Opinion Non-Crows AFL 14: Voss gone, who's next?

[Mutineer]

According to C Scott, the AFL are the ones managing Stengle as he referred reporters to the AFL when they asked about Stengle this week. Clearly he feels frustrated the Cats have little control over the situation.

They might be now he's a no show and the Cats are probably seeking advice re salary and their obligations to Stengle. All in all it's turned into an absolute shitshow.

 

[Slippery Pete]

It’s a credit to Rankine’s own integrity, which shouldn’t change based on how incompetent the AFL are.

As I said at the time, you have no obligation to treat a fundamentally corrupt investigation with any integrity.

Rankine should’ve denied it and then doubled down and told everyone involved to get ****ed.

 

[Slippery Pete]

Maybe Crows approach to no bad boys was actually right. Stengle helped Geelong win a flag so might argue it was worth it.

I can’t believe I have to say this but yes, that means it’s worth it.

 

[bluebob1]

VFL

We joined their league.

to be fair melb have been playing richmond for a few years now on anzac eve it just happens to be friday this year. However, good night to run a double header rather than next week when the showdown is on at the same time as another game when the showdown should be a standalone game to the whole nation on tv. Melb vs Richmond could be an early game with Freo playing someone in the late game. This idea would actually make them more money too.

 

[Pea Nut]

to be fair melb have been playing richmond for a few years now on anzac eve it just happens to be friday this year. However, good night to run a double header rather than next week when the showdown is on at the same time as another game when the showdown should be a standalone game to the whole nation on tv. Melb vs Richmond could be an early game with Freo playing someone in the late game. This idea would actually make them more money too.

This year is now 11 years since it was introduced. That seems crazy. Feels like 3 years ago.

 

[Pea Nut]

As I said at the time, you have no obligation to treat a fundamentally corrupt investigation with any integrity.

Rankine should’ve denied it and then doubled down and told everyone involved to get ****ed.

It’s professional sport. Screw integrity and personal morals. He should have gone on the offensive and said Darcy Moore racially vilified him.

I have a mate who had an NRL career, then came back and played country league footy and got paid big bucks to do so. Like a lot of guys who make it at the top level, he very much had white line fever. We’ve had a bunch of chats over beers about his career, and his one line which I always found amusing but totally get it was “Win at all costs, and if you cant win, cheat.” I’m all for it.

 

[cleanhands]

It’s professional sport. Screw integrity and personal morals. He should have gone on the offensive and said Darcy Moore racially vilified him.

I have a mate who had an NRL career, then came back and played country league footy and got paid big bucks to do so. Like a lot of guys who make it at the top level, he very much had white line fever. We’ve had a bunch of chats over beers about his career, and his one line which I always found amusing but totally get it was “Win at all costs, and if you cant win, cheat.” I’m all for it.

Choppa Reid?

 

[Shuestar13]

Very generous of the AFL to allow a VFL quality side to play in a stand alone Friday night match. Good to see the AFL giving back to the community.

Incredible isn’t it (well not really). We (West Coast) haven’t had a national Thursday/Friday night Channel 7 game since early 2022 (right when things imploded). We haven’t deserved one of course, but seeing the charity afforded to VFL teams like Richmond grates massively.

 

[Smart Fella]

As I said at the time, you have no obligation to treat a fundamentally corrupt investigation with any integrity.

Rankine should’ve denied it and then doubled down and told everyone involved to get ****ed.

I'd agree but if there was any chance it was picked up on the umpire mics, that would go down horribly. Don't get me wrong, 5 games was ridiculous.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Fk - just thought to myself - what a nice night at the start of a long weekend to put my feet up and watch a game.

Checks schedule: Friday night blockbuster of Richmond vs Melbourne

 

[Bearded Clam]

Can Blakey expect some time off for his off the ball bump?



It was in relatiation to a late hit, but still a front on bump miles away from the play. Gotta be weeks imo.

That was absolutely[ pathetic from that dogs player.. took a massive dive.. got straight up to take his kick once he got payed a free..

His late hit on Blakey was actually worse.

 

[Grooster24]

It’s almost like the AFL should have had it written into the rules with a clear penalty for 1st, 2nd, 3rd offence etc.

Instead they use a catch all ‘conduct unbecoming’ or whatever and try to manage the punishment based on media outrage.

For what it’s worth, 9 games is ridiculous. As is 5 games for a first offence.

2 games, big fine, and a mandatory education.

Or we just stop any public suspension and fines for social issues and keep it to on field football related incidents.
If someone is offended in the game it should be both called out and managed internally out of the public. Why do we need this flag waving grandstanding and ultimately contradictory inconsistent outcomes etc.?

 

[screech]

It wouldn’t say much for Rankine’s character to deny it if he knew he said it

In comparison to the character assassination he went through by being honest?

 

[Fud#3]

They might be now he's a no show and the Cats are probably seeking advice re salary and their obligations to Stengle. All in all it's turned into an absolute shitshow.

