MRP / Trib. AFL Round 20 charges - Steve Johnson cleared of misconduct for kneeing Scott Thompson

[candiehappy]

I think that the incident itself was soft, but here we go again. SJ to miss when we have a vital game that we must win. His attitude saturday night was generally piss poor - wasn't going that well and starts behaving like a nong.

 

[FredLeDeux]

If they're extremely confident, after speaking to their North Melbourne colleagues, that the medical report showed nothing (or, better yet, that there was no medical report - scandalous, if that's true), I'd suggest that the argument should revolve around, both the insufficient force, as well as the defence that Johnson had attempted to extricate himself multiple times, Thompson kept grabbing him to pull him down and when the contact was made, it was caused by Thompson making contact with Johnson's legs, causing him to lose his balance.

I think, given the criticism in the media of this decision, and others this week, they'll be looking to clear Johnson, if we can provide a reasonable defence. The tribunal (and/or appeals board, if we're unsuccessful) has shown a bit more of an inclination to make 'common sense' decisions than in previous years. At the end of the day, after seeing the incident, Johnson still shouldn't have put himself in that position and he needs to realise that he's walking on eggshells for the rest of his career, but he has a right to feel a bit aggrieved by that decision. I don't think it was anywhere near as bad as the Jones one. I probably went a bit too hard on him, on the basis that I thought it was a carbon copy of the Jones incident. He still needs to change that mindset, but from what we've seen and heard, I think it's worth challenging.

Definitely not as bad as the Jones one.

 

[catswhiskers]

I think that the incident itself was soft, but here we go again. SJ to miss when we have a vital game that we must win. His attitude saturday night was generally piss poor - wasn't going that well and starts behaving like a nong.

Yep but wasn't it great that the kids just left him to it and got on with winning the game!!! A really big plus.

 

[JUBJUB]

not sure if it has been said but apparently the doctors report wasnt very positive for sj.

Well we know the Norf doctors aren't exactly the best.Just ask Lachie Hansen last year.
Oh wait,I've found Norfs doctor

 

[Zouz Kitty]

On a side note, completely off track, but I'm absolutley loving your new avatar

Thank you so much DV, the wonderfully talented Bobby_ made it for me

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Completely took the piss on Saturday night. Johnson needs discipline. He just seems aloof and disinterested too often. Easily put off his game, cement head.

He won't give a shit. He'll be deciding on the golf course he'll be playing on Saturday right now.

If punishment is required, make SJ sit in the stand with the supporters, instead of letting him enjoy himself in the coaching box
Or worse, make him sit with CatMan in the ChSq

 

[Zouz Kitty]

If you ever visit any of the other sub-forums on BigFooty you will know that the one thing every team board has in common is a supporter base subset - the size varies, but generally it's at the very least a marginal majority of the overall fan population - who are convinced the AFL and the MRP are out to screw over their club. If you were to browse through the last year of posts in literally any other team forum, I guarantee you would be able to find dozens of variations of the "the MRP hates [insert own team here] and loves [insert arch-rival/expansion club/pet-equalisation-project club/rich and powerful club here]". Every supporter base has a critical mass of deluded people who, for some reason, labour under the misapprehension that the MRP hates their club despite there being zero evidence in favour of the hypothesis no matter which team it is applied to.

Ultimately, the ubiquitous nature of the "it's all a conspiracy against [the team I support]" phenomenon should tell you something.

Yes I've read them + enjoyed lots of LOLZ, esp the Poos+Wees + Collingcouldn't boards! The difference is that we, Geelong are right + all the others are deluded

 

[Zouz Kitty]

One billion internet dollars to the poster who can prove they predicted this one week suspension directly after the game.

I said it at the time of the offence, when Richo + Darcy said Thompson was acting

 

[candiehappy]

I said it at the time of the offence, when Richo + Darcy said Thompson was acting

must admit - I was there and didn't even see it happen !

 

[Zouz Kitty]

thanks Kitty

As someone else said a little earlier, more so a half glass full kind of guy.

I like your glass half full approach Bobby

 

[vinum coupe]

I've just watched it. What an idiot.

It's almost the only thing I like about the MRP Loading.
If you're a repeat offender, it will catch up with you.

 

[kicksome]

must admit - I was there and didn't even see it happen !

mustard pit?

 

[caitsith01]

One thing is for sure - if they bother to challenge it, their defence better amount to a whole lot more than "Stevie got a week while Merrett got off".

That defence goes pretty well around here. But it will stack up to a very short ride to nowhere at the MRP.

