Oppo Camp Non-Lions Discussion 2025

[M Malice]

So if a brownlow hopeful got charged for striking... surely the potential loss of a brownlow medal (and all those accolades and general life changing happiness) will be a very large factor the tribunal should take into account?

granted, i only read the headlines... but wowee

That's what got Patrick Cripps off, along with the good bloke discount.

 

[FLVanLandingham]

That's what got Patrick Cripps off, along with the good bloke discount.

true, I guess I can hardly be surprised. Its nice they laid it all out now though. For the lawyers to play with

 

[braddsey]

Straight up incentivising Adelaide to tank a qualifying final is an interesting decision

Either way, I don't see Rankine playing again this year.
Lose the qualifying final to give him a chance of playing means playing an away prelim if they make it. There best chance of getting to the GF is winning the qualifying final.

• 11 home wins 1 loss
• 7 away wins 4 losses

 

[braddsey]

Anyway who is winning the Thursday night BLOCKBUSTER tonight?

Carlton win as they got TDK to 100 games for F/S opportunities before he jumps to StK.
(or they lose because F/S will be stripped from the game anyway)

 

[morsie]

Without a shadow of a doubt.

Bereft of leadership, soft, easily led astray by whingers and you could go on.

The AFL Commission has issues of its own so highliy unlikely to act on this basket case of an administration.

Too many lawyers.Good at giving advice,not so good at leading the way

 

[morsie]

Oh absolutely.

She certainly drew my ire, but on reflection its clear she was set up to fail by giving her way too big a remit, but more so the point you make, that she was Dillons goat and the more I hear him talk, the more I can see how out of depth he is.

Dillon is a lawyer and again, from what I understand a very good General Counsel, but he is not a leader nor a business man that could or should run the AFL. Some certainly can, he certainly can't. Same as his GC successor, Stephen Meade. A good lawyer, but from what I hear, shouldn't be a GC at the AFL. The AFL stuffed up. Dillon and Meade shouldn't have been promoted and the CEO should have been external hire or someone like Ben Gale who has standing, is authoritative, speaks well etc. and someone that industry respects. I mean, do people really respect Dillon.

Adrian Anderson I think would have made a good CEO; he spoke a lot better that Dillon and was quite savvy, but the AFL did make the right decision in going with McLachlan and AA obviously went back to the Bar.

I mean the fact that they've now brought in Harley and Swann, two leaders and respected industry heavyweights alone shows that Dillon is out of his depth.

Anderson,another lawyer middling quality barrister

 

[M Malice]

Lawyers, politicians, journalists.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Just switched over to watch the last 15 minutes of this game before half time. Everything I've seen screams 'contractual obligation'. I bet the pressure rating is at an all time low.

 

[BuntonRules]

That Moir goal is the interpretation of the rules that shits me most. No one goes to the footy to see free kicks, we all go to see marks. If a player gets infringed, but his team mate takes a mark - just pay advantage. pay the mark.

 

[Crimso]

Carlton left their run too late!
Silly buggers!

 

[notliondown]

My favourite part is how this effectively raises Rankine's mental health over those who he abused - he gets a reduced penalty for his, but the targets didn't get reduced mouthing off from a dickhead regardless of the impact to their mental health.

This. 1000%.

 

[notliondown]

The hypocrisy is what does my head in.

This decision and ban basically means now everything is up for negotiation. And subjective. And open to interpretation. No wonder the suspension system is the diabolical ****ing mess that it is.

This was the one rule that was simple. Black and white. It was the one they drew a line in the sand over. The language was clear and concise. The precedent has been set. For once everyone knew the rules.

Except we didn't. And still don't.

The salt in the wound is that this action minimises all the efforts made previously in stamping this out by prioritising the perpetrators wellbeing over the victims.

By that logic anyone who causes concussions from here on in can argue that they are really sad and really sorry and get a reduced sentence.

What an absolute, yet unsurprising, crock of shit.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

The hypocrisy is what does my head in.

This decision and ban basically means now everything is up for negotiation. And subjective. And open to interpretation. No wonder the suspension system is the diabolical ****ing mess that it is.

This was the one rule that was simple. Black and white. It was the one they drew a line in the sand over. The language was clear and concise. The precedent has been set. For once everyone knew the rules.

Except we didn't. And still don't.

The salt in the wound is that this action minimises all the efforts made previously in stamping this out by prioritising the perpetrators wellbeing over the victims.

By that logic anyone who causes concussions from here on in can argue that they are really sad and really sorry and get a reduced sentence.

What an absolute, yet unsurprising, crock of shit.

