Oppo Camp Non Geelong football (AFL) discussion 2023, part I

[Shell]

I realise the weather conditions may have played a part but the Collingwood sides that played the Qualifying Finals in 2022 and 2023 seem really far apart. Collingwood 2022 would have torn last night's Pies a new one.

The 2022 Qualifying Final between Collingwood and Geelong remains one of the best finals games ever played. Last night's game between the Pies and Melbourne was complete and utter 'meh'.

I found it be very comedic tbh.

 

[Partridge]

He should be.. I find the media’s pursuit of a not guilty verdict fascinating if you are looking at it from the rules as they are written and previous outcomes.

I think it's pretty much the same as it always is.

Everyone wants to protect the head. Until a player from their own team knocks someone into the next week, then amazingly it becomes a "football act / accident / opposing player slipped" insert your own excuse.

Simply because he was knocked out and stretchered off, if it's all about protecting the head - and he had disposed of the ball, Maynard never had it - then the only question is how many weeks.

My money is on 2 weeks, appeal down to 1 so he makes the Grand final. Eddie will moan about it constantly, and gutless bitches like all the commentators last night were already singing from the hymnbook.

 

[STPer18]

Maynard probably gets weeks for that IF the AFL are consistent. Previous years I reckon you'd get away with it but this year guys are getting done for poorly executed tackles, so the 'poorly executed smother' excuse shouldn't cut it. It's effectively 'if guy gets hit in the head and concussed then you're in trouble', let alone knocking the guy out cold.

 

[Partridge]

Maynard probably gets weeks for that IF the AFL are consistent. Previous years I reckon you'd get away with it but this year guys are getting done for poorly executed tackles, so the 'poorly executed smother' excuse shouldn't cut it. It's effectively if guy gets hit in the head and concussed then you're in trouble, let alone knocking the guy out cold.

With a shoulder to the face.
And the player had disposed of the ball.
And the offending player left the ground to do it.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

I found it be very comedic tbh.

As in they both spudded along in that last quarter? JFC what a bunch of spuds!

 

[Shell]

As in they both spudded along in that last quarter? JFC what a bunch of spuds!

Melbourne spudding in particular.

Was quite breathtaking.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Melbourne spudding in particular.

Was quite breathtaking.

Yeah. They had that game and the Pies on toast, the spuds. If that was us I'd be annoyed. Then drunk. Then sleepy.

 

[STPer18]

With a shoulder to the face.
And the player had disposed of the ball.
And the offending player left the ground to do it.

Yep it ticks every box. The tribunal love bringing up alternatives ie when you were tackling you should've switched the arm you were holding and changed the angle etc etc in a split second which is normally ridiculous, but here Maynard probably could've easily just frogsplashed Brayshaw or done anything apart from what he did and they'd both get up giggling. And agree once the circus is done he'll be free for GF day if they make it there.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I think it's pretty much the same as it always is.

Everyone wants to protect the head. Until a player from their own team knocks someone into the next week, then amazingly it becomes a "football act / accident / opposing player slipped" insert your own excuse.

Simply because he was knocked out and stretchered off, if it's all about protecting the head - and he had disposed of the ball, Maynard never had it - then the only question is how many weeks.

My money is on 2 weeks, appeal down to 1 so he makes the Grand final. Eddie will moan about it constantly, and gutless bitches like all the commentators last night were already singing from the hymnbook.

It was nauseating boys club rubbish from 7, as usual.

The rules are: If you choose to be physical, and get someone head high, you're gone. Even worse if they're concussed.

Tackle, bump, punch, it doesn't matter. It's been that way for years now.

Agree with it or not, those are the rules...but we seem to forget that everytime these incidents happen.

You're spot on with the commentators. If it was a GWS player I doubt they even bring it up, let alone let him plead his case on live TV.

 

[goyoucatters]

He should be. I find the media’s pursuit of a not guilty verdict fascinating if you are looking at it from the rules as they are written and previous outcomes.

That's one word for it. Another would be predictable. And yet another would be nauseating. The 'good bloke' discount well and truly at play again here.

Player who 'plays the game as it should be played' commits a misdemeanour; nothing to see here.
Player without blokey profile or known public sympathy commits same misdemeanour; 'Oh boy, Wowee!'

Rinse and repeat.

 

[The_Koulouriotis_Fan]

I’m definitely on the Port bandwagon. Hard to see anyone halting Collingwood’s momentum at this stage though unfortunately - Brisbane best positioned to challenge; I’m not much of a fan of theirs either though tbh…

I see it completely differently, any of the other challengers beat the Pies last night. I think the premiership is between Brisbane and Port, Collingwood don’t have enough weapons. Melbourne were all over them but have a terrible forward system

 

[Chinacats]

Bruz Maynard suspended? No way not for jumping to smother then bracing for contact. He’ll be fine for prelim Bruz!

