do it.

I really dislike it too, especially when it’s part of a campaign against a player. It feels like a form of bullying.

Whereas it can also be a sort of banter If someone’s kicking for goal or gets a soft free kick, I’m fine with booing in dare I say a playful way.

I have fond memories from the SCG of Michael Voss being paid a high tackle after a blatant dive in the goal square. As the crowd watched the replay and booed him, he missed his kick at goal from 10m out directly in front.

[Markwebbos]

Hoping Lions can do us a huge favour tonight

[liz]

I really dislike it too, especially when it’s part of a campaign against a player. It feels like a form of bullying.

I think it's outright bullying. In the end, the discussions around why Goodes was being booed became tiresome. It didn't matter. Regardless it was a sustained attack on a player just going about his business.

I wonder if those who joined in (and who booed Ablett today or Franklin earlier this season) have thought about how they'd like it if a group of people gathered around them in their workplace and booed them for an extended period.

While I don't like any form of booing, I agree it's a bit different if it's in response to the game itself. The booing of Ablett today most certainly wasn't.

[Matty10]

Buddy has been audibly booed in a few games (notably the North game a few weeks ago) and Ablett was today. It's such an ugly sound, and I really have no idea what drives people to do it.

The booing (and abuse) of Buddy was very clear in the Bombers game. Someone even threw something on the ground when he having a shot from the boundary (I checked the replay, but the cameras panned as he kicked) - it looked like a mandarin peel from my vantage point.

[stevoswan]

It was late and I thought his shoulder made contact with his head. Probably a misjudgement in terms of where he wanted to get him but he chose to make contact and must pay for the consequences. 4 weeks in my book but probably not necessary to refer it to Tribunal. Bit of an over reaction after Gaff incident.

Yes, these thoughts sort of reflect mine. He should be suspended, despite no head high contact, the lateness and resulting injury requires punishment but I thought the MRO could have settled this one.....agree that it's a post Gaff over reaction.

[stevoswan]

Hoping Lions can do us a huge favour tonight

They're doing ok so far, 5 minutes into the third they're right in it at 5 pts down. They were nearly 3 goals up approaching half time but Magpies got three late ones.

[liz]

Yes, these thoughts sort of reflect mine. He should be suspended, despite no head high contact, the lateness and resulting injury requires punishment but I thought the MRO could have settled this one.....agree that it's a post Gaff over reaction.

I don't think it's clear from the vision (that I've seen) whether there was head high contact. If there wasn't, I don't think it follows that he needs to be punished just because someone got injured. Bumping in itself isn't a reportable offence. A late bump would normally warrant a free kick but no more than that.

Remember that Franklin managed to knock out Hamling in the Freo game with a rotating elbow in a tackle but it was a legitimate football act, despite the injury.