He has received 4 games suspension for name calling.
So the AFL take name calling pretty seriously.
It's not like it got down graded to 1 or 2 weeks.
Just maybe , just maybe the circumstances within all these offenses are all slightly different.
Do we know what was said on the field before the slur.
I wasn't there , so have no idea.
We get only part of the story.

 

[p4p1]

That it was closer to a fair punishment. 5 or more is absolutely ridiculous

Is it not common sense to come down extremely hard on things that you want stamped out?

 

[Nathan Barley]

Is it not common sense to come down extremely hard on things that you want stamped out?

A suspension is an extremely harsh punishment. 4 or more games especially around finals time is enormous

Plus hes been hung out to dry in the media and had his reputation destroyed

 

[p4p1]

A suspension is an extremely harsh punishment. 4 or more games especially around finals time is enormous

Plus hes been hung out to dry in the media and had his reputation destroyed

The players were told it would be a minimum of a 5 week suspension. Common sense says to make sure those words do not leave your mouth.
Would you or Rankine feel the same if someone called him a racial slur?

 

[braddsey]

A suspension is an extremely harsh punishment. 4 or more games especially around finals time is enormous

Plus hes been hung out to dry in the media and had his reputation destroyed

Did you read Kelli Underwoods article in The Age? Worth reading for perspective.

Angry, scared, confused: My letter to Izak Rankine

Six AFL-listed players in less than 18 months have been banned for homophobic slurs. Enough is enough.

www.theage.com.au

Opinion
Angry, scared, confused: My letter to Izak Rankine
Kelli Underwood
Columnist
August 21, 2025 — 3.12pm
Dear Izak,

Firstly, I know you’ll be doing it tough. I hope you’re OK.

I know it’s just one single word – and in that split second it’s shattered your childhood dreams of playing in a series of big AFL finals. But I feel compelled to write this and explain to you (and my teenage nephew who is a mad Crows fan) why the word you used has the potential to be so harmful.

A long time ago I struggled with my sexuality in the workplace.

When I was starting out in sport broadcasting, I was offered the opportunity to host and commentate netball on TV.

Like you, my childhood dream was there for the taking and, like you, I was excited and wanted to show everyone what I could do when given the chance.

I went along to a pre-season tournament to meet some of netball’s officials and familiarise myself with the teams and players.

As I entered the stadium, I spotted a small group of high-ranking officials and I made my way over to introduce myself to them.

They welcomed me and I took a seat next to them. There was some small talk. Then, while pointing out some of the big names on the court, one of them blurted out “and don’t worry, we don’t have any lesbians in our sport. They all play basketball”. Everyone laughed. I laughed.

But, inside, it jarred – like I’d been hit with a bolt of lightning. I was angry. I was confused. I was scared they’d found me out. But most of all I felt shame.

Over the next few days the self loathing began to sink in. I hated myself. I hated myself for not saying anything. I hated myself for being gay. Why me? Why couldn’t it be someone else?

So I hid. I turned up to my shifts and pretended to be someone I’m not. Because the environment didn’t feel safe to me.

When you used that word, I guarantee there was someone who felt just like I did all those years ago.

It might have been a player on the field. It might have been a player in your club. It might have been a player at another club. It might have been a fan. A young person who’s watched this unfold.

The message you send is simple – you don’t belong here. And so begins the mental torture.

The player will be telling themselves that they have no other choice but to hide. Because if Izak uses that word, then what do other players think. They won’t understand.

They’ll probably talk about me behind my back – and may even call ME the F word.

It took me quite some time before I was able to establish safe and strong friendships that made me feel comfortable to be my true self. They’ve ended up being lifelong friends.

And netball has since come a long way, not only welcoming but celebrating its first openly gay player Ashleigh Brazill. The sport has become more inclusive. It’s come ahead in leaps and bounds and is all the better for it. They have moved well past the AFL on this issue.

For some reason, the message in your sport isn’t getting through. Six AFL-listed players in less than 18 months have been banned for homophobic slurs. Enough is enough.

It’s now your responsibility, and that of the leaders at your club and every other club, to change that. To have mature conversations. To keep educating others. To commit to creating a safe environment. To allow everyone in your sport to be their true selves. Because when you welcome diversity, hate has no place.

Like your teammate Taylor Walker – who was banned for six games for making a racist comment four years ago – you will learn so much from this unsavoury episode, and time will heal.

Life moves quickly. Footy moves even quicker. Everyone makes mistakes. And everyone deserves a second chance.

I know you wouldn’t have intended to cause so much harm with one throwaway word in the heat of the moment. But I hope this helps you understand why it can’t be tolerated.

Take care. Surround yourself with good people. And come back strong.

I love the way you play, and can’t wait to see you back out there in the tricolours. My nephew and I will be cheering for you.