 

[patience]

I just don't see how Maynard doesn't get weeks. What would I know?

 

[jim boy]

Player who 'plays the game as it should be played' commits a misdemeanour; nothing to see here.
Player without blokey profile or known public sympathy commits same misdemeanour; 'Oh boy, Wowee!'

Yeah - ex-players dont want to be seen to be in the 'woke' team.

While I dont question that maynard didn't mean to hurt Brayshaw, the reality was that he ran straight at Brayshaw, jumped in the air and turned the shoulder and collected Brayshaw high. He wasn't competing for the ball and he was far too late for the smother anyway. There was no deviation from Brayshaw, no slipping, nothing unexpected - Maynard could predict exactly the path of Brayshaw.
Effectively it will be seen as a bump and that Maynard should have reasonably known that his action would have resulted in a high collision with Brayshaw - the fact that is in a 'final' isn't a valid excuse.
MRO, who should always take the attitude that there is a reasonable prospect of a guilty verdict, should assess as high, severe and at best reckless - and send straight to the tribunal.
IMHO the tribunal will see this as an unnecessarily risky action by Maynard that resulted in severe concussion. It will be something that want to stamp out and they will impose a penalty in the region of three or four weeks. To do otherwise would be seen as evidence that the AFL is not serious at minimising concussion injuries, which would put the AFL itself in increased legal jeopardy

 

[Goggin Our Best]

It was nauseating boys club rubbish from 7, as usual.

The rules are: If you choose to be physical, and get someone head high, you're gone. Even worse if they're concussed.

Tackle, bump, punch, it doesn't matter. It's been that way for years now.

Agree with it or not, those are the rules...but we seem to forget that everytime these incidents happen.

You're spot on with the commentators. If it was a GWS player I doubt they even bring it up, let alone let him plead his case on live TV.

Ok - youve given your view re an incident not involving a Geel player

If you are consistent - then your precedent would be that Dangerfield has to get suspended for the head high hit on Nick Vaustin with the elbow to the head in the GF - same result - player knocked out

Im no fan of Maynard - especially last night - he was so stirred up and agro - it was ridiculous

However as Danger said in the commentary himself - Maynard was caught in an awkward position - off the ground because he was trying to smother the kick - and he had to protect himself - thus there is an element of doubt

Anyone with any legal background would be super confident that Maynard will get off if he is cited

And Maynard and Dangerfield in those 2 incidents are the only 2 who know if their actions were deliberate - everyone else is guessing

As for Collingwood - and ive been bullish on the Magpies - they won the game thats it - they were not impressive at all - and if you barracked for them you would be concerned - however they have got 2 aces up their sleeve - their Champion young player - won the coaches award - he comes back in -massive in and Melb their biggest danger by far - theve got to qualify via Alice Springs to get into the GF - they have got a monumental task in front of them

And you would hope they bring Noble back in - gives them good run - and get rid of Ginnivan - he is just a distraction and a nuisance

 

[David the Cat]

Gravity gets 3 weeks...Maynard will walk.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Ok - youve given your view re an incident not involving a Geel player

If you are consistent - then your precedent would be that Dangerfield has to get suspended for the head high hit on Nick Vaustin with the elbow to the head in the GF - same result - player knocked out

Im no fan of Maynard - especially last night - he was so stirred up and agro - it was ridiculous

However as Danger said in the commentary himself - Maynard was caught in an awkward position - off the ground because he was trying to smother the kick - and he had to protect himself - thus there is an element of doubt

Anyone with any legal background would be super confident that Maynard will get off if he is cited

And Maynard and Dangerfield in those 2 incidents are the only 2 who know if their actions were deliberate - everyone else is guessing

As for Collingwood - and ive been bullish on the Magpies - they won the game thats it - they were not impressive at all - and if you barracked for them you would be concerned - however they have got 2 aces up their sleeve - their Champion young player - won the coaches award - he comes back in -massive in and Melb their biggest danger by far - theve got to qualify via Alice Springs to get into the GF - they have got a monumental task in front of them

And you would hope they bring Noble back in - gives them good run - and get rid of Ginnivan - he is just a distraction and a nuisance

Sure, Paddy should have been gone too.

FWIW, even being younger, I want old school footy back...but I'm just pointing out the rules here and the problems they've caused.

If you get a player high and you've chosen a physical action, whether it be a bump, tackle or punch, then you're gone.

The AFL say this over and over, and then everytime it happens we're making excuses. It's the problem with the whole system.

