Round 18: the other games.

[The Big Cat]

Can’t see Charlie Cameron playing next week unless the tribunal plays the ‘good bloke’ card again.

[dejavoodoo44]

Who knows what the tribunal will decide? I didn't think the Cameron tackle was that bad, as there was no slinging motion and there didn't to be any real intent to cause injury. However, he did seem to have Duggan's arms wrapped up and Duggan's head hit the ground, causing a concussion. And it did appear to be similar, but worse, than the tackle that got Luke Parker suspended last year. So, somewhere between nothing and three weeks?

And speaking of nothing, it looks like Stewart hasn't even been fined for putting his forearm into the head of Kreuger. Who knows why? Perhaps the tribunal accepted the words of the media pundits, who claimed it was just an accident? Maybe no concussion or blood meant that it wasn't really a knock to the head? Maybe they decided, that it's just a lot more difficult for someone to spot a player in front of them, than it is to spot someone behind them?

[707]

Can’t see Charlie Cameron playing next week unless the tribunal plays the ‘good bloke’ card again.

DO NOT talk to me about sanctions and inconsistencies, I'm over it!

Still fuming about Heeney's pathetic suspension when I think of the career terminating action from Maynard in last years finals. Handed Pies a flag right there with no case to answer

Cameron must go, deliberately and needlessly drove him into the ground. That he got off earlier using the good guy ploy was weak as

[Mel_C]

Cameron and Bedford have both been handed 3 week suspensions for their tackles. They are both appealing their bans.

[Markwebbos]

The rules / punishments is a complete debacle right now including tackling, HTB, throws, protecting the head etc. I’d like to see them spend the off-season giving this a complete reset.

[KTigers]

Interesting to see John Ralph's comment on On The Couch last night re just how many ex-players are lining up to take legal action
against the AFL over concussion. If this is true you can see how tackling and just what is allowed is going to change significantly.
What is also sure is how frustrating it's going to continue to be watching the AFL bumble through the whole process.
Maybe we should all get a payout too.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I do worry about the Bedford precedent. A player accelerating from stoppage, a tackler coming a bit from the side and behind, grabs him and momentum means they both naturally go forward. It’s dumb luck from there as to whether the head hits the ground, and I’m not sure how you’re supposed to both tackle the player but then release an arm in an instant.

I reckon for example it’s the sort of tackle you see Rowie commit at stoppages, or Hayward on defenders trying to exit stoppages in our f50, regularly. I get the arguments re concussion, and I know the MRO uses a justifiable force/vulnerable position combination to judge things.

But I’d really hate to see one of our players missing finals for that.

[KSAS]

+1
These unintentional, head impacting football act suspensions (3 weeks) are out of kilter with the deliberate non football act of striking players off the ball, who receive fines or 1 week suspensions.

[Nico]

I wonder if Cameron's counsel plays "the good bloke card" this time. I can't see how he gets off. His last action was to slam Duggan into the ground. Totally unnecessary. This happens regularly where a player is tackled front on, but both players stand up in the tackle.

[stevoswan]

DO NOT talk to me about sanctions and inconsistencies, I'm over it!

Still fuming about Heeney's pathetic suspension when I think of the career terminating action from Maynard in last years finals. Handed Pies a flag right there with no case to answer.

I agree entirely. I found the initial suspension and the processes that followed totally vindictive. The system is not only broken but typically biased.....something we're becoming increasingly used to with this league.

[707]

Cameron getting off earlier this season using the good bloke card was absolutely farcical. In this current sanction, Cameron kept driving him backwards and then made sure the landing was hard. Didn't have to put him to ground at all, the tackle had already stuck and he put him to ground knowing he couldn't break his forced fall. Three weeks is generous IMO

I have sympathy for Bedford, this tackle happens a lot during games, pure luck the outcome.

The whole concussion debate and decisions is a can of worms.

[Mel_C]

Cameron has failed to overturn his 3 game suspension.