Lifting the elbow and striking the head is now OK

[Mudholian]

"The board heard evidence from former Hawthorn spearhead Jason Dunstal and current Lions coach Leigh Matthews, who said Brown's actions constituted a legitimate bump.
Report officer John Cockburn submitted that Brown had struck Francis because his arm had come away from his body during the point of contact.
But Matthews and Dunstall told the hearing that in order for a player to bump an opposing player properly his arm had to be away from his body in order to protect himself. "

Well there you have it. Brown was merely pretecting himself when he raised the elbow to connect with the head.

What a fugging disgrace.

Look, I don't give a shit about rubbing out players but surely this farce show that the tribunal has totally lost all credibility?

Mud

 

[Bob_vic]

It was the appeals board, not the tribunal that made the 2nd decision.

Bob

 

[Grave Danger]

Well Brisbane's Jonathan Brown has been cleared (on appeal) of deliberately elbowing Fabian Francis to the head.

I was beginning to worry that Brisbane were taking a motivational edge into the round one game, what with being utterly humiliated by Port in the Ansett Cup final, but now I reckon it's a good thing that he will be playing - it will give our crowd a real rallying point to get stuck into this loser every time he goes near the ball. He will also be keeping one eye over his shoulder for a square off, so hopefully he will have a really poor game...

 

[JUBJUB]

As I said before,if its okay for Primwus to use his elbow to try and break jaws then it okay for anyone.

Welldone Jonathon Brown.Maybe you can take out another Power player in Rd1.

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"FIGHTING WITH ALL OUR MIGHT"

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by CJH:

I would not be surprised if Brown does not even get cited - and if he did, he would probably get off.
Why?

His elbow was raised after contact. This always happens due to the force of contact causing a recoil.

Before contact his elbow was tucked into his side in preparation for a hip and shoulder, as all kids are taught un under 10's.

Francis could not find the handle of the ball and was wobbling all over the place.

All Brown has to say was I was going to bump him off the ball but he changed direction and I accidentally got his head.

Non-intentional. Not reckless.

Case dismissed.

I made these comments after seeing the incident last Saturday. I made them from a totally objective and unbiased viewpoint.

There is no way Brown should have been reported let alone suspended.

The only good thing here is that justice has finally prevailed.

Another thing. What is the difference between this case and Michael Long in last years Grand Final?

Michael Long intentionally charged at the head of Troy Simmonds with the purpose of serious injury.

Jonathon Brown went to bump Fabian Francis and accidentally collected his head.

Free Kick, yes.

Report, no way.

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TigerFury.net - Independant Richmond Tigers website

 

[Tom FC]

As a Brisbane supporter, I have to say that I think this decision stinks.

When I first saw it, I thought three to four weeks. Later I changed my mind to two, so I was surprised but not shocked when they gave him three.

I was more surprised to find the Lions were appealing. I thought three weeks on the sidelines might have been a learning experience for a guy with a few problems with the rules.

But players bumping should be conscious of trying to avoid the head. In my opinion, it doesn't need to be deliberate conduct, 'dangerously negligent' amounts to almost the same thing.

Bad decision by the appeals board. This is the wrong message to be sending. Expect to see more and more appeals than ever before.

 

[WCE2000]

i can't believe Brown got off.

With some of the bullshit they suspend players for, and Brown just about decapitaed Francis. If it were up to me, i would've given him 1 week.

But this being the new soft-c*ck AFL, i would've expected 3/4 weeks. Which he got. Then got let off.

I've seen blokes get suspended for less than that. Something needs to done, becauset this tribunal/appeals whatever you wanna call it, is turning into a farce.

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[Anton Grbac]

What a load of crap.
Dean Wallis would've got 12 weeks for that.

where's wally?

 

[Frodo]

Yes, the tribunal has gone from bad to worse. There is no consistancy.

 

[Bob_vic]

Michael Long intentionally charged at the head of Troy Simmonds with the purpose of serious injury.

Long was reported for "rough play" not "charging". If it was for charging, he would have got off because it wasn't a charge under the rules.

Bob

 

[Catman]

They should scrap the Appeals board all together. Too many players are appealing suspensions and having them upheld. As far as I'm concerned, you do the crime you do the time!