2018 Rd 8: Post Game Passion: Carlton vs Essendon

[PaulP]

Has given 100% in every game I've seen him play (even when injured) and that's all that matters to me.
When he's done and dusted I'll remember him fondly

Same here, and I suspect for all CFC supporters.

[Thryleon]

The 3 sports in which I take a keen interest, AFL, soccer and tennis, all have aspects which I consider to be blights on the game. There is no doubt in my mind that if these aspects were removed, the game would be better. 

I see this targeting issue as being much the same. Remove it, and the game becomes better.

This game will always have a strong element of physicality - it's a contact sport, so even with current rules, which some consider to be a little tiggy touchwood, there is plenty of tough stuff and bravery to keep the punters happy.

We must free ourselves of historical justifications and rationalizations. Just because something has existed  for some time, it doesn't make it good in the current context, and it doesn't mean a change isn't a change for the better. 

There is nothing tough about targeting a player, and most especially since most of the players targeted are the soft targets. Nobody would dare do that to Hodge, Jono Brown etc. It's always the babies (Mills), the sooks (Goddard), the brittle ones (Sicily) etc.

What I want to see in terms of controlling and limiting the influence of top players is what Ben Jacobs did to Dusty on the weekend.  Now that's class and a genuine victory IMO

You didn't see north players roughing up dusty at every opportunity?

Nick Riewoldt copped the same treatment back in the day.

Let's face it, teams do it and they do it all the time but people don't notice.  At the game jed going Goddard wasn't evident, and they whacked Devon Smith frequently too, and all the bombers players were getting stuck into some of our boys too.

4 weeks ago it was weitering copped this treatment.

It happens.

[Professer E]

I'm pleased that for once it wasnt one of our blokes getting ridden.  We've been the roadkill for far too long.

Not saying I like it, but in the AFL there are predators and prey.  Time for us to do the hunting.

[flyboy77]

The 3 sports in which I take a keen interest, AFL, soccer and tennis, all have aspects which I consider to be blights on the game. There is no doubt in my mind that if these aspects were removed, the game would be better. 

I see this targeting issue as being much the same. Remove it, and the game becomes better.

This game will always have a strong element of physicality - it's a contact sport, so even with current rules, which some consider to be a little tiggy touchwood, there is plenty of tough stuff and bravery to keep the punters happy.

We must free ourselves of historical justifications and rationalizations. Just because something has existed  for some time, it doesn't make it good in the current context, and it doesn't mean a change isn't a change for the better. 

There is nothing tough about targeting a player, and most especially since most of the players targeted are the soft targets. Nobody would dare do that to Hodge, Jono Brown etc. It's always the babies (Mills), the sooks (Goddard), the brittle ones (Sicily) etc.

What I want to see in terms of controlling and limiting the influence of top players is what Ben Jacobs did to Dusty on the weekend.  Now that's class and a genuine victory IMO

Clearly, you need to get out more....

i'll leave it there.

[PaulP]

You didn't see north players roughing up dusty at every opportunity?

Nick Riewoldt copped the same treatment back in the day.

Let's face it, teams do it and they do it all the time but people don't notice.  At the game jed going Goddard wasn't evident, and they whacked Devon Smith frequently too, and all the bombers players were getting stuck into some of our boys too.

4 weeks ago it was weitering copped this treatment.

It happens.

I don't really care which team does it, it's cr@p and it needs to go.

[PaulP]

Clearly, you need to get out more....

i'll leave it there.

I definitely need to get out more, but not for the reasons you imply.

[PaulP]

I vaguely recall Jono Brown claiming that in one game, he received some ridiculous number of punches to the back (180?). He complained to the umps that if they didn't act, he would take matters into his own hands.

Like I said, garbage behaviour.

[ElwoodBlues1]

I vaguely recall Jono Brown claiming that in one game, he received some ridiculous number of punches to the back (180?). He complained to the umps that if they didn't act, he would take matters into his own hands.

