Hands up if you think the AFL is a joke? Hands up if your a fan who is sick and tired of incosistent tribunal decisions and double standing by the AFL handing out their decisions? I am….
Scenario one: Ben Cousins.
He did not get caught breaking any laws, I agree that it was fair by the West Coast Eagles to sack him as that was part of the deal, no trouble with the cops. However to see the AFL suspend him for 12 months for bringing the game into disrupt for what? He did not get charged with anything or even caught by the AFL for his drug taking.
Scenario two: Hall vs Solomon.
I wont comment on the difference between the Barry Hall and Solomons hit as the difference on why Solomon was that he broke someones jaw. I do NOT think the decisions should be based on who was injured how bad or not.
Scenario three: Round 18 tribunal decisions.
Milburn gets 4 weeks for slinging Richmond’s Shane Edwards yet Ports Surjan’s tackle on Harvey was unsighted and what gets me is that it was very similar as Richmonds Moore’s tackle on Nick Riewoldt which twisted his knee but only Milburn got sighted.
Maybe its because this is the only way Geelong could came back down to the level of the other clubs.
Scenario four: Collingwood vs West Coast.
We all know the trouble that West Coast got into last year by their undisclipine club, which I do think the AFL got it right. HOWEVER they seem to over look Collingwoods undisclipine…
This is Collingwoods rap sheet in the last few years.
- 2008 – Sharrod Wellingham caught drink driving.
- 2007 – Didak had a wild night out with Melbourne CBD killer Christopher Wayne Hudson.
- 2007 – Ben Johnson and then forward Chris Tarrant were also involved that year in a vicious brawl that left one man unconscious and led to a police investigation.
- 2006 – Chad Morrison booked for drink driving
- 2006 – Brodie Holland guilty of driving without a licence and assaulting a woman over a taxi
- 2006 – Didak charged with being drunk and disorderly.
- 2004 – Cameron Cloke fined $10, 000 for speeding
- 2003 – Dane Swan guilty of affray (what ever that is).
I think its time the club, Mcguire, Malthouse and the players get their act together and the AFL? Just because they are the AFLs baby, you cannot play favourites so pull your finger out..
Fans reactions and thoughts
So what do you as a fan of the club or even the AFL think? Do you think Collingwood should sack Didak and suspend Shaw even if effects their finals chances? And if Didak does get cut from the Magpies list would you want him to play at your club next year? And what about Cousins? Could he fit into your club?
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August 5th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I’m an Eagles supporter admittedly, but I think your article is spot on!
The Eagles got absolutely hammered by the media with nowhere else to turn, and Cousins was effectively hung before they could make their decision.
Interesting to see how this Pies furore pans out with the press conference coming up today! Should be huge news either way.
Tristan Heffernans last blog post..Heath Shaw Lied, Didak Was Car Passenger, Collingwood To Review Sanction
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August 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
What gets me is that you get a higher suspension when the person is injured which is why Hall got less than Solomon and why Browne got sighted for his bump on Porps, even though he did not bump him but rather Porps was pushed into him….
I think suspending both for 4 games, while is big news and they will probably miss the finals now, is a bit week and reactionary. Should have suspended Shaw before hand as now the punishment for the crime is not for breaking the law by drink driving but rather lying to the club.
So the message down at Collingwood is: “Its ok to drink, drink and be a bloody idiot BUT please do not lie to us….”
Jermayns last blog post..Be Kind Rewind
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August 5th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Good to see Browne get off in 2 minutes! As he should have.
Hopefully they find the same with Milburn – both for the good of football and the good of my Dream Team – having already lost Shaw and Didak today!
Tristan Heffernans last blog post..Stephen Browne Cleared by AFL Tribunal for Hit on Jason Porplyzia
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August 5th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I cannot believe he got sighted in the first place though…
Jermayns last blog post..Be Kind Rewind
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August 7th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Good article and great points. I think the AFL is out of touch with the general consensus. The Tribunal and Suspension system needs a complete overhaul.
Australian Rules at the highest level is losing is physicality and some of the rules ( i.e hands in the back) need scraping or re interpreting.
The difference between the way the AFL has treated the Eagles and Collingwood is outstanding. If the competition was a truly national one they would be discliplined equally. It just goes to show the AFL is just the VFL mis spelt….
johnnytruents last blog post..Keens Driver Training Bunbury – logo design/ web layout
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August 8th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Thought Eddie McGuire and SEO Pert handled themselves VERY poorly last night on the footy show, they did NOT answer any hard questions and continually passed the buck.
Jermayns last blog post..Be Kind Rewind
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August 8th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
wow i wonder if the writer of this article happens to be a bias eagles supporter who hates collingwood more than any other club??? hmmm…lol
the article raised some good points however…but Ben Cousins was convicted of evading police (running from the booze bus) and the fact he admitted he was a drug addict, thats the reason he was suspended…because he is meant to be a role model and a representative of the AFL and they cant have a drug addict in that role. Plus the Eagles were criticised more mainly because they are part of a two team state as well as the fact that they didnt deal with the issues the way the AFL wanted them to.
In Collingwoods case, Didak and (H)Shaw should be sacked and possibly suspended from the AFL, and (R) Shaw should incur some heavy penalties for his involvement. and I think that Collingwood should be fined by the AFL for not controlling their players. And i do agree that they are favoured by the AFL which is probably the reason everyone hates them.
Cousins will play for Fremantle or Melbourne next year, and Didak shouldn’t play next year for anyone.
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August 8th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I do not have a problem with what the AFL did to West Coast (which I mentioned in my original post) but fairs fair. If you do one thing to one club, you expect a similar club doing similar illegal things to get the same attention.
btw I do think Didak will be picked up if Collingwood delist him (and continue to pay his contract for 2 years) as he is too talented and too young not to be playing AFL.
You make a good point about being a role model. Why should they be role models? Just because they can kick a football and get paid good money? Why is todays society so intent on making role models out of a bunch of footballers, what happened to Mums, dads and teachers etc being the role models?
Jermayns last blog post..Be Kind Rewind
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August 13th, 2008 at 5:28 am
regardless of the kind of sport, double standards should be thrown out of the window. There are set rules, nobody should be immune from it and said rules should be implemented properly…
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August 13th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I could not agree more Andrea and thanks for your comments (they have been approved).
The problem with the rule of “bringing the game into disrupt” is that there are no ‘rules or guidelines’, its all a matter of opinion of the AFL.
Jermayns last blog post..Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?
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