The AFL has different rules for Harley Reid Mega-thread

[Balls In]

How can Michael Christian, with a straight face, see the footage of Harley Reid being smacked in the face and manage to arrive at the conclusion blaming Harley?

"Reid initially runs toward Yeo before abruptly changing his direction and turning toward Comben," the Match Review Officer Michael Christian said in a statement.

"Comben, in a stationary position, moves his arms up at body height to protect himself from the oncoming Reid.
As Reid ran straight up to Comben after Elliot Yeo

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Elliot Yeo

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10.9

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8.0

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2.1

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kicked a brilliant goal after the three-quarter time siren from the boundary, Comben struck him with an arm to the head, sending Reid to the ground clutching his face.

Players from both sides rushed in to remonstrate as umpires struggled to break up the fracas.
"As Reid approaches with speed, Reid lowers his body and high contact is made to Reid.

"It was the view of the MRO that Comben's actions did not constitute a strike. No further action was taken."

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Not overly bothered by the Comben let off. Happy to go on record and say I think it's a fair call (may be unpopular, unlike me I know...)

Don't run at him, wouldn't have happened.

Certainly don't think this warrants it's own thread, a bit cringe/boy who cried wolf.

 

[LittleFires]

To be honest I’m more surprised that Luke Parker

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Luke Parker

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11.6

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3.8

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5.6

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5.8

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22.1

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12.3

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9.9

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3.9

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5.0

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5.5

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21.2

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11.4

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’s elbow into the top of Reid’s head wasn’t even looked at or even brought up in the media.

Reminiscent of the Maynard and Brayshaw incident a couple years ago. I might’ve been looking at it through blue and gold coloured glasses but it certainly seemed like Parker added a bit extra as he was falling onto him. He’s lucky Reid wasn’t dazed or concussed from that.

 

[Truckosaurus]

They looked after him his first year but when he didn't ask for a trade home right away it became a case of trying to limit his influence.

Now they're just straight up victim blaming.

 

[DorothyG]

Should have been a free kick, but happened after the siren so too bad.

Perhaps there is a argument for a free kick in the centre circle at the start of the next quarter for crap like this that happens post siren

 

[Balls In]

To be honest I’m more surprised that Luke Parker’s elbow into the top of Reid’s head wasn’t even looked at or even brought up in the media.

Reminiscent of the Maynard and Brayshaw incident a couple years ago. I might’ve been looking at it through blue and gold coloured glasses but it certainly seemed like Parker added a bit extra as he was falling onto him. He’s lucky Reid wasn’t dazed or concussed from that.

Correct Harley took two head strikes yesterday, both of which we've had players rubbed out for less. How often does a player run up to remonstrate a shit tackle and get a full elbow to the face without censure?.

 

[PremiershipNo4]

Harley with half a dozen late hits on players, brings it on himself, balls must be too big, too much testosterone.
Harley will always be targeted because he targets everyone.
I won’t be shedding a tear for Harley, because rightly or wrongly that’s the way he goes about it.

 

[Balls In]

Harley with half a dozen late hits on players, brings it on himself, balls must be too big, too much testosterone.
Harley will always be targeted because he targets everyone.
I won’t be shedding a tear for Harley, because rightly or wrongly that’s the way he goes about it.

It's Harleys fault??

 

[PremiershipNo4]

It's Harleys fault??

It’s human nature, if someone shirt fronts you, you get them back. You don’t have to look too far around the planet to see evidence of that.
He gets as good as he gives, it’s a reciprocating action.
No I don’t feel sorry for Harley, did he have to swing that elbow back into the other players face….no, but he did it, expect it in return.

 

[wce4premiership]

It's more the stuff like the beautiful bump on Caleb Daniel

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Caleb Daniel

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29

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21.3

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3.5

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2.9

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1.4

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19.5

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11.1

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8.4

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3.6

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2.0

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1.0

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16.4

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7.2

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9.2

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3.4

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2.6

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that gets called a down the field free kick that shits me.

