MRP / Trib. 2013 MRP/ Tribunal News & Reports (keep it all in here)

[Jabba73]

However, Betts did intend to bump, Hodge did not. Not saying Betts deserved the suspension but it is pointless comparing the two instances.

You have mised my point. The MRP has clearly stated in the past that contact with the head causing injury will not be tolerated, regardless of the intent behind the contact.

I was not comparing the two at all, merely pointing out they have allowed Hodge to claim he had no intention of hitting either Carlton player in the head so he gets off. Eddie never intended for the Saints players jaw to be broken and most likely would not have been cited if it hadn't been. I am sure Hodge did not intend to break Murphys cheekbone, just as I am sure he would probably have got 5 weeks if Henderson had suffered the same fate ........ except we cannot guarantee consistency, hence the frustration.

Thanks to the Hodge defence, you can almost expect an increase in players leaping over falling team mates with no regard for the wellbeing of any opponents who are on the other side.

 

[Blueboys11]

Hodge got his hands to the ball first. Siting him would have set a very lame precedent.

"Oh, you're 2 steps closer to a loose ball than me? But of course then, after you..."

Don't blame Hodge, blame the sliding rule. If either player had the option of going to ground to attack the ball, injury would have been much less likely.

I believe it comes down to a duty of care. When someone's head is over the ball, you have to approach the ball differently than how you would in other situations. While im not convinced Hodge should of been cited, his total disregard for Murphy's welfare could lead to similar incidents happening again going forward which is what my concern is

 

[mess]

Bullshit Hodge got to the ball first. Now you are just making shit up.

Murphy got to the ball first, Hodge turned his body slightly and collected him. Even the commentators were saying that Hodges hands were nowhere near the ball at the point of impact.

They got to the ball close enough to simultaneously, and Hodge happened to get a touch on the ball a split second before Murphy. Could be wrong, but that's how I saw it and either way it was close enough as to make no difference.

If any professional commentator actually said Hodge's hands were nowhere near the ball and didn't immediately correct himself upon seeing the replay, he should be fired for incompetence.

Seriously, have you seen a replay?

 

[Sabotage]

The Hodge/Murphy incident was no different to a forward cannoning into the back of a defender who fills the hole in front of him. Hodge played the ball and made sure that anyone who got in his way was going to earn their possession/free kick and there's nothing wrong with that. It was just unfortunate that Murph was injured and we weren't paid a free for the high contact.

There is a difference between intentionally sniping and making an opponent earn their ball.

The Hendo one was honestly line ball but if his face had of split open I could have seen the mrp giving Hodge a spell even if he was just trying to avoid Roughy.

 

[GoBlues!]

He was well and truly in mid-air after having jumped to avoid running Roughead and it wouldn't matter who or what was in front of him at that point, he had no physical means to avoid contact with whatever was in his direct path. That's not an opinion, that's physics.

I know as a Carlton supporter you'd be feeling hard done by here but the general consensus from the majority of neutrals (supporters on Big Footy and the media) on this matter was that Hodge had done no wrong and in the end the final result is testament to that.

I also appreciate that this is your board and as such you're probably not interested in much of what I have to say so if that's the case ignore/delete this post. I'll only respond if quoted.

Good luck for the rest of the season! Your guys played brilliantly for large parts of that game

Looking at a replay of it, I agree that contact was inevitable. But in my view of it, on making contact with Hendo, Hodge raises his left arm and his elbow collects Hendo's jaw. Maybe Hodge could've kept his arm tucked in and collected Hendo in the upper body, maybe Hodge instinctively raised his arm to push away from Hendo. In any case, Hodge's arm/elbow collects Henderson in the face.

As for the majority of so called neutrals, the media that I read/heard were generally saying that there was nothing in the Murphy collision as it was accidental, however there might be an issue with the Hendo contact based on previous cases. In this regard I thought he was lucky as the review panel could have said that contact with the arm/elbow to the face was avoidable, but they didn't in this instance.

As for the rest of season, I'd like to say Good Luck but that would be hypocritical of me. I hope we make the finals and beat your mob (11th time lucky!!) in a Prelimin Final by 10 goals and that Hodge gets accidentally knocked out by Murphy.