Regards,
Kelli Underwood

 

[Nathan Barley]

Did you read Kelli Underwoods article in The Age? Worth reading for perspective.

Angry, scared, confused: My letter to Izak Rankine

Six AFL-listed players in less than 18 months have been banned for homophobic slurs. Enough is enough.

www.theage.com.au

Thanks for the heads up. Didn't realise that word was offensive

 

[Bucking Beads]

The whole drama is way over the top. A slur doesn't make a person Homophobic or Racist. As a society we are being conditioned to be hyper sensitive. We have so few real problems that we are making all sorts of shit a big deal.

 

[Sunny Land]

The whole drama is way over the top. A slur doesn't make a person Homophobic or Racist. As a society we are being conditioned to be hyper sensitive. We have so few real problems that we are making all sorts of shit a big deal.

agree 100% but thats the way we are and it's not going to get any better in the future unfortunately. Racist slur is the main one that needs to be dealt with no exceptions but I am a firm believer that what is said on the field stays on the field.

 

[braddsey]

The whole drama is way over the top. A slur doesn't make a person Homophobic or Racist. As a society we are being conditioned to be hyper sensitive. We have so few real problems that we are making all sorts of shit a big deal.

A slur makes someone appear intolerant, and normalises intolerance. It marks a section of society lesser than another.
In the case of calling someone a f****, it is trying to insult someone by suggesting they are homosexual.
By accepting the use of these terms, it supports and normalises it in society.

agree 100% but thats the way we are and it's not going to get any better in the future unfortunately. Racist slur is the main one that needs to be dealt with no exceptions but I am a firm believer that what is said on the field stays on the field.

We've moved on from "what is said on field stays on the field". There is a reason we still have no openly gay AFL footballers. The fact that racial or homophobic slurs are still in the players vocabulary and that they come to mind shows the understanding of the impact is not understood. The players who reported it are correct to do so - if it is not accepted in society, why should it be accepted on the football field? These players likely have friends, family members, colleagues who are gay - they have every right to maintain their principles and stand up for intolerance on the football field.

 

[KissKiss]

agree 100% but thats the way we are and it's not going to get any better in the future unfortunately. Racist slur is the main one that needs to be dealt with no exceptions but I am a firm believer that what is said on the field stays on the field.

I'm sorry I'm not sure that is good enough. On field does not allow you to say what ever you want and pretend it didnt happen after that.

Its an archaic mindset that is not acceptable. Its not acceptable in any work place or sporting field.

 

[notliondown]

The whole drama is way over the top. A slur doesn't make a person Homophobic or Racist. As a society we are being conditioned to be hyper sensitive. We have so few real problems that we are making all sorts of shit a big deal.

This isn't about the perpetrator. This is about the victim and others who look to these players as their heroes and idols.

Rankine could be the nicest bloke on earth. He's probably got gay mates right (like they all do).

But when he used that word he inferred that being gay was less than, inferior, wrong, shameful, broken. He used it as an insult. It was meant to hurt and it was meant to jar.

I'm finally past feeling those ways but I promise you there are thousands of kids who have watched this mess play out and it's made them feel like shit. So for them, this is a REAL problem. And the suicide rates reflect that.

Just because it's not YOUR problem doesn't mean it's not a REAL problem.

 

[notliondown]

A slur makes someone appear intolerant, and normalises intolerance. It marks a section of society lesser than another.
In the case of calling someone a f****, it is trying to insult someone by suggesting they are homosexual.
By accepting the use of these terms, it supports and normalises it in society.

We've moved on from "what is said on field stays on the field". There is a reason we still have no openly gay AFL footballers. The fact that racial or homophobic slurs are still in the players vocabulary and that they come to mind shows the understanding of the impact is not understood. The players who reported it are correct to do so - if it is not accepted in society, why should it be accepted on the football field? These players likely have friends, family members, colleagues who are gay - they have every right to maintain their principles and stand up for intolerance on the football field.

I wish I could "like" this more.

 

[notliondown]

agree 100% but thats the way we are and it's not going to get any better in the future unfortunately. Racist slur is the main one that needs to be dealt with no exceptions but I am a firm believer that what is said on the field stays on the field.

What's the difference??? Is denigration not denigration? Is something said that meant to demean and hurt not equally bad? Singling out one minority over the other is a very slippery slope.

All of this bullshit needs to stop.

I'm no prude or above slinging shit at my mates, but to single out a feature of someones existence beyond their control as an insult or slur is piss weak. Especially when it's adversarial.

And the millions who now know and have read and heard about all these insults mean NOTHING stays on the field. That idea died when they invented 24hr coverage. And probably should have sooner.