Merrett on Blakey

[Philhawk]

Interesting case coming up.

Did Nash set the precedent? We don’t know as yet if Blakey was concussed, simply that he left the field for the remainder of the game to be assessed.

 

[Le Archie]

Connor Nash was a round house arm swing, they are nothing alike

 

[CakeEater]

Voss got 3 weeks for similar so using the complex formula of Mro i predict the following:
Big Vic Club: -1 week
Big name player playing for Big Vic Club: -1 week

Therefore its a 1 week suspension for Merrett.

 

[MF]

Melican got 3 for a somewhat similar incident last week (both players coming from opposite directions with the ball in contention), however Melican arrived later than Merrett did and also didn't make contact with the ball at all.

I think there's a good argument to say be escapes any punishment for it. A lot will come down to whether or not Blakey passed his assessment as we know the AFL are obsessed with outcomes rather than actual duty of care and the act itself.

 

[Gaborone]

If the AFL is consistent - 4 weeks. But it is a bloody stupid rule. The first consideration should be intent. There have been numerous players rubbed out for up to 4 weeks where the action was NOT deliberate. Somehow the AFL has rules that are at odds with those in a court of law.

 

[HalloweenJack]

Merrett hit the ball before he accidentally hit Blakey. There ought to be no charge laid but the MRO is out of control so I have NFI which is how I perceive the MRO.

 

[DocSholl]

Voss got 3 weeks for similar so using the complex formula of Mro i predict the following:
Big Vic Club: -1 week
Big name player playing for Big Vic Club: -1 week

Therefore its a 1 week suspension for Merrett.

You forgot media mounting a defence for a cash cow -1. So free to play next week

 

[Oscarman]

You forgot media mounting a defence for a cash cow -1. So free to play next week

Which is happening right now on Fox

 

[Maddo11]

Of the similar incidents this year I reckon its closer to Lobb v Cox, with the clear difference being that was a marking contest, where this is just in general play. I'm comfortable with that decision.

The question will be should the same apply to two players coming opposite directions in general play? Raising an arm up to head height carries risk. Enough to breach the duty of care? Not sure. But considering the changes made after the Maynard / Brayshaw, the AFL is definitely trending more towards punishing careless acts while attempting to play the ball.

Could go either way.

The cynic in me will also note the "big Vic club brownlow contender" factor lol

 

[Donakebab]

Merrett had eyes on the ball the entire time, got to the ball first and made glancing contact with Blakey.

Nash was nowhere near the ball and straight up round armed Miers who was subbed immediately.

Not even comparable.

 

[Bald]

I don't think this is worthy of a suspension.

 

[DocSholl]

Which is happening right now on Fox

You definitely won't read a Jon Ralph article about why he might be suspended

 

[Stopher]

Take 5 minutes to look at Merrett's history with fines and suspensions and you'll quickly discover he is absolutely not a favourite of old mate Chrisso. A lot of eyebrow raisers in there.

Definitely no 'Vic bias' or 'Brownlow discount' with this bloke.

 

[maskmcgee]

 

[JGreezy]

So what reportable action did Archer make? He slowed down and tried to avoid contact.

 

[CakeEater]

So what reportable action did Archer make? He slowed down and tried to avoid contact.

You missed subsection 4 of the MRO:
Will punish Player from Vic club the same as Non Vic club if they are a fringe player from a non big Vic club

 

[maskmcgee]

 

[Coasters7]

Bo Allen got a week for an identical action. Brownlow favourite tax in play here

 

[clogwearer]

Can't believe this was even a discussion.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Bo Allen got a week for an identical action. Brownlow favourite tax in play here

Identical?

 

[HairyO]

Can't believe this was even a discussion.

Yep. Merrett gets a lot of Brownlow votes so it was never going to be anything.

 

[clogwearer]

Yep. Merrett gets a lot of Brownlow votes so it was never going to be anything.

Or ... and hear me out here ... Merrett made a legitimate play at the ball, never took his eyes off the ball, completed the play and there was some incidental contact afterwards. No malice, no intent, no negligence.

 

[maskmcgee]

Bo Allen got a week for an identical action. Brownlow favourite tax in play here

Apart from not looking at the ball and not playing the ball, yes, the other (nothing) parts were identical

 

[TheWeapon]

First Crack think Blakey was forced to go into HIA protocol by the Arc and he looked really pissed off about it like he didn't think he needed it. Some conspiracy going around that he exaggerated the impact

 

[Cringle]

Would’ve been very disappointing if this was looked at further.