Was a great bump, commentators don't even mention it (despite the producer playing the replay to instigate the conversation topic).

Should have been called out on air.

 

[Shueygod]

Not overly bothered by the Comben let off. Happy to go on record and say I think it's a fair call (may be unpopular, unlike me I know...)

Don't run at him, wouldn't have happened.

Certainly don't think this warrants it's own thread, a bit cringe/boy who cried wolf.

You realise that players run at opposition defenders to give them a bump/spray multiple times a game after such instances? How many times does it result with the other bloke copping an elbow to the face?

All that needs to be said about this bullshit excuse.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

I didn't think Comben had a case to answer. Its only reasonable for him to put his arms up if someone veers into him. It was an instinctive reaction, a flinch.

There's no doubt that Harley gets umpired differently than everyone one else, let alone the ump/AFL favourites. But not this time.

 

[Balls In]

I didn't think Comben had a case to answer. Its only reasonable for him to put his arms up if someone veers into him. It was an instinctive reaction, a flinch.

There's no doubt that Harley gets umpired differently than everyone one else, let alone the ump/AFL favourites. But not this time.

The image below says it all. Comben is not in a defensive pose, the top half of his body is in a forward position because he has thrown both arms forward, into Harleys head. Harley's arms aren't even up because he would never in a million years have expected a strike in the situation.

 

[bzparkes]

it's BS and I'm glad Mini called it out last night on the news.

How about the 50m after the whistle, he even looks back at the umpire to see what's happening before playing on. Why didn't the umpire call him back?

To make it worse, Darling did the exact same thing in the 4th and no 50 was paid.

 

[RookiePick]

it's BS and I'm glad Mini called it out last night on the news.

How about the 50m after the whistle, he even looks back at the umpire to see what's happening before playing on. Why didn't the umpire call him back?

To make it worse, Darling did the exact same thing in the 4th and no 50 was paid.

Umpires just have NFI. I'm mostly convinced that they are being told what to do through the ear piece by the TV director or the senior umpire who knows the script.

I can't believe they are genuinely as wildly inconsistent as they perform.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

To be honest I’m more surprised that Luke Parker’s elbow into the top of Reid’s head wasn’t even looked at or even brought up in the media.

Reminiscent of the Maynard and Brayshaw incident a couple years ago. I might’ve been looking at it through blue and gold coloured glasses but it certainly seemed like Parker added a bit extra as he was falling onto him. He’s lucky Reid wasn’t dazed or concussed from that.

This was the one for mine. Meanwhile the perfect bump of a player who hasn’t kicked yet is downfield.

Harley tax is real, suspensions or not how at least one of Parker/Comben wasn’t a free is beyond me.

Only need to go back to the preseason game of his rookie year to see that yes, oppo have decided to use him to make a name for themselves. Whether he’s lippy doesn’t come into it when it’s your first runout against someone you’ve never faced before.

Rookie season Harley had a lot more smiling and laughing after being tackled too, rather than getting fired up, so I hope it improves with Yeo back alongside.

 

[txbyhull]

I cannot fathom the discourse that Comben was defending himself. He leans forward with elbow, if he leant for a push then sure, but he doesn't even lead with his hands??

 

[bzparkes]

I cannot fathom the discourse that Comben was defending himself. He leans forward with elbow, if he leant for a push then sure, but he doesn't even lead with his hands??

The people saying he was defending himself are blind.

You don't defend yourself with nearly fully extended arms. They'd be tucked in.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Harley definitely veers off to bump Comben. He initiated it, there's no doubt.

But player's bump each other all the time, it's part of the game. Does that make a head-shot a legitimate defense?

As usual, the AFL's position is completely inconsistent. Either the head is sacrosanct or it isn't. Doesn't help that in the same weekend, they've decided the ruffling a player's hair (or bald spot) is now a chargeable offence. Completely idiotic.

