MRP / Trib. 2023 MRP Lotto

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Jun 4, 2013
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Oh well. Best of luck to Fritsch next week I guess. Bloody lucky to weasel his way out of this one, but at least it wasn't a dirty hit he escaped sanction for like some other big name players have over the years. No malice in it and Powell trooped on. I hold nothing against Fritsch other than sympathy for the state of his own head.

Doesn't sit right from an AFL perspective though considering the rhetoric about protecting the head. I would have thought it's pretty common sense that throwing your elbow out carries a degree of risk, much like how bumping does 🤷‍♂️
 

SonofSamsquanch

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Mar 31, 2016
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Well. If there was ever a slight doubt about the AFL lacking integrity it's clearly dispelled now.

Although I was surprised when Frich got reported, I was always positive that tonight's outcome would be the end result - and I suspect that almost everyubody here had exactly the same thoughts as well.

The AFL makes no pretence that it's a straight organisaton. How it is possible for betting on this sport to be allowed is a joke.
 
Jury concluded Fritsch did not breach his duty of care to Powell and did not regard Fritsch's conduct something a reasonable player would deem imprudent in the circumstances.

Took into account Powell's falling motion and his close proximity to the ground.
 

SonofSamsquanch

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Mar 31, 2016
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Jury concluded Fritsch did not breach his duty of care to Powell and did not regard Fritsch's conduct something a reasonable player would deem imprudent in the circumstances.

Took into account Powell's falling motion and his close proximity to the ground.
So, the engineered an outcome then. Fair enough. We know they just make it up as they go along.
 
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The Dees accepted that Fritsch’s elbow to North Melbourne’s Tom Powell was high contact and medium impact.

But former AFL football boss Adrian Anderson, who represented Fritsch, argued that the charge should be dismissed because Fritsch’s conduct was not careless, as graded by match review officer Michael Christian.

The Demons said that contact was unavoidable because Christian Petracca pushed Powell in the back and Powell then lifted Fritsch’s elbow.

They cited Hawthorn’s Tim O’Brien collecting Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas in the head, after O’Brien was pushed towards Jonas in a marking contest, as precedent for a not guilty outcome.

Jumpy vision and tribunal chairman Ross Howie disconnecting from the call during Anderson’s closing argument underpinned the new world of virtual hearings.

There was microscopic blood detected in Powell’s urine sample after the match and he underwent a kidney scan on Monday, according to Kangaroos doctor Bianca Scotney’s medical report.

But Powell was cleared of concussion and suffered no ongoing headaches or jaw pain, with the kidney problem highlighting that more damage was done from Fritsch’s contact to the teenager’s midriff, rather than the elbow to his head.

Kangaroos rookie Tom Powell after Sunday’s incident with Fritsch. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Kangaroos rookie Tom Powell after Sunday’s incident with Fritsch. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Dr Scotney said kidney trauma was “unlikely” and Powell was a strong chance to play against Collingwood in Round 8.

Anderson said Fritsch’s height – he is 5cm taller than Powell – and the fact no Kangaroos players remonstrated should also be considered.

Fritsch – the electric forward Melbourne drafted with the selection received for Jack Watts – bagged six mostly mercurial goals against the Roos.

AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson agreed that Petracca’s push inflamed the incident.

But Gleeson said in a “fast game with rapidly moving parts” the onus was on Fritsch to keep his elbows down.

Gleeson showed clips of Tom Bellchambers striking Dayne Zorko as he was dragged down in a tackle in 2019 and Josh Caddy collecting David Mackay as he attempted to block a handball as examples of careless conduct.

However after a 35-minute deliberation the jury finally delivered a non-guilty verdict
 

SonofSamsquanch

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Mar 31, 2016
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Whoever named this thread nailed it. AFL is kidding itself if they reckon cocking your elbow and thrusting it towards a player's head is acceptable. 5 weeks is also pretty lame for McCartin. So much for the head being sacrosanct.
Even Robbo and Whatley are calling it out...

1620128432338.png



Goes on to slam the McCartin penalty as well.


Seriously, does it seem legit that North players are getting whacked, yet no penalty, whereas they lay a whack and boof! Gorn.
 
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