Play Nice Toby Greene and "protecting the space"

[Smartest Brain]

Always wonder when is someone going to die from it.. possibly a similar thing that happened to Phil Hughes when the ball hit that particular spot and did what it did to a main artery going to his brain (I think that’s what happened, iirc)..

Exactly. You can imagine mark of the year which actually disables another player due to a knee.

 

[These 4 Walls]

Can anyone put forward a worded rule that wouldn't also apply for say, Gary Moorecrofts mark amongst others?

 

[ptrg]

Spirit of the game.

Never seen anyone do it with a straight leg at 90 degrees to the ground, deliberately.
That’s kicking. Whether it’s a wind up of the leg at the knee, or a flying martial arts straight leg “kick”, it’s still kicking.

 

[Bardo State]

It should be a simple, common sense fix. If the studs of the boot make contact above another players knee then free kick.

Fending with the foot is very dangerous and if we're not careful it'll be another Selwood situation where kids come up practising it because it's effective and not punished.

 

[The Gong]

Make it kicking in danger and a free against and he'll cut it out. It's dangerous play.

 

[RupieDupie]

It’s just like Dusty’s don’t argue, but he uses his foot instead. Keeps the arms free.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

The AFL will wait until a lower profile player does it before it acts. Ask Todd Curley.

 

[The Gong]

Can anyone put forward a worded rule that wouldn't also apply for say, Gary Moorecrofts mark amongst others?

That's a legit marking attempt. Greene's action is very different and is like fending off with his studs. They've made a dozen other rules that require interpretation so they can make one more.

 

[sherb]

Please, Gaff had 1 brain snap

Greene has a storied history of being the biggest jerk in the game

It's a pity, because Greene is a fine footballer and he doesn't need to constantly be such a grub.

 

[ptrg]

 

[TheSunGod]

He is 100% trying to hurt his opponent.

He is trying to protect "his space" (isn't that shepherding / blocking in a marking contest?) and if he hurts his opponent it's bonus points

 

[Leigh Lowther]

Common sense tells us that this should never be allowed, even if not clearly stated in the rules. It doesn't matter to what degree of danger it is, the act of using your feet to gain leverage off an opponent has NEVER been taught or used to any extent besides Toby Greene.

Rules will be amended to stop players from using feet as a means to gain leverage off opponents and we move on. Simple and easy to adjudicate.

If this were to remain legal under the rules then players should start using Dusty's fend off with their feet from now on to exemplify how dumb the AFL can be at times.

 

[boltsbabyblues]

Seems strange that it’s legal. Is it? Is there no rule against it?

yes he should

 

[Ando727]

It's not kicking , look up what kicking is. It's protection of space using leg.

No, it's not just protecting space. If an opposition player runs to contest a mark, and just as he arrives, a boot is lifted to make contact with that player's stomach, genitals, face, etc. Does that sound right to you? Does a player have a duty of care not to launch surprise leg moves on an opposition player? A foot can be a lethal weapon used in that way. Would you be happy if your player got hit in that way? Or is it ok because you happen to have the only bastard dirty enough to do it?

It's laughable that some are giving Greene praise for this move as though he's a genius who thought of something no-one else had, but actually it's not hard to think up, it's just that few players would have the necessary sociopathy to use it.

 

[go you pups]

It isn't if you aren't jumping for the mark. He literally stayed on the ground and side kicked his opponent, that has never been allowed.

Absolutely not in the spirit of the game

I'd call a free kick to Newman for in danger to be honest

 

[Madness101]

To quote Leigh Matthews when asked why Toby should be suspended last year "because you can't kick people in the head".

Not saying he should be suspended this time, as he didn't hit the head, but pay the free kick against him if the umpire deems it deliberate targeting of opposition players with studs.

 

[Milanista28]

Fev used to do it a lot.

 

[Footy 1st]

I will say that Toby is not deliberately trying to hurt his opponent but rather ward them away from the marking space.

Are you just re-wording my posts? 2 very similar posts after mine, 90° and ward/scare them off?

 

[Frank Gallagher]

He's a massive boofhead.

 

[Smartest Brain]

No, it's not just protecting space. If an opposition player runs to contest a mark, and just as he arrives, a boot is lifted to make contact with that player's stomach, genitals, face, etc. Does that sound right to you? Does a player have a duty of care not to launch surprise leg moves on an opposition player? A foot can be a lethal weapon used in that way. Would you be happy if your player got hit in that way? Or is it ok because you happen to have the only bastard dirty enough to do it?

It's laughable that some are giving Greene praise for this move as though he's a genius who thought of something no-one else had, but actually it's not hard to think up, it's just that few players would have the necessary sociopathy to use it.

There's worse on the field which is legal . Who wants to be tackled hard? It hurts. A foot on your hip or a knee to the head? Foot on hip thanks.

 

[Franko Armani]

If Hawkins can do it, why not?

 

[Glenhope]

I don't like it but how can people be in such an uproar over it but not care about knees into temples and so on with a speccy? End of the day they are both a dangerous act during a marking contest...

Knees impact at the speed of the player. Feet arrive at the speed of leg extension. Orders of magnitude difference. Also I've never seen anyone knee the guy behind him going for a mark.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

He is trying to protect "his space" (isn't that shepherding / blocking in a marking contest?) and if he hurts his opponent it's bonus points

There are all the ways other players employ to protect the space, that don't involve just kicking someone.

 

[doppleganger]

For mine it is just clever play, in that he is making space in a marking contest.

The one against Daulhaus was different and dangerous as his leg went high up around the face.

But extending your leg to the gut or upper leg to create space, that isn’t kicking.

 

[JHF1870]

Raising a leg to protect one’s body is understandable but some, obviously including Greene, effectively kick. When he got Dahlhaus he was receiving a handball and somehow hoofed him in the face.

He’s not alone and it needs to be reigned in. Bad look.

Should be ruled the same as a high fend off. Don't think he should be condemned for doing it, but should award a free against just like the aforementioned.