Like I said, garbage behaviour.

I think if the aggressor gets too carried away then the victim gets some leeway cut to sort matters out....I remember Steve Johnson sorted out Steven Baker with a Elbow to the face after Baker had whacked him all day including his injured hand. Baker ended up with a fracture eye socket from memory and was none to well......think Baker got plenty of weeks and Johnson a few but clearly the victim got the sympathy vote at the tribunal. I think its also up to the victims team mates to help him out and take care of dirty aggressors...
Ryan Crowley was a victim of his own fame in this area, once the prince of tagging/annoying/manhandling all the star onballers he had a quick rise to fame but the footy fraternity led by players like Ablett, Boomer Harvey cried foul and Crowley ended up with no love from the umps at all and at times was treated unfairly. He was being hit by opposing teams on and off the ball and ended up felled behind play on a few occasions...Ross Lyon pleaded his case but to no avail and Crowleys career was over....

Ben Jacobs, Jed Lamb will all go the same way either taken out by opposing teams or taken out by the AFL who want a clean game...I'd expect Lamb to receive some treatment this week and I dont expect the umpires to help him out much unless its blatant free to him.....

[cookie2]

I think if the aggressor gets too carried away then the victim gets some leeway cut to sort matters out....I remember Steve Johnson sorted out Steven Baker with a Elbow to the face after Baker had whacked him all day including his injured hand. Baker ended up with a fracture eye socket from memory and was none to well......think Baker got plenty of weeks and Johnson a few but clearly the victim got the sympathy vote at the tribunal. I think its also up to the victims team mates to help him out and take care of dirty aggressors...
Ryan Crowley was a victim of his own fame in this area, once the prince of tagging/annoying/manhandling all the star onballers he had a quick rise to fame but the footy fraternity led by players like Ablett, Boomer Harvey cried foul and Crowley ended up with no love from the umps at all and at times was treated unfairly. He was being hit by opposing teams on and off the ball and ended up felled behind play on a few occasions...Ross Lyon pleaded his case but to no avail and Crowleys career was over....

Ben Jacobs, Jed Lamb will all go the same way either taken out by opposing teams or taken out by the AFL who want a clean game...I'd expect Lamb to receive some treatment this week and I dont expect the umpires to help him out much unless its blatant free to him.....

So Lamb will eventually be sacrificed? (Ahem - I'll let myself out)..........

[PaulP]

I think if the aggressor gets too carried away then the victim gets some leeway cut to sort matters out....I remember Steve Johnson sorted out Steven Baker with a Elbow to the face after Baker had whacked him all day including his injured hand. Baker ended up with a fracture eye socket from memory and was none to well......think Baker got plenty of weeks and Johnson a few but clearly the victim got the sympathy vote at the tribunal. I think its also up to the victims team mates to help him out and take care of dirty aggressors...
Ryan Crowley was a victim of his own fame in this area, once the prince of tagging/annoying/manhandling all the star onballers he had a quick rise to fame but the footy fraternity led by players like Ablett, Boomer Harvey cried foul and Crowley ended up with no love from the umps at all and at times was treated unfairly. He was being hit by opposing teams on and off the ball and ended up felled behind play on a few occasions...Ross Lyon pleaded his case but to no avail and Crowleys career was over....

Ben Jacobs, Jed Lamb will all go the same way either taken out by opposing teams or taken out by the AFL who want a clean game...I'd expect Lamb to receive some treatment this week and I dont expect the umpires to help him out much unless its blatant free to him.....

EB, if I've read your post correctly, what you're saying is that there is no need for a formal, legislated intervention on this matter because the "market forces" end up sorting it out ?

But if that's the case, and clearly the umps, AFL, players and some supporters think this sort of stuff is not on, then why not just knock it on the head to begin with ? If the powers that be thought it was acceptable, then the aggressors in such matters would not be left to fend for themselves on game day - no ?