I can see it now...Player will be suspended indefinitely, salary won't be included in the cap and Geelong will receive a draft pick at the end of the first round as compensation.

 

[FR0GGY]

That’s a fair old game.
Was he playing a midget?

 

[Maddogmetro]

Because he admitted to it and we didn't appeal it

This is not relevant though. Even though Collard denied it, he was found to be guilty. The original punishment was reflective of a second offence, yet the Appeals board did not overturn the offence, just reduced the penalty. The decision makes no sense, and the same would not have occurred for Rankine.

 

[Maddogmetro]

It’s almost like the AFL should have had it written into the rules with a clear penalty for 1st, 2nd, 3rd offence etc.

Instead they use a catch all ‘conduct unbecoming’ or whatever and try to manage the punishment based on media outrage.

For what it’s worth, 9 games is ridiculous. As is 5 games for a first offence.

2 games, big fine, and a mandatory education.

That is what is so ridiculous. Finlayson, Rankine, Collard (probably others). Literally the same word. All different penalties. Just make a clear rule and enforce it. It is not hard.

 

[Geoffa32]

Fk - just thought to myself - what a nice night at the start of a long weekend to put my feet up and watch a game.

Checks schedule: Friday night blockbuster of Richmond vs Melbourne

Long Weekend?

 

[Scorpus]

This is not relevant though. Even though Collard denied it, he was found to be guilty. The original punishment was reflective of a second offence, yet the Appeals board did not overturn the offence, just reduced the penalty. The decision makes no sense, and the same would not have occurred for Rankine.

St Kilda took it through a different process by denying it and then appealing it

We went to the AFL and asked to be punished (but not too harshly punished)

If we had forced it to the Tribunal we might have gotten a similar outcome to St Kilda because we'd be able to argue the punishment was "excessive"

Of course the AFL should be much more consistent in how they handle this, but the reason the penalty is different is because it was appealed

 

[MrBarry]

It boggles the mind that the AFL didn't setup a framework of punishments in the off season for these types of offences. Absolutely serves them right they've been caught out on it.

I've noticed on Reddit the obscene virtue signalling of people trying to suggest higher punishments than the last is back. "Should have been banned for the season" - upvotes.

 

[CrowinNT]

Long Weekend?

I think Monday is a PH for WA and NSW

 

[Toucan Ocean]

In comparison to the character assassination he went through by being honest?

It was the AFL’s incompetence that fuelled the media and public reaction, not Rankine’s honesty.

As I said at the time, you have no obligation to treat a fundamentally corrupt investigation with any integrity.

Rankine should’ve denied it and then doubled down and told everyone involved to get ****ed.

It’s a very rubbery kind of morality that says it’s ok to be dishonest if that means the outcome will likely be more favorable to you.

Rankine can't control the ineptness of the AFL, or the blood-thirsty opportunism of the media and public.

But he does have control over his own conduct.

If the AFL impose an unfair sanction, he's hardly at fault because he approached the situation with integrity.

Anyway, I doubt the "whatever it takes" crew will be moved on this issue, so the debate is a bit redundant.

 

[arrowman]

SA & NSW both have 9 PHs on weekdays. We have Adelaide Cup Day, they have the ANZAC Day Monday.

 

[adelaidecrows]

In terms of the he said/ he said situation, the Trinbunal obviously took the not unreasonable stance that the umpire, an official of the AFL, has no particular reason to invent such an allegation, nothing to gain personally. Indeed, by highlighting his conection to sportsbet, risked potential reputationsl damage by making the report.
The player however has obvious self interest in denying it.
That all of course assumes that Foot isn't the petty and vindictive character that his umpiring record suggests he is.

in all my previous posts on the butters issue ive said the same thing. its spot on. this post was the fact i think the afl tribunal looks weak when it comes to prosecuting cases where they dont have that smoking gun. If they have the smoking gun evidence even if its a guilty verdict and nothing else, they will give you a massive smack because it looks good for them.

I dont know where the culture of admitting guilt came from, I dont know if AFL house themselves came out and said if you admit guilt we will take that into account...etc but its almost a given they dont, not even a little bit. Thats where the problem lies. If Butters admitted guilt and apologised to Foot, he would have likely got a $10k fine, see how that works. In this case they found him guilty, but with no smoking gun it was a $1500 fine.

I know some fans on here send emails to the club every now and then, but id point all this out to them that the evidence is in, if you plead not guilty and they dont have that smoking gun evidence even if they find you guilty, your punishment is going to be less. Admit nothing, let the corrupt fools earn their pr stance by doing their own investigation!

 

[Rotayjay]

How many of the AFL's innovations are things nobody asked for? I swear someone that works for the league is just pulling shit out of their own arse to justify their employment.

And with the advent of AI, now you don't even need a stupid person to come up with stupid ideas. AI can just come out with some crap based on all the crap it was trained on, with no human subtlety or judgement.