Nah only joking - I'd be happy if we won by 4 goals.

 

[cryptor]

Looking at a replay of it, I agree that contact was inevitable. But in my view of it, on making contact with Hendo, Hodge raises his left arm and his elbow collects Hendo's jaw. Maybe Hodge could've kept his arm tucked in and collected Hendo in the upper body, maybe Hodge instinctively raised his arm to push away from Hendo. In any case, Hodge's arm/elbow collects Henderson in the face.

As for the majority of so called neutrals, the media that I read/heard were generally saying that there was nothing in the Murphy collision as it was accidental, however there might be an issue with the Hendo contact based on previous cases. In this regard I thought he was lucky as the review panel could have said that contact with the arm/elbow to the face was avoidable, but they didn't in this instance.

As for the rest of season, I'd like to say Good Luck but that would be hypocritical of me. I hope we make the finals and beat your mob (11th time lucky!!) in a Prelimin Final by 10 goals and that Hodge gets accidentally knocked out by Murphy.

Nah only joking - I'd be happy if we won by 4 goals.

From what I saw his arm only appears to leave his side after the contact is made. I don't know if he'd have much control over that given the force of the collision and the natural instinct to extend the arms for balancing purposes as he lands.

Yes, those were all the same things I heard during the week. The opinions that he "might" be in trouble with the Henderson incident seemed (to me at least) to stem from the MRP's inconsistencies in how they grade incidents. The fact he got done by the MRP was unlucky but I was pretty confident he'd always get off at the tribunal as long as the Hawks pleaded his case correctly.

I should've prefaced any of my good luck wishing on the proviso that you don't face us again this season!

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Hawthorn do appear to be a protected species when you consider the 10 "play on" calls per game that are not paid every time Buddy runs onto this natural f****** arc. Has the Geish even read the rules?.

What did you think of the 'arc' Robinson ran in on for your second goal?

It happens a dozen times in every game, the way way franklin has been singled out for this is a classic example of Aussie's and tall poppies.

 

[detox]

The whole problem with bigfooty is that someone only screams foul when it is their own player injured.

Unfortunate that Murphy got injured, but this is a contact sport. It happens.

If the roles were reverse yeah id be gutted to lose Hodge for a few, but there is no way in hell I would blame Murphy if the exact situation was reversed. Both were going for the ball.

If you seriously believe Hodge should have been rubbed out for the Murphy incident go follow netball.

 

[GoBlues!]

The whole problem with bigfooty is that someone only screams foul when it is their own player injured.

Unfortunate that Murphy got injured, but this is a contact sport. It happens.

If the roles were reverse yeah id be gutted to lose Hodge for a few, but there is no way in hell I would blame Murphy if the exact situation was reversed. Both were going for the ball.

If you seriously believe Hodge should have been rubbed out for the Murphy incident go follow netball.

Who's saying Hodge should've gone for the Murphy collision??

 

[Dramoth]

The whole problem with bigfooty is that someone only screams foul when it is their own player injured.

Unfortunate that Murphy got injured, but this is a contact sport. It happens.

If the roles were reverse yeah id be gutted to lose Hodge for a few, but there is no way in hell I would blame Murphy if the exact situation was reversed. Both were going for the ball.

If you seriously believe Hodge should have been rubbed out for the Murphy incident go follow netball.

I will... there are some cute girls running around in little skirts who play netball.

But I think that the netball season is over for the time being so I am going to stick with football.

Who's saying Hodge should've gone for the Murphy collision??

They have pinged players for accidently breaking other players jaws in lesser collisions than the Hodge Murphy one. They should have at least looked at it, but by all accounts, they turned around and said fair bump based on what the media was saying. Hardly a fair look is it.

 

[detox]

I will... there are some cute girls running around in little skirts who play netball.

But I think that the netball season is over for the time being so I am going to stick with football.




They have pinged players for accidently breaking other players jaws in lesser collisions than the Hodge Murphy one. They should have at least looked at it, but by all accounts, they turned around and said fair bump based on what the media was saying. Hardly a fair look is it.

