Bowlers targetting an injured batsman is the same as Baker thumping Johnson’s hand while spoiling a marking attempt. No problem with that. But if the fine leg fieldsman wandered off the field between overs and whacked an opponent’s injured arm, that would be another matter, wouldn’t it?

I wasn’t suggesting an equivalence between hitting a broken hand and eye gouging, but your justification

it’s not a gentlemans game, hasn’t been for 80+ years…

invites the question of what is unacceptable, if anything. If you’re going to offer a justification like that, surely you should consider the ramifications?
aussierulesblog´s last [type]: Green whistle for go- red whistle for stop

Even in cricket they target injured players. Short balls at broken hands/ arms. Always throw the ball at the end of someone who has a suspect leg injury…
Jermayn´s last [type]: AFL Expansion – How is the …Timing

if what Baker was doing was that wrong, how come the umpires didn’t pay any free kicks?

Excellent question! They can see a free kick from 100 metres, but can’t spot this?

Judd’s elbow was like being flogged with a damp lettuce leaf. BTW, the word is “cited”. Sighted means capable of seeing.

Johnson’s elbow, whether justified or not, was a venomous strike and must be cited. Provocation should be a defence for something innocuous, like jumper punching, but a viciously swinging elbow is at another level completely. Judd’s elbow didn’t have even a fraction of the same intent, or force, behind it.

it’s not a gentlemans game, hasn’t been for 80+ years…

Oh, so anything goes then? What about a squirrel grip? Is that OK? Kicking, eye gouging? Sorry, this is a poor justification for anything.
aussierulesblog´s last [type]: Green whistle for go- red whistle for stop

They paid them to Judd the week before (3 or 4 from memory) & to say Judds elbow was accidental is an excuse for his actions is a load of croc! You can get suspended & sighted for accidental contact.

Now personally I agree Judd shouldnot be suspended for his whack & not being sighted is the RIGHT call but then the MRP blow their good work with suspending Johnson.

Yes Baker whacking Johnsons hand is unAustralian but this isn’t cricket, it’s not a gentlemans game, hasn’t been for 80+ years…

All that wouldve needed to be done was if the umpires paid a free kick. Now I hate touchy free kicks but they set a standard by paying them early.

Re Fixturing: does anyone think their opinion will count? As you say they already have probably made up their mind.

MRP
While I’d agree that consistency and the MRP haven’t been linked often this year, comparing Judd’s elbow and Johnson’s is simply ludicrous. Johnson’s was delivered with real venom and intent to injure. Judd’s, on my viewing, was little more than incidental, with Pavlich being simply unlucky to be where he was.

Misconduct: unreasonable contact
Swear man! Swear! It’s good for you!

What would you say, Jermayn, if Baker had stood on Johnson’s hand? Or kicked him on an injured calf?

If Johnson is going for a mark and Baker belts his hand in the act of spoiling, fair enough, but that’s a lot different to punching the hand a long way off the ball. Go as hard as you can in the contest for the ball, but off-the-ball attacks are — and I hate using this term, but I think it’s appropriate here — unAustralian.
aussierulesblog´s last [type]: Green whistle for go- red whistle for stop

The MRP is a joke at times. The NRL supended Tomaha Tahu for 6 weeks for one hit.

Is anyone upset that Baker will not be playing for 9 weeks? Surely the Saints can get someone else to annoy opposition players.