Bombertalk

Please excuse me for stating the bloody obvious but the ONLY reason Fletch has been suspended IS because of his previous convictions regarding tripping.

This action is totally wrong by the AFL. Even though tripping is a reportable offence then why is it that not every trip committed in games ends with the suspension of a player.

This is exactly why this game stinks at times, there is absolutely NO law within the AFL's rule book that states previous discretions must be taken into account.


19.2 R eportabl e Offences
19.2.1 D egree of Intent — Clarification
Where any of the Reportable Offences identified in Law 19.2.2
specify that conduct may be intentional, reckless or negligent:
(a) any report or notice of report which does not allege
whether the conduct was intentional, reckless or
negligent shall be deemed to and be read as alleging
that the conduct was either intentional, reckless or
negligent; and
(b) the Tribunal or other body appointed to hear and
determine the report may find the report proven if it
is reasonably satisfied that the conduct was either
intentional, reckless or negligent.

My understanding is that you can only be reported and suspended for intentional trips, now Fletcher did trip Barry Hall and there is no doubt that it was an intentional. Even given that if he had not been suspended or reprimanded for the past 5 he would have got 25% a reduction. Fletch has been suspended in the past 3 years so he didn't get this reduction, given he only had 103 points if he was eligible for the discout he would not have been suspended in the first place.

No ones fault but Fletch, it was a blatant, deliberate, intentional trip, that was a professional free kick, it was particularly stupid because either way Barry Hall was going to kick a goal. As such he deserved a week for stupidity.

ealesy wrote:No ones fault but Fletch, it was a blatant, deliberate, intentional trip, that was a professional free kick, it was particularly stupid because either way Barry Hall was going to kick a goal. As such he deserved a week for stupidity.

Well said ealesy, nice objective summary....this is only an issue on this board because he's an Essendon player....no-one would care at all if it was a player from another club.

The MRP looks at things objectively and judges accordingly (despite the constant hysteria about how they have it in for us).

Here's the thing

Fletcher has played 322 Games

He will now miss 1 game through suspension

That means at mosy he can play 11 more H&A games this year taking his total number of games to 333.

Simon Madden's club record is 378 games so Fletcher, who has said he could play for 2 more years, will still need 45 games to equal Maddens record.

If he plays every home and away game in 2011 AND 2012 - he will have reached 377 games - ONLY 1 GAME SHORT OF MADDENS RECORD!!!!

I know we may play finals and of course Fletch may get injured, but imagine missing out on a club record like this because of one lousy game

Windy_Hill wrote:Here's the thing

Fletcher has played 322 Games

He will now miss 1 game through suspension

That means at mosy he can play 11 more H&A games this year taking his total number of games to 333.

Simon Madden's club record is 378 games so Fletcher, who has said he could play for 2 more years, will still need 45 games to equal Maddens record.

If he plays every home and away game in 2011 AND 2012 - he will have reached 377 games - ONLY 1 GAME SHORT OF MADDENS RECORD!!!!

I know we may play finals and of course Fletch may get injured, but imagine missing out on a club record like this because of one lousy game

D'oh!!!

Lot's of water will pass under the bridge in the next two years Windy....maybe he'll play for three more years, maybe only one.

If he does miss the record by one game, this suspension is no more to blame than any other, or any injury he's had, or the game he missed in 1993 when he played for his school instead of us.

He will either break the record or he won't...it will not affect his legacy at the club....he will always be remembered as an out and out champion player and person.

Windy_Hill wrote:Here's the thing

Fletcher has played 322 Games

He will now miss 1 game through suspension

That means at mosy he can play 11 more H&A games this year taking his total number of games to 333.

Simon Madden's club record is 378 games so Fletcher, who has said he could play for 2 more years, will still need 45 games to equal Maddens record.

If he plays every home and away game in 2011 AND 2012 - he will have reached 377 games - ONLY 1 GAME SHORT OF MADDENS RECORD!!!!

I know we may play finals and of course Fletch may get injured, but imagine missing out on a club record like this because of one lousy game

And the other suspensions?

swoodley wrote:

ealesy wrote:No ones fault but Fletch, it was a blatant, deliberate, intentional trip, that was a professional free kick, it was particularly stupid because either way Barry Hall was going to kick a goal. As such he deserved a week for stupidity.

The MRP looks at things objectively and judges accordingly (despite the constant hysteria about how they have it in for us).

Yep, didn't see anyone here have any problem with them letting Hille of borderline hits three times in a row. They could have deemed the hit against Clinton Young in the Hawthorn unduly rough play because he hit him late, they could have deemed the hit against Bartel unduly rough play because he was off the ground, they could have deemed him worthy for a week for the hit against the third player for sheer stupidity for being before them for the 3rd time in less than half a season.

The fact is tripping is against the rules, intentional trips are against reportable and suspendable whether it is a trip by leg or hand. Sorry for the pun, but Fletch didn't have a leg to stand on.

swoodley wrote:Lot's of water will pass under the bridge in the next two years Windy....maybe he'll play for three more years, maybe only one.

If he does miss the record by one game, this suspension is no more to blame than any other, or any injury he's had, or the game he missed in 1993 when he played for his school instead of us.

He will either break the record or he won't...it will not affect his legacy at the club....he will always be remembered as an out and out champion player and person.

Very true Swoods - just an interesting quirk