Oppo Camp Non-Essendon Football Thread XV

[TheUnicorn]

Port beating us by .1% in the race for pick 1.

 

[BrunoV]

I'm increasingly frustrated by what is really just virtue signalling about head high contact. The commentary surrounding this issue has no feel for what it is actually asking of the game and the damage that will do if followed through to the supposedly desired conclusion (at least in terms of preventing the contact in issue).

For a start I thought the problem was the cumulative impact of head knocks. The incidence of the head knocks in issue is still infrequent given the number incidents of physical contact in issue each week. It is actually at the point at which demanding common sense from players is now a much better approach and the only thing that will stop the collisions.

But what really annoys me is the legalistic bullshit which is now being brought into this aspect of the game and the likely reason for it.

There are 2 things that are likely happening. Ironically, the existence of either and reality that the situation has evolved to the point it has will make it impossible for the AFL to discharge its duty of care, particularly as the employer of the players (which it is overtly the employer or constructively because it has to control everything little thing, satanic bureaucracy is as satanic bureaucracy does).

First is the AFL has advice, probably from commercial or employment lawyers, this is usually what happens and the focus/specialisation on the common law/injuries/liability side of this issue is overlooked (e.g. this is a giant black hole in the advice all of these idiot employers throughout the country have gotten in relation to mandates), to the effect that it can't change its rules for fear of liability that would stem from admitting inadequacy of the rules. If this is the approach, I actually look forward the field day one of the common law silks would have with this on his/her feet before a jury. It's already far too late to think a liability claim can be defended. Common sense dictates the best thing to do from here is to look after the future as the AFL can at least work out what that will look like.

If the concern is stamping out every bit of head high contact, because that is seen as necessary and/or realistic, the rules are hopelessly inadequate and the Tribunal is correct. You can tell by the way the cases are argued that the rules are the problem, from this perspective. All of the focus is on the point of contact but, when looked at from the perspective of a duty of care, the actions leading to the contact are legal and therefore reasonable (i.e. football actions). No amount of looking at a slomo replay is going to change that.

If you want to stop Rioli and Robinson you need a rule which puts the player on notice that factored into his his split second decisions about whether to play the ball is the possibility he will not get there first and that if this causes injury he will be suspended. You can't start the analysis of whether the conduct is reasonable half way through the relevant sequence of events. The current rules demand that analysis starts with the decision to play the ball.

Are we really faced with such an problem, which cannot be corrected by demand that coaches stop instructing players to the effect that they should lead with their heads to draw free kicks, that need the player second guessing whether they can play the balls?

But then, if the AFL is concerned about its liability position why is it leaving evolution of its rules to a Tribunal? Why not just change the rules yesterday? As things stand the suspensions of most players in the Robinson scenario are a counter productive waste of time. It doesn't change behaviour because the behaviour in issue is legal. The worst thing is that the AFL is entrenching the current situation.

 

[citizen-erased]

Roos v eagles game.
Id feel for the people at the ground, but, well, roos fans. So.

 

[boncer34]

Hirdy in the coaches box

 

[citizen-erased]

Hirdy in the coaches box

Gws should make the change

Leon is no good

 

[boncer34]

Richmond fans booing a clear 50. Never change.

 

[Yoda_]

How boring are the Ch7 commentators or is it just the dullest setting of a half empty MCG ?

 

[citizen-erased]

How boring are the Ch7 commentators or is it just the dullest setting of a half empty MCG ?

Ling is rubbish and father of jobe not much better

 

[andleanback]

Geeze I’m shattered we didn’t get Paul Curtis. Kid is exactly what we needed.

 

[ghostdog]

I think Ken should lead the Port rebuild

 

[Zach Package]

GWS are rucking Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

23

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

, clubs will be on the phone this evening.

Neither of these sides will play finals, error riddled circle work

 

[citizen-erased]

GWS are rucking Tom Green, clubs will be on the phone this evening.

Neither of these sides will play finals, error riddled circle work

Bruhn has battled today. Kid has a bright future.

Id love us to offer a lot of cash to taranto. Perfect addition for us. Big, great inside, goal threat.

 

[faible]

GWS are rucking Tom Green, clubs will be on the phone this evening.

Neither of these sides will play finals, error riddled circle work

Flynn is playing one out getting smashed and looks a bit hurt, plus Phil Davis is subbed out so they’re a tall short (heh) down back.

Think it’s more a of necessity scenario than by design.

 

[citizen-erased]

Flynn is playing one out getting smashed and looks a bit hurt, plus Phil Davis is subbed out so they’re a tall short (heh) down back.

Think it’s more a of necessity scenario than by design.

Brander doing sfa. Ruck him.
Has a tank and can cover both ends of the ground

Leon is a fool

 

[faible]

Brander doing sfa. Ruck him.
Has a tank and can cover both ends of the ground

Leon is a fool

Brander is the one who should be, yes. Leon is also a fool, yes.

 

[Zach Package]

Flynn is playing one out getting smashed and looks a bit hurt, plus Phil Davis is subbed out so they’re a tall short (heh) down back.

Think it’s more a of necessity scenario than by design.

Yeah as above, they’re persisting with Himmelberg, Hogan, Ricciardi and Brander forward and Idun and Haynes are playing tall at the back so I don’t think Davis is impacting that.

 

[citizen-erased]

Will schofield

31

Will Schofield

Age

35

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.8

4star

MG

154.0

2star

D

5.0

1star

K

2.5

1star

HB

2.5

2star

M

0.5

1star

T

1.5

2star

MG

70.5

1star

D

7.4

2star

K

5.4

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.8

4star

- good with the questions.
Get him in fox!

 

[andleanback]

Your boy eDPS

 

[citizen-erased]

Your boy eDPS

Twas a lovely kick too.
Glad the review didnt overturn it

 

[raskolnikov]

Being the eternal optimist we're only one game behind 7th having played Brisbane and Geelong.

 

[citizen-erased]

Being the eternal optimist we're only one game behind 7th having played Brisbane and Geelong.

Our draw does us no favours and the form we're in is concerning to say the least.

Giants away
Eagles away
Port away
Lions away
Swans away

the top 4 non-vic sides from 2021 we travel to their home ground
The top 3 we get double ups against
And the remaining 3 top 8 sides we play in the opening 7 weeks.

 

[MiguelM]

How boring are the Ch7 commentators or is it just the dullest setting of a half empty MCG ?

Most commentary boring. No characters anymore.

The calls are sanitised to an inch of their lives now.

Imagine Rex with the fat lady singing these days, someone sure to get offended.

 

[faible]

Most commentary boring. No characters anymore.

The calls are sanitised to an inch of their lives now.

Imagine Rex with the fat lady singing these days, someone sure to get offended.

Rex was actually a decent caller though, unlike most of the current group.

You've got BT who doesn't really call the play but is the most 'exciting' or some of the VFL callers who actually do call the play well. Then the rest are moron ex players like Lingy.

 

[boncer34]

Is everyone ok with what happened to West Coast? If I was an Eagles fan I'd be filthy they were forced to play.

 

[Lore]

Is everyone ok with what happened to West Coast? If I was an Eagles fan I'd be filthy they were forced to play.

Everyone is in the same boat and were warned it could happen before the season started, that the games would go ahead anyway, and they have supplementary lists to help cover it. It will likely happen to a fair few teams through the year. WC are just the unlucky buggers to go first…