It's not the fact that the jaw was broken. It's how it happened. The intent. That's the key here. People are only focused on the injury.

Had hodge have elected to
Bump Murph and collected him high accidentally and broken his jaw, he would have got weeks, and it would have been accepted.

The difference is this was not a bump, it was a collision. Both players were going for the ball, both arrived at roughly the same time and collided. Hodge had absolutely no other option.

There has not been another case comparable that has seen a player suspended, so any other situation where a player has been rubbed out for electing to hip and shoulder is non comparable.

 

[Dramoth]

It's not the fact that the jaw was broken. It's how it happened. The intent. That's the key here. People are only focused on the injury.

Had hodge have elected to
Bump Murph and collected him high accidentally and broken his jaw, he would have got weeks, and it would have been accepted.

The difference is this was not a bump, it was a collision. Both players were going for the ball, both arrived at roughly the same time and collided. Hodge had absolutely no other option.

There has not been another case comparable that has seen a player suspended, so any other situation where a player has been rubbed out for electing to hip and shoulder is non comparable.

hmmm... how do I answer this... I know... **** off!

The AFL has decided that the head is sacrosanct... but they did nothing after Murphy's cheek was broken. No problems.

If it was Hodge who managed to get his cheek broken, and Murphy got off, you guys would still be screaming.

BTW... if Hodge had time to turn his body slightly to brace, he had time to turn the other way to lessen the impact. Instead, he turned into the collision and collected Murphy. At the very least, it should have been a free kick. But nothing was paid and to add insult to injury, the MRP didnt even bother to look at it and just automatically cleared Hodge.

 

[Weiterbot23]

Hodge is a w@nker, but I don't think he should have got weeks.

 

[happydude]

Its just like the murphy dangerfield incident.
Why does murphy always get hurt

 

[detox]

hmmm... how do I answer this... I know... **** off!

The AFL has decided that the head is sacrosanct... but they did nothing after Murphy's cheek was broken. No problems.

If it was Hodge who managed to get his cheek broken, and Murphy got off, you guys would still be screaming.

BTW... if Hodge had time to turn his body slightly to brace, he had time to turn the other way to lessen the impact. Instead, he turned into the collision and collected Murphy. At the very least, it should have been a free kick. But nothing was paid and to add insult to injury, the MRP didnt even bother to look at it and just automatically cleared Hodge.

You've been watching too many slow motion replays my friend.

Hodge did not "have time" to do anything both were running full pelt at the ball. The time that hodge knew he was going to collide with Murphy was just a few frames.

This I know for sure. If a blue is ever up for the same thing in the same circumstance, you"ll all be screaming innocent. Sometimes you gotta take of the glasses for the good of the game.

 

[Stamos]

People who think Hodge should have gotten rubbed out for the Murphy collision are either being very silly, or know nothing about football, and you are reflecting poorly on this board.

He was lucky to get off the Henderson hit, but us not getting free kicks for these incidents are much greater injustices then anything done by the mrp/tribunal.

It's time to move on.

 

[Jeremias]

In isolation I believe it is difficult to say that Hodge should have been suspended, for either incident.

Having said that the MRP has handed down suspensions for incidents far more minor so it would not have been a surprise should he have missed a week, at least.

I have no issue with the Murphy contest, none whatsoever. Genuine 50/50 contest with both players cracking in which was fantastic to see. That's why so many love our game and go sit in the stands on a weekly basis. Unfortunately being a high collision sport injuries do happen, and this time it was Murphy.

The Henderson contest is different and whilst I don't think Hodge should have been suspended, you can certainly see why some are arguing that way. Intent is important but it is not the be all and end all. At the end of the day he left the ground and collected Henderson in the head with his arm. That automatically sets the alarm bells off and should signal trouble. The MRP have made it perfectly clear that the head is sacrosanct and any time you make contact with it you will come under scrutiny which is exactly what has transpired. I don't believe he intended to collect Hendo high but that's exactly what he did and as such left himself open to suspension.

