Whitecross offered a week for having Selwood run into his shoulder

[mollyfud]

Tricky incident. I always think rules have "edge cases". What I mean is that the case is right on the edge of, in reporting terms, being legal to being illegal and that sometimes people are lucky and get off and some are unlucky.

Have to say when I saw the replay of the issue, I thought he would get a week. Looking at it again and there is an argument to say that Selwood was tackled/pushed into Whitey. If it wouldn't mean an extra week if he lost at the tribunal, it is one probably worth challenging even if it means extra points.

I can live with this being an edge case but understand peoples issues with it.

Edit: Just looked at it again here (http://www.afl.com.au/Video/tabid/76/contentid/438403/invoke/Default.aspx) and he does shoulder charge him to a degree. Nothing vicious but careless and probably deserves a week (as sad as I am to see Whitey miss!)

 

[vinum coupe]

Someone put the footage up please.
I had a feeling he would go.

He shouldn't have though.


Randyzany. Give it a rest.
It was light years from a dog act.

 

[gregboy55]

total accident and selwood ran into whitecross

 

[damuzzdu]

Got off scott free.

Considerably worse than the little misdirected love tap Scarlett gave ballentyne.

Whitecross meant to seriously hurt Selwood. He didn't need to stick out his fore-arm to Selwood's face whatsoever.

Because he was remorseful a millisecond after he committed the dog act does not mean he should get off lightly.

what crap, selwood ran into his shoulder ffs

I'm glad another Geelong supporter took you to task.

Rubbish decision...Whitecross should have challenge it.

 

[E92_]

Terrible decision.


Waters decision was also pretty bad IMO.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

Selwood caused the collision and it was completely accidental.

Obscure camera angles with slight leans all in slow motion are hardly evidence of wrong doing.

The time period a stationary Whitecross had to realise what was going to happen, or make a decision was imperceptible.

 

[JUBJUB]

How is this any different to Jarrad Waite in Rd 1 ?
Both Waite and Whitecross had nowhere to go and couldn't avoid the collision.

If Hawthorn challenge it,which they should,can they call the ump to give evidence ? He said it was an accident.
The fact no Geelong player remonstrated with Whitecross was also an indication it was accidental.

 

[fpm84]

Should have been a free kick to Selwood (instead, it was paid as holding the ball against Christensen who clearly got a handball away) - but certainly not reportable. The Selwood-Ray clash in round 1 last year was much worse and Ray wasn't suspended.

Great sportsmanship by Whitecross too to check Selwood was OK and even help call over the Geelong trainers

 

[Magma]

my word what is this sport coming to?

what was whitecross meant to do? move aside and let selwood past? it was an accident, certainly not worthy of missing a week.

 

[Supercats]

I seem to remember instantly the Umpire clearly stating straight away that the contact was an accident and that's why there was no free kick. Ridiculous decision.

It should have been a free kick and left at that. Has then been any explanation from the umpires as to why it was not a free kick. That accident excuse for not paying a free was just pathetic. I'm sure lonegan would claim those three free's for over the shoulder on buddy in marking contests were accidental as well.

 

[wotdoiput]

Accidental contact.... totally ridiculous to report him.. but the thats the way the MRP works I guess.

 

[Subprime]

Umpire said it best, "That's an accident"

 

[wce1989]

I just re-watched the footage and it's even more of a clear-cut case than I thought.

Whitecross tackles Christensen, and is only just getting up to his feet when Selwood barges through and strikes Whitecross's shoulder with his jaw. He had no traction through his feet and there is no way possible he could dodge Selwood. Unavoidable contact.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Whilst on the subject of the MRP this week.

Lonergan has to go because his tackle was deemed as 'medium impact'.
[YOUTUBE]P3cc-DPokrU[/YOUTUBE]

Yet Waters' hit was deemed as 'low impact' meaning he escaped suspension.
[YOUTUBE]BJOUU4Fyq_U[/YOUTUBE]

The MRP are a consistent joke.

 

[Ice-Wolf]

Selwood should have been done for headbutting/charging etc. j/k

Why is it that only the injurer has a duty of care and not the injuree. Players can just dive in head first with no regard for their own safety and the other guy who tries to protect himself gets cited.

 

[wotdoiput]

It should have been a free kick and left at that. Has then been any explanation from the umpires as to why it was not a free kick. That accident excuse for not paying a free was just pathetic. I'm sure lonegan would claim those three free's for over the shoulder on buddy in marking contests were accidental as well.

Wasnt a free kick as a free kick was just paid against a Geelong player for holding the ball, and when it happened it as a continuation of play and the umpiring was whistling for the ball to go back to Hawthorn.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Very stiff, Hawks should appeal big time

 

[Duskfire]

If I accidentally run someone over I still get in trouble for it

Just kidding, it shouldnt have been anything.

 

[red+black]

Harsh. I can see the justification for a week, but if AFL was the game I want it to be, that would get a reprimand and points, no time served.

 

[isen river]

I think it's in the best interests of every club that Whitecross doesn't get suspended for that, all he did was brace himself. This is what happens when you have a system that bases everything purely on technical indicators without taking into account the context of the contact. After tackling Christensen he turns around and has a split second to brace himself for oncoming contact with Selwood, who was coming in hard under a Sam Mitchell tackle. He's actions in this case were reasonable in the context. There are to many variables to account for, for sole responsibility of the blame to land on Whitecross' shoulders. There are clearly mitigating circumstances to this situation, i'm not sure the same can be said for the Beau Waters hit.

 

[damuzzdu]

The match review panel issued him with a level two rough conduct charge, assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points).

This draws 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction.

Only gets 1 week with early plea.

MRP you are kidding surely??

 

[dipper86]

The people stating he