- Mar 1, 2010
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Not suggesting any impropriety, but having the MRO and also 2 out of 3 (ie. majority) of the tribunal panel members being ex Collingwood players is 'interesting' considering who GWS are playing this week in the PF. A cynical view would be that this gross over-representation on the Match Review/ Tribunal has influenced the apparent inconsistency between last week's and this week's charges and verdicts. Unless I've missed it, nobody seems to have raised this blatant conflict of interest.
However, I personally think the apparent inconsistency has been more media-driven than anything else. Toby Greene's actions have been pretty dumb and arguably grubby, so he probably deserves what he's got, but it looks to me that the evidence in this latest case is speculative or inconclusive at best.
What is also interesting is how come the blown up vision was not widely spread throughout the media. Are the media owned???
Why was Neale allowed to be made to look like a fool??? Is this a message to players and others not to treat the authorities like a fool?? Is this a subtle message the the players do not play us?? Is this a message to Willie Rioli???
What message does this send the fans when they are allowed to believe Toby is unjustly treated when the real blown up vision is shown right at the end in the aftermath. Why string along the fans or was that not their intention??? There seems to be a few issues regardless of Toby's guilt in regard to the integrity of the process!!
For example if the blown up vision was displayed throughout so all stakeholders of the AFL community could view it with would rationale consensus be achieved so GWS and Toby would be convinced not to bother challenging the one week in the first place?? Why was the football community seemingly strung along regarding the release of the blown up vision?? Have the fans been been belittled by the authorities through the media through the selective drip feed of information??
If the powers that be, through superior knowledge from witnesses, feel their was a case to answer with Toby in terms of something more sinister with his actions of the past why string him and his closer stakeholders along?? Why not come out with the definitive footage blown spreading it wide and far before the tribunal took place?? Why the need for the extra drama and contention with other stakeholders in regard to questionable pub test adjudications because all the evidence was not fully revealed?? Did the powers that be allow this to fester by not proactively promoting change with Toby informally beforehand even through his closer confidents such as those at GWS who have a greater interest in the well being of Toby on and off the field??
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