blackdiamond
22 May 2003, 10:55
I had this article sent through to me today in regards to clubs and suspensions, thought it was a good read.
Dons' players lead league in behaving badly
By Mark Fuller (The Age)
May 22 2003
Essendon flanker Paul Barnard may be a repeat offender, suspended twice by the AFL Tribunal this season, but his record is moderate compared with that of his club.
The two-week suspension handed to Barnard on Tuesday night for striking Hawthorn's Luke Hodge brought to 50 the number of matches Essendon players have lost to suspension in the past five seasons. The figure marks the Bombers as by far the league's most regularly convicted perpetrators of illegal acts worthy of suspension.
Geelong and Port Adelaide, the next worst offenders, have each lost players to suspension for 30 weeks since the start of the 1999 season. In that time, Essendon has had 27 players suspended by the tribunal. Port Adelaide, the next worst, has had 17 players banned.
Each season since 1999, Essendon has been among the league's leaders in the number of its players suspended and in the number of matches missed.
The AFL's balance sheet has also benefited from the Bombers' indiscretions. Until the Western Bulldogs were fleeced for their brawl with St Kilda this year, Essendon was by far the league's most heavily fined club.
Bombers' coach Kevin Sheedy yesterday told the reunion of the club's 1993 premiership side that he would be encouraging Barnard to keep playing strong, tough football. He said he suspected the wider footy community might even consider Barnard a little unlucky.
What, then, does Essendon's ignominious record say about the way it plays the game?
For the club's manager of football operations, Dominic Cato, there are two factors to consider. "First, the club prides itself on playing with an intensity and an aggression towards the ball, and that is always a primary focus," he said.
Second, he says, as a top side, Essendon has constantly faced intense contests from teams that "prepare themselves for a big match".
"The players in others teams are lifting as well and looking to make it an aggressive contest," Cato said. But he added: "We would obviously prefer our players not to be reported and appearing at the tribunal."
Occasionally, said Cato, "there might be some misplaced aggression", which would be attended to by the coaching staff, but the Bombers' hardness at the ball would not change.
Back in 2000, Essendon made conscious efforts to clean up its act after losing eight players for 16 matches the previous year, a record that was by far the league's worst.
It worked, up to a point. Essendon did not lose a player to suspension until round 16, when Mark Johnson copped a week for striking. But it didn't last.
Even in the finest hour of its past five years - the 2000 premiership win - Essendon had three players suspended for misdemeanours committed during its grand final win over Melbourne.
A "clean" season ended with five players suspended for 11 weeks. Only Fremantle (14 weeks) and West Coast (12) fared worse.
After ranking first among the league's most-suspended clubs in '99, and coming in third in 2000, the Bombers lost seven players for nine matches in 2001 to again finish third.
Unshaken, Essendon recovered its No. 1 position last season, losing five players for 11 matches.
Had Mark McVeigh delivered his right jab to the jaw of Hawthorn's Michael Osborne last Friday night with a little more force, Essendon might be out in front again in 2003.
Dons' players lead league in behaving badly
By Mark Fuller (The Age)
May 22 2003
Essendon flanker Paul Barnard may be a repeat offender, suspended twice by the AFL Tribunal this season, but his record is moderate compared with that of his club.
The two-week suspension handed to Barnard on Tuesday night for striking Hawthorn's Luke Hodge brought to 50 the number of matches Essendon players have lost to suspension in the past five seasons. The figure marks the Bombers as by far the league's most regularly convicted perpetrators of illegal acts worthy of suspension.
Geelong and Port Adelaide, the next worst offenders, have each lost players to suspension for 30 weeks since the start of the 1999 season. In that time, Essendon has had 27 players suspended by the tribunal. Port Adelaide, the next worst, has had 17 players banned.
Each season since 1999, Essendon has been among the league's leaders in the number of its players suspended and in the number of matches missed.
The AFL's balance sheet has also benefited from the Bombers' indiscretions. Until the Western Bulldogs were fleeced for their brawl with St Kilda this year, Essendon was by far the league's most heavily fined club.
Bombers' coach Kevin Sheedy yesterday told the reunion of the club's 1993 premiership side that he would be encouraging Barnard to keep playing strong, tough football. He said he suspected the wider footy community might even consider Barnard a little unlucky.
What, then, does Essendon's ignominious record say about the way it plays the game?
For the club's manager of football operations, Dominic Cato, there are two factors to consider. "First, the club prides itself on playing with an intensity and an aggression towards the ball, and that is always a primary focus," he said.
Second, he says, as a top side, Essendon has constantly faced intense contests from teams that "prepare themselves for a big match".
"The players in others teams are lifting as well and looking to make it an aggressive contest," Cato said. But he added: "We would obviously prefer our players not to be reported and appearing at the tribunal."
Occasionally, said Cato, "there might be some misplaced aggression", which would be attended to by the coaching staff, but the Bombers' hardness at the ball would not change.
Back in 2000, Essendon made conscious efforts to clean up its act after losing eight players for 16 matches the previous year, a record that was by far the league's worst.
It worked, up to a point. Essendon did not lose a player to suspension until round 16, when Mark Johnson copped a week for striking. But it didn't last.
Even in the finest hour of its past five years - the 2000 premiership win - Essendon had three players suspended for misdemeanours committed during its grand final win over Melbourne.
A "clean" season ended with five players suspended for 11 weeks. Only Fremantle (14 weeks) and West Coast (12) fared worse.
After ranking first among the league's most-suspended clubs in '99, and coming in third in 2000, the Bombers lost seven players for nine matches in 2001 to again finish third.
Unshaken, Essendon recovered its No. 1 position last season, losing five players for 11 matches.
Had Mark McVeigh delivered his right jab to the jaw of Hawthorn's Michael Osborne last Friday night with a little more force, Essendon might be out in front again in 2003.