He has been out of touch for about 4 years – not the least affected by some extra curricular activities. Surprised the Saints kept him on the list at all

Tristan Heffernans last blog post..2008 AFL Draft Review – North Melbourne Kangaroos

- “A free kick will now be awarded for any deliberate rushed behind”
- “Feedback the AFL received after the grand final was that clubs and coaches would deliberately rush more and more behinds if the rule was not changed”
- “A free kick is already paid for deliberately putting the ball out of play in all other areas around the ground and this allows for a similar criteria to be used in the case of deliberate rushed behinds.”
- “The benefit of the doubt will be given to a defender who is under direct pressure in a contest, or whose primary goal is to spoil or touch the ball before it goes through for a goal.”

Taken from this article from AFL.com.au

Using these ‘rules’ as criteria especially the ‘similar criteria’ as deliberate out of bounds the 3 questionable weekend incidents need to be looked at:
1) Brian Lake’s punching the ball over could be accepted as the right decision.
2) The St Kilda punch over the line even though he was uncontested 10m+ out, under no pressure should have been a free kick.
3) and Gilbee (think it was him) turn and run towards the goals and kicking over the line also should have been a free kick.

AFL fails imo

BTW, haven’t you changed your tune on this? See http://www.kick2kick.net/afl/rushed-behind-rule-changed

It’s not four boundary umps that has done for Gardiner. He’s always been rather ‘unco’. In the slower game of three of four years ago, his height was of greater value than the downside of his mobility/skill. If he was breaking Dal Santo’s sternum with every tap out, he would probably still be more valuable than his downside. Trouble is, he’s not.

Has the game left a super-tall unco-ordinated ruckman in its wake? Saturday night he looked lost.

Yes I agree with that, especially with bringing in the four boundary umpires. Do not forget that ~5 years ago, he was the best ruckman in the AFL and now he will struggle to get a game for St Kilda let alone the VFL.

When Richo does the ordinary, week in and week out, as well as he OCCASIONALLY does the extraordinary, I’ll happily jump on the bandwagon.

Interesting that you mention Gardiner in the St Kilda comment. Has the game left a super-tall unco-ordinated ruckman in its wake? Saturday night he looked lost. In his defence, it has been a long, long time since he played any decent amount of footy at the elite level. There’s a BIG step down to VFL level these days. I’m not sure there’s a place for him in the 2009 version of senior AFL.

Come on AussieRulesBlog, Richo was the man on Sunday…

Have to agree that St Kilda are in for a long year, without Riewoldt and Kosi they look lost and toothless up front. They dominated the rucks (even with M Gradiner stuffing up every time he touched the ball) and yet their midfield of over rated players of Ball, Dal Santo etc could not dominate and give their side any benefit. Think they need to give up on some of their players and get rid of them (Ball, Dal Santo, Clarke, Gardiner, Kosi etc).

I know you’ve got a thing going for Richo, Jermayn, but get serious.

First look at both Freo Hille and Rich. Hille looked more assured and more dangerous, but clearly both can play a bit.

Dogs will always find themselves just a little short of a flag with Johnson as their go-to man up forward (pardon the word play). When it looked like Darcy could play the square with Johnson roaming and crumbing a few years back, they looked like a dangerous unit. It’s going to be tough without a couple of bigger blokes. Young Grant has got a decent pair of hands though. Took some very good contested marks Friday night. Sadly, his kicking accuracy is similar to Richo’s.

Extras:
Saints looked pretty ordinary early. Long year ahead.
Tigers looked as ordinary as usual early. Longer year ahead.
Freo midfield looks pretty exciting.

I can guarantee it would have not been the same result if it was Robert who tripped the umpire…