Toast James Sicily - Hawthorn captain 2023 - AA 2023!

[Mitchell Madness]

The continual manipulation of the grading to get the desired outcome is what annoys me, not the suspension itself.

That was low impact, not medium. It happens a lot, and our players tend to cop it most.
They also manipulate it so players who are in contention for awards get lower gradings for harder hits

 

[KermitJagger]

He chose to bump? He chose to try and get his body in front of the other player. Happens in a pack marking situation 20 times a game. If we are serious about head protection, MAKE ALL THE PLAYERS WEAR A BRADSHAW LIKE HELMUT...

What's a bradshaw and why is Helmut wearing one?

 

[Simon Crawshay]

The continual manipulation of the grading to get the desired outcome is what annoys me, not the suspension itself.

That was low impact, not medium. It happens a lot, and our players tend to cop it most.
They also manipulate it so players who are in contention for awards get lower gradings for harder hits

I can guarantee that if that same identical incident happened to Bontempelli last round of the season they are grading it low and he walks away with a fine.

Really the MRP is basically a glorified popularity contest

 

[RUSHORE]

I can guarantee that if that same identical incident happened to Bontempelli last round of the season they are grading it low and he walks away with a fine.

Really the MRP is basically a glorified popularity contest

Cripps 2nd last round last year:

 

[SSSSSS]

It’s clear the AFL is doing whatever it can to reduce, if not eliminate, players heads getting struck in tackles / bumps.

Hodge was able to do that 5 - 20 years ago because the competition (and the players) didn’t appreciate the link between repeated head collisions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Knowing what we do now (Tuck, Frawley, Farmer, Barnes, Smith, etc) the rules change and we have to protect the head at all costs.

Hodge would be suspended now if he did - and rightly so. People should learn and adjust their behaviour accordingly.

It’s pretty simple.

Hodge was also one of the 'good blokes'.

Sicily doesn't get the 'good bloke' tax-break that a lot of the stars and media darlings get when it comes to these line-ball calls.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Cripps 2nd last round last year:

He actually copped weeks. The media went into "save paddy" mode, and after 2 appeals, it was overturned

 

[RUSHORE]

He actually copped weeks. The media went into "save paddy" mode, and after 2 appeals, it was overturned

Same net result

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Same net result

The media have the opposite approach with Sicily, they actually appear to encourage the MRP to go harder than warranted.

 

[Roddy]

His game the other day was the very definition of the terms 'lead from the front' and 'lead by example'.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

His game the other day was the very definition of the terms 'lead from the front' and 'lead by example'.

His game was that, and also a real drag the team up.
I've been very critical of his games, both from an output perspective, and a leadership perspective.
This game was amazing and what we needed though

 

[tommyk72]

I think we'll find it very hard to win this week without Sicily in the team.

I also think that James needs to understand that his actions can be the difference between us winning and losing now - he's that good. His suspension was really unlucky - he couldn't have tackled as the guy didn't have the ball, and minute changes of direction in microseconds meant he clipped him and deserved to go - but it's a good thing for him to make sure he keeps in his mind in the future.

 

[Buttonsticher]

Crows challenge the Laird suspension with success. Reckon Sic would be playing this weekend if we did the same

On SM-N960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[peetoo]

Yep Will Day got 2 weeks for similar things that were dropped this week.

It s the hawthorn loading, the ‘potential’

The AFL wont sanction us openly, just lots of little weak acts while other clubs feel smug. Really no point appealing

 

[threesixpio]

For all those c**** who said he was a shit captain earlier in the year go look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself to get f**ked

Legend

I forhive you after you have done this

 

[Roddy]

Close to the best player in the league at the moment. Huge call I know, but there it is…

 

[Denver Day Lewis]

His game the other day was the very definition of the terms 'lead from the front' and 'lead by example'.

Words to live by.

One of the all time great defensive games from Sicily. 42 disposals, most of them pure quality. 16 marks. Incredible stuff.

And this time with feeling.

Close to the best player in the league at the moment. Huge call I know, but there it is…

Lovely.

 

[TheExtractorFactor]

Imagining this version of him in the golden era. We might have won in ‘11 and ‘12 too.

 

[peetoo]

Imagining this version of him in the golden era. We might have won in ‘11 and ‘12 too.

You mean alongside Gibbo? Awesome

 

[TheExtractorFactor]

You mean alongside Gibbo? Awesome

Yep, would have been special. Was our one glaring weakness before Lake came.

 

[SammyC]

Will be a massive big game player when we are contending. Just loves the contest and thrives on the moment.

Love him and his attitude. Hope he gets to hold the cup up one day not too far away.

 

[Denver Day Lewis]

Close to the best player in the league at the moment. Huge call I know, but there it is…

Put differently, if all 18 coaches had the choice between N. Daicos and J. Sicily (perhaps you could add in a couple of others) who would be picked first?

Possibly more might select Daicos (or Bontempelli or whoever) but it would a spirited discussion. The man can play.

 

[naysayer]

Has an arrogance and a way of dominating rarely seen. Best team in the comp? He just doesn't care, he knows that no-one can match his best.

Just got to get him back playing finals. Born for it.

 

[Hodginator]

Will be interesting to hear the justification for leaving him out of this years AA team.

 

[SSSSSS]

Felt like it was going to be his day from the first few moments.

Every touch turned to gold. Every bounce fell his way.

What a performance.

 

[Roddy]

Put differently, if all 18 coaches had the choice between N. Daicos and J. Sicily (perhaps you could add in a couple of others) who would be picked first?

Possibly more might select Daicos (or Bontempelli or whoever) but it would a spirited discussion. The man can play.

He’s at the very, very pointy end, whatever the case…