Yep, because the MRP is a farce of an inconsistent kangaroo court which ignores its own precedent, not because it isn't a reasonable comparison.

Usually a Dog basher with this stuff but this one is truly pathetic, even by AFL standards.

 

[caitsith01]

Not trying to sound mean here but its a little insulting to Johnson, let alone just plain wrong, to say we are better off without him. Just a tad. If you said this could be a good test to see how our young midfielders will go without him and may actually be beneficial for our improvement and performance as a team heading into finals to play without him then I could agree. But as for this game we are far better with him in the side this week and the notion that he was guaranteed to get suspended and miss a game against Carlton is also a bit unfair.

Johnson could quite literally be the difference between another flag or getting nothing out of 2014. As his early season form showed, when he's fit and has his head in the right place he's one of the best players on the league.

 

[SJ]

I've just watched it. What an idiot.

It's almost the only thing I like about the MRP Loading.
If you're a repeat offender, it will catch up with you.

It's meant to be a deterrent, but most people can't see the system with any more depth than 'he got two weeks for this but he got off for that!'.

 

[candiehappy]

mustard pit?

smelt like it !!

 

[Strangled Cat]

It was worth 125 points... which would be a reprimand (with early plea) for any player without a prior bad record... that is what is doing SJ in.

EDIT: Merrett should have got done for his elbow, but his elbow and SJ's kneeing offences are mutually exclusive

The points system is a load of shit. Carry over points system is a load of bullshit. The MRP is a joke. The human element of common sense being applied to any decision has been completely removed from the equation. I just don't like the whole setup and SJ's suspension is just one of a whole line of suspensions which shit me to tears.

 

[SJ]

The points system is a load of shit. Carry over points system is a load of bullshit. The MRP is a joke. The human element of common sense being applied to any decision has been completely removed from the equation. I just don't like the whole setup and SJ's suspension is just one of a whole line of suspensions which shit me to tears.

Exhibit A vinum coupe.

 

[candiehappy]

The points system is a load of shit. Carry over points system is a load of bullshit. The MRP is a joke. The human element of common sense being applied to any decision has been completely removed from the equation. I just don't like the whole setup and SJ's suspension is just one of a whole line of suspensions which shit me to tears.

maybe, but everybody - and especially the players - know what the system is.

SJ will get to 250 games but he won't get to 300. i wonder if he will get to the end of his career and look back and wonder if he shouldn't have pulled his head in ?

 

[Strangled Cat]

Exhibit A vinum coupe.

What?

 

[SJ]

What?

We had just been discussing the advantages of the system.

Why is it poor? What is wrong with serving the 'left over' parts of your previous charge next time? If anything, it's lenient.

 

[vinum coupe]

We had just been discussing the advantages of the system.

Why is it poor? What is wrong with serving the 'left over' parts of your previous charge next time? If anything, it's lenient.

Part of me agrees with SC.
There are a lot of cases where they should be using a human element.

i.e. Using the points system player A was given 225 activation points. The MRP however, when looking at the penalty believed this to be too harsh.
Therefor it has been adjusted down to 130 points.With an early pleas this can be reduced to 97 points.

But in the case of repeat offenders (like SJ) he deserves loading.

Probably the only other thing I don't like is what the loading is applied to.
For example. You have a poor record for 2 bad bumps. And then you 'recklessly' trip someone.
I really don't think you should get loading for that. But I see no other way.

Maybe only apply loading to striking charges?

 

[Generalissimo]

Why is it poor? What is wrong with serving the 'left over' parts of your previous charge next time? If anything, it's lenient.

Because it allows the MRP to keep attacking the same player over and over and over, by turning non-incidents into reprimands with carryover points and further non-incidents into suspensions.

 

[SJ]

Because it allows the MRP to keep attacking the same player over and over and over, by turning non-incidents into reprimands with carryover points and further non-incidents into suspensions.

But that has nothing to do with carry-over points, that has to do with whether the incident is worth a charge or not.

 

[catempire]

The deterrent objective of carry-over points and loading is fine in theory. In theory. What it requires to work properly is that players are only cited for incidents in which their conduct is deliberate, reckless or negligent. Where it falls down is that there is a litany of cases where the player is suspended for accidental conduct or, more particularly, conduct within which there is no possibility of them having regard to the MRP consequences of carry-over points or loading. That is, split-second 'decisions' to contest/bump/jump/spoil, etc.

The deterrent effect, as a consequence is distorted.