Gerard Whateley - AFL have gone too far on suspensions.

[greatwhiteshark]

If you watched AFL 360 tonight Whateley thinks the AFL has gone way to far suspending players for the most minor indiscretions.
He went on to say the game is a mans professional sport which is the biggest sport in the country and while he agrees the AFL must set certain examples for junior footy etc he believes it has gone way past the point of madness.
Johnathon Brown also went at it on the couch saying it has become ridiculous.
Both said the highest level is not Auskick and it is and should be vastly different things.

So what are your thoughts? Has the AFL gone to far with all of this? Are they sanitising the game to much?

My thoughts are they are and have.

 

[Unique Name]

Whateley only having a sook because of Dangerfield. 100% guaranteed he wouldn't have said anything if it was anyone else. Why didn't he raise this issue when McCarthy or Stevens got done for similar incidents?

 

[theprospect]

an AFL media person tells it how it is? Jesus. Who would've thought? He's absolutely right, some of the suspensions handed out are an absolute joke, players can't get away with anything these days.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

What minor indiscretions? Slamming a guys head on the turf? Unnecessarily punching someone?

 

[Ron The Bear]

It goes in waves, from stringent to relaxed and back again. Mark Evans brought with him a relaxed attitude, aimed at keeping the stars on the field, but this year there has been an outcry over punching of any variety, emanating from nobody-knows-where (and championed by the likes of Whateley earlier this year). The MRP/tribunal system is incapable of consistency over an extended period.

If Whateley's now arguing that leniency should be shown because "it's a man's game" then I have no sympathy for his views, as a few short years ago he was expressing a polar opposite sentiment. The media themselves influence the AFL's flip-flopping.

 

[Luv_our_club]

They have gone too far.

Has not been an auspicious start to Gillon McLachlan's term as leader.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

What minor indiscretions? Slamming a guys head on the turf? Unnecessarily punching someone?

He didn't really point any incidents out but I guess he is referring to accidental contact, shows of strength, minor punches, pushing, shoving etc etc

 

[Dennis Trumpet]

The suspensions they've brought in for tackling were a mistake IMO.

You can choose not to bump, but you can't choose not to tackle, you have to tackle and continue to tackle until the ball spills free or the umpire calls for a stoppage.

I wonder if patty slambroses tackle on brad hill from when we played hawthorn a couple of years ago would now see him get weeks, cos he buried his head into the ground.

 

[Struggle]

Probably just dirty that he blew a few bucks on a Dangerfield Brownlow bet.

What minor indiscretions is he talking about, tackling a player face first ending their night or throwing punches for no reason?

 

[Xtreme]

They've not gone far enough, they need to ensure there are no more concussions!

 

[Art Vandelay_]

They have gone too far.

Has not been an auspicious start to Gillon McLachlan's term as leader.

If it wasn't for Vlad sweeping drugs saga under the carpet you could say he's been just as bad.

 

[Craze]

Can't believe he has his own show. Thinks Bart Cummings is as big a sporting hero as Bradman FFS. Who gives a s#*% what the flog thinks?

 

[greatwhiteshark]

They've not gone far enough, they need to ensure there are no more concussions!

Then the tackle simply must be eliminated from the sport.

 

[Dennis Trumpet]

Then the tackle simply must be eliminated from the sport.

It's why the afl is investing in e sports.

In 30 years there'll be players suing the afl over RSI

 

[Unique Name]

So far this season 23436 tackles have be laid.

How many suspensions have we had from dodgy tackles.... 5-6?

 

[Joao]

If this hadn't happened in a week where two key Geelong players were rubbed out for being idiots and Danger hadn't been suspended the week before, I think you could take Gerard's words onboard.

Most of the time he is reasoned, but like most fans has real trouble separating his emotions when it is his team.

Don't punch, like ever. Just don't do it and you won't have to whinge.
If you tackle a bloke, do your best not to concuss him.

Don't think either of them are unreasonable and I 100% think the AFL should stay the course.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

So far this season 23436 tackles have be laid.

How many suspensions have we had from dodgy tackles.... 5-6?

I think the issue is that those 5-6 tackles have been identical to the other 23436 yet accidental contact with the ground occurred and players are suspended.

 

[Joao]

I think the issue is that those 5-6 tackles have been identical to the other 23436 yet accidental contact with the ground occurred and players are suspended.

IMO, the issue is people seem to think the "fabric" of the game is more important than head trauma. It isn't.

Players will find a way around this. They always do.

 

[Xtreme]

Then the tackle simply must be eliminated from the sport.

You can still tackle without having your opponent smack his head on the ground.

If players tackled properly this wouldn't happen.

 

[Brunswick Trap King]

The media enables it by scrutinising every half-bump and sideways stare in order to raise interest and revenue. Maybe the media should try to rectify their own role in aiding and abetting suspensions before criticising the AFL.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

IMO, the issue is people seem to think the "fabric" of the game is more important than head trauma. It isn't.

Players will find a way around this. They always do.

How do ever eliminate accidents?

 

[Dennis Trumpet]

You can still tackle without having your opponent smack his head on the ground.

If players tackled properly this wouldn't happen.

What did ambrose do wrong here?

He Didn't pin his arms.
He Didn't sling him
No second action
No lifting action
No push in the back

And yet hill still hit his head on the ground.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

You can still tackle without having your opponent smack his head on the ground.

If players tackled properly this wouldn't happen.

You are taught at a young age to pin the arms and bring player to the ground, can you share with me how to avoid 100% of the time a player not hitting his head on the grass from time to time? No one wants it to happen and no player intentionally does it. It is accidental, unfortunate and players should not be suspended for it in my opinion unless it is intentional.

 

[PowerForGood]

You can still tackle without having your opponent smack his head on the ground.

If players tackled properly this wouldn't happen.

This. This. 100 times this.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

This. This. 100 times this.

What is this correct technique you talk about?