If it was as cut & dry as they make it out to be, there wouldn't be a problem.

It would set a precedent and that would be it. The problem happens when someone gets off every second week and then we have to rethink the whole thing again.

I guarantee you if we just made this clear once and for all, Maynard wouldn't have even attempted what he did in the first place. It would be out of the game completely, as players would be s**t scared of getting weeks.

The AFL can't crap on all year about protecting the head, and then be make excuses everytime a player gets concussed. It's one or the other.

 

[00VicWard001]

Pickett and Fritsch 3 goals, 5 behinds, 2 OOF.

New Pies recruits McStay and Hill 5 goals, 1 behind (from way less entries).

There's the game.

That was embarrassing execution. Petracca - two out of bounds on the full too.

 

[And_ROOS]

I just don't see how Maynard doesn't get weeks. What would I know?

Because the AFL loves their money spinner in Collingwood and their pleb supporters will load up on Premiership merch.

They will give him 1 week so he doesn't miss the GF if the Pies make it.

 

[00VicWard001]

Than Pickett?

He'd be right up there. Flies for marks when he should be at ground level, and when he does get the ball has a rare ability to kick it on the full with regularity.

Wildly overrated player.

Throw in Fritsch who can play but is a flanker not a key forward, McDonald who is completely shot, and Smith who just isn't up to it yet, and you have a rubbish forward line.

Ben Brown would have been useful last night. Gives them structure.

 

[00VicWard001]

With a shoulder to the face.
And the player had disposed of the ball.
And the offending player left the ground to do it.

Even if he smothered that ball, he was landing shoulder first into Brayshaw's head.

They talk about it being in split seconds, but they forget something very important. These guys are professional athletes at the very top of the tree in their sport. They work in split seconds. They see things in slow motion. They have incredible balance and agility (except Mason Cox), their timing is near perfect, and they see patterns of play seconds before the fans and commentators see it. It's like how boxers operate. Its completely controlled and to the naked eye it looks spontaneous and random, but its very coordinated.

Maynard would have known exactly what was happening the whole time that play was going on.

It wasnt an accident. An accident is Rohan clipping Cameron.

 

[00VicWard001]

As in they both spudded along in that last quarter? JFC what a bunch of spuds!

Collingwood do something really well that most teams dont have an answer for - they start beautifully. THey have a gameplan and they do it unbelievably well. But it works for a quarter and a half, where they can really put a gap on you.

After that, fatigue sets in and other teams get into their groove. Teams have to stop the overlap run in the first quarter, or turn the ball over and put the Pies players out of position, where the forwards run towards goal and double back and the midfielders lower their f*cking eyes. Seriously. Moore is not spoiling lace out to the chest passes to leading forwards. He controls the air when it is a genuine contest.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

I think it's pretty much the same as it always is.

Everyone wants to protect the head. Until a player from their own team knocks someone into the next week, then amazingly it becomes a "football act / accident / opposing player slipped" insert your own excuse.

Simply because he was knocked out and stretchered off, if it's all about protecting the head - and he had disposed of the ball, Maynard never had it - then the only question is how many weeks.

My money is on 2 weeks, appeal down to 1 so he makes the Grand final. Eddie will moan about it constantly, and gutless bitches like all the commentators last night were already singing from the hymnbook.

He'll get 1 week, nothing surer.

 

[Vdubs]

Did they? We were clearly the best team in the comp for the second half of last year. We looked the likely premiers from quite a way out I reckon. That Geelong team would beat the current pies team comfortably-it was wet last night, so might be a factor, but the pies have dropped off. Brissys best chance for years I reckon.

That particular final tested us. After and during the game, there were many comments. Great if you missed them. Nothing sinister, just that we were lucky, Rohan had a rare great final, and at times, Pies had our measure.

 

[Vdubs]

Sure, Paddy should have been gone too.

FWIW, even being younger, I want old school footy back...but I'm just pointing out the rules here and the problems they've caused.

If you get a player high and you've chosen a physical action, whether it be a bump, tackle or punch, then you're gone.

The AFL say this over and over, and then everytime it happens we're making excuses. It's the problem with the whole system.

If it was as cut & dry as they make it out to be, there wouldn't be a problem.

It would set a precedent and that would be it. The problem happens when someone gets off every second week and then we have to rethink the whole thing again.

I guarantee you if we just made this clear once and for all, Maynard wouldn't have even attempted what he did in the first place. It would be out of the game completely, as players would be s**t scared of getting weeks.

The AFL can't crap on all year about protecting the head, and then be make excuses everytime a player gets concussed. It's one or the other.

defence will be it was a football act at that exact second; he was adamant immediately and motioned what he tried to do