Its just like the murphy dangerfield incident.
Why does murphy always get hurt

This was raised on AFL360 through the week and both Bob Murphy and Brad Sewell stated it was a mix of bad luck and a slight error in Murphy's technique as on both occasions he left himself open for the hit. I tend to believe it is more a case of the former rather than the latter. However both were adamant that he should be applauded for taking the hit as it showed great leadership.

 

[KennyHunter9]

What did you think of the 'arc' Robinson ran in on for your second goal?

It happens a dozen times in every game, the way way franklin has been singled out for this is a classic example of Aussie's and tall poppies.

It should be called play on. That's the rules. Go and read them.

 

[KennyHunter9]

People who think Hodge should have gotten rubbed out for the Murphy collision are either being very silly, or know nothing about football, and you are reflecting poorly on this board.

He was lucky to get off the Henderson hit, but us not getting free kicks for these incidents are much greater injustices then anything done by the mrp/tribunal.

It's time to move on.

I agree.

The worry is that the same thing will happen again next week to another player, and if the media does not launch an instant and rolling defence of that player, he will be suspended.

It's the combination of inconsistent decision making by the MRP / Tribunal and the role of the media in influencing all it that makes me shake my head.

 

[Sector 7G]

What did you think of the 'arc' Robinson ran in on for your second goal?

It happens a dozen times in every game, the way way franklin has been singled out for this is a classic example of Aussie's and tall poppies.

No one has a problem when you make the angle worse for yourself like Robinson did.

 

[I bleed Blue]

People who think Hodge should have gotten rubbed out for the Murphy collision are either being very silly, or know nothing about football, and you are reflecting poorly on this board.

He was lucky to get off the Henderson hit, but us not getting free kicks for these incidents are much greater injustices then anything done by the mrp/tribunal.

It's time to move on.

This.

 

[JustaBattler]

People who think Hodge should have gotten rubbed out for the Murphy collision are either being very silly, or know nothing about football, and you are reflecting poorly on this board.

He was lucky to get off the Henderson hit, but us not getting free kicks for these incidents are much greater injustices then anything done by the mrp/tribunal.

It's time to move on.

IF the AFL hadn't made such a big deal about head contact THEN you would be right - and personally I agree with your sentiment.
However

Hodge made contact with Murphy's head - and he purposefuly made high contact with his head by turning his shoulder into him - thus at the very least delivering a head high contact and an automatic free.

Jumping over Roughead and hitting Henderson in the head with a raised arm elbow - was an even more balatant example of lack of duty of care

minimum - automatic free.

Hodge likes to run through packs and see what happens?

If someone stands their ground it becomes a 50/50 on who makes contact with whose head. His behaviour is agressive chest puffery - in the second instance he wan't going for any ball he was just hoping to collect someone. In the first instance at the end he looked , saw Murphy lower - he decided NOT to go for the ball but instead to protect himself and hit Murphy in dong so.

If Hodge was someone else they would have got weeks. He is a smart sniper that gets away with it more than most .

 

[murphbf08]

now hodge chicken wings scott selwood injuring his shoulder, yeah thats fine 4 weeks if judd does it. the seven commentator say no nothing wrong there , harley and co lovehodge even said on the commentary tonight what a great bloke he is bla bla bla. it is blatant he has elbowsed henderson in the head last doesnt matter what he does protected species

 

[AceAndy]

now hodge chicken wings scott selwood injuring his shoulder, yeah thats fine 4 weeks if judd does it. the seven commentator say no nothing wrong there , harley and co lovehodge even said on the commentary tonight what a great bloke he is bla bla bla. it is blatant he has elbowsed henderson in the head last doesnt matter what he does protected species

Hodge can do no wrong if you listen to his Ch7 mates

 

[Dramoth]

now hodge chicken wings scott selwood injuring his shoulder, yeah thats fine 4 weeks if judd does it. the seven commentator say no nothing wrong there , harley and co lovehodge even said on the commentary tonight what a great bloke he is bla bla bla. it is blatant he has elbowsed henderson in the head last doesnt matter what he does protected species

I hope that he goes this week... but then again... he is a Dawks scumbag so it will get laughed off.

If he was wearing Navy Blue, they would be screaming about how cowardly he is and how he should be rubbed out for the rest of the season.