2023 Finals Series

[Thunder Shaker]

I believe we have a duty of care to protect our players from harm. Nobody wants to see Brayshaw retire from the game and live with the horrid repercussions of repeated concussions for the rest of his life.

How Maynard got off, is beyond me. It says the AFL isn't serious about consequences for players' actions.

I consider current penalties for a player who injures another far too lenient. I think the penalty should be commensurate with the player's injury.

Take Blakey on Friday for example. Blakey gets punched in the face. Our medical staff follow protocol and take Blakey off for the best part of the quarter. Meanwhile, Martin is free to continue playing. How is that fair? What's to stop a player from deliberately taking out a key player and giving their team an advantage? Martin should be made to sit off the same time it takes our medical staff to make an informed decision. And if an injured player needs to be subbed out, the perpetrator should be forced out of the game too. I'd take it further as well. If someone has to miss weeks because of a concussion, the penalty should be the same.

This is why the AFL needs to introduce the send-off rule. The Laws of Football already have this rule, but it is at the discretion of each league whether they have it. The AFL doesn't. The AFL should introduce it after gaining agreement from the clubs. I have discussed this before so I won't go into more detail here.

If a player has to retire from the game altogether, I'd be in favour of the perpetrator being a forced delist. Whether a club chooses to draft them again is their business.

That's probably going too far. Another way is possible. I would be in favour of making the perpetrators legally and personally liable for their misconduct. Perpetrators would reconsider wilful misconduct if their misconduct forced an opponent to retire, they got sued, and they were forced to pay their victims a big compensation settlement. That settlement would be coming straight out of the salary cap of the club. That would force such perpetrators out of the game. How likely is this? Not very; only one or two incidents occur each year that would be deemed wilful and most of them would not force an opponent to retire.

I can see legal action from victims against perpetrators as being the next change. Leigh Matthews was charged with assault for an on-field incident because the (then) VFL didn't use video footage as evidence. The VFL changed the Tribunal rules to allow it. Bad decisions could not be appealed so a player took it to court. The AFL introduced the Appeals Tribunal. Other examples that forced a change include Greg Williams getting nine weeks for umpire contact, Dunkley's late Tribunal hearing before the 1996 Grand Final. Another one that may force a change is Bedford (GWS) waiting 12 days for a Tribunal hearing because the Tribunal panel took a week off. The AFL needs to review its Tribunal processes and may need to change the Laws of Football as well, to clarify what is a reportable incident.

Finally, the Maynard decision was wrong IMO. Jumping into the air was not a legitimate attempt to smother the ball. Brayshaw was not kicking the ball with a foot growing out of his head.

[KSAS]

FWIW, I can understand why the Maynard smother is so decisive taking into consideration it resulted a player being knocked out unconscious for 2 minutes! A legal football act v player missing games with career & long term health concerns. It needed to be tested at the Tribunal & can see why Maynard got off under the current guidelines, which the AFL will now tightened further.

The way I see it, in future any impact to the head, regardless if it was accidental or legal, the verdict will be that the instigator didn't take duty of care & the penalty will be outcome based. I.E. Rampe & McCartin will not get off in future with their cases this year.

There will be more decisive cases tested in future which we've always used to accept as part of the game, particularly where concussion is involved. Marking contests (I.E. Tom Lynch case would not get off ) & friendly fire like Gary Rohan on Jeremy Cameron. Challenging times ahead for the rules of the game due to AFL facing increasing post career litigations in future.

P.S. I wonder if Maynard's attempted smother was successful if it change would how it was percieved or even the outcome with Brayshaw?

[barry]

Selwood sumed it up well last night on 'talking finals': earlier in the season that would have been a suspension, where concussion = suspension. Only late in the season has 'footy act' come into it, helping McCartin and Bedford, and now Maynard.

So it's a big inconsistency, and AFL will need to codify it for next season.

[Mel_C]

Let's go Melbourne. I can't handle another week of Carlton in the media. It's going to be bad enough with Collingwood.

[Sandridge]

Let's go Melbourne. I can't handle another week of Carlton in the media. It's going to be bad enough with Collingwood.

With you, Mel. C'mon Dees! Smash 'em!!!

[Mel_C]

That acting by McGovern was worse than Alex Rance.

[Mel_C]

Carlton winning the score reviews again.

Pickett very undisciplined.

Melbourne have to stop bombing it in.

Cripps is such a faux tough guy.

[Sandridge]

C'mon Dees! Big second half please!

[Blood Fever]

Pickett is a clown who never learns.

[Mel_C]

Seriously Melbourne what are you doing?? The game should have been over!

[longmile]

Umpires coming good for Carlton in this final quarter

[Blood Fever]

Demons blew it big time

[Mel_C]

Piss off Melbourne, what a joke of a team. Two years in a row out in straight sets.

Now we have to put up with the prospect of a fairytale Collingwood v Carlton grand final. It's going to be a very painful week. Please please please Brisbane do us a favour and smash them!!

[i'm-uninformed2]

A total choke. Melbourne’s inability to construct a forward line while it has a generational midfield, ruck and tall defence combo means they’ll have left a flag or two on the table.

[Captain]

The one positive might be Grundy can announce he can come to us now!!