 

[lmach]

Not overly bothered by the Comben let off. Happy to go on record and say I think it's a fair call (may be unpopular, unlike me I know...)

Don't run at him, wouldn't have happened.

Certainly don't think this warrants it's own thread, a bit cringe/boy who cried wolf.

It shouldn't matter if it was a reaction to Harley running at him, he still striked him in the head. Who tf braces for contact like that anyway.

If a player was shaping up to punch Harley in the face and Harley reacted by punching him first out of "instinct", there’s no way he’d get off.

 

[Astro7]

Harley with half a dozen late hits on players, brings it on himself, balls must be too big, too much testosterone.
Harley will always be targeted because he targets everyone.
I won’t be shedding a tear for Harley, because rightly or wrongly that’s the way he goes about it.

There is some truth to that. What goes around comes around. He plays on the edge and the coach likes that, as long as he doesn't create free kicks or 50m penalties. There is no doubt he is confident and aggressive (and talented). He's not a Toby Greene or a Barry Hall re dog acts; but he's also not a Daicos, who I consider a cleaner, smoother, skills focused player.

Yes Harley's amazing and Harley's incredible and now Harley is team orientated and mature and racks up the stats. But he retains an aggressive edge that can verge on dirty play at times -repeatedly shoving a guy into the ground when he's already on his back and play is over or moved on, late hits etc. I'm sure some of it's payback for what someone has done to him, has gone unseen by the umpire etc.

Tbh that's a small part of Harley's game I don't like, and I get that he has a target on his back (so does Daicos and other cleaner players). But he comes from a highly competitive family and sporting background (not unlike the Duursma family), with Jiu Jitsu thrown in for good measure (combative) so yes he plays on the edge, and has the weapons. His Dad was nicknamed 'Rowdy Reid', his uncle who helped train him was very competitive, and he has Albanian in his blood - Fwiw.

This is a great summary of Harley's complete background, just before he was picked at the draft. It helps explains who is and why he is....

Being Harley Reid: Fame, family and handling the hype

A household name long before he was on an AFL list, Harley Reid's family and his unique take on footy stardom has him ready for what comes next

www.afl.com.au

 

[UseR2006]

Here's a better angle of the incident.
Yeah Comben is a dick and should have been suspended.

 

[ballsohard]

There is some truth to that. What goes around comes around. He plays on the edge and the coach likes that, as long as he doesn't create free kicks or 50m penalties. There is no doubt he is confident and aggressive (and talented). He's not a Toby Greene or a Barry Hall re dog acts; but he's also not a Daicos, who I consider a cleaner, smoother, skills focused player.

Yes Harley's amazing and Harley's incredible and now Harley is team orientated and mature and racks up the stats. But he retains an aggressive edge that can verge on dirty play at times -repeatedly shoving a guy into the ground when he's already on his back and play is over or moved on, late hits etc. I'm sure some of it's payback for what someone has done to him, has gone unseen by the umpire etc.
Tbh that's a small part of Harley's game I don't like, and I get that he has a target on his back (so does Daicos and other cleaner players). But he comes from a highly competitive family and sporting background (not unlike the Duursma family), with Jiu Jitsu thrown in for good measure, so yes he plays on the edge, and has the weapons.

This is a great summary of Harley's complete background, just before he was picked at the draft. It explains who is and why he is....

Being Harley Reid: Fame, family and handling the hype

A household name long before he was on an AFL list, Harley Reid's family and his unique take on footy stardom has him ready for what comes next

www.afl.com.au

Watching him to start the season it definitely seems like it'll only be a matter of time before he gets suspended for a high bump/off ball hit I think.

Needs to be careful playing on the edge like that, but his performance has been very good to start the year.

 

[RookiePick]

Here's a better angle of the incident.
Yeah Comben is a dick and should have been suspended.

Holy shit. The best defense is a good offense apparently.

 

[wce4premiership]

The more I watch it the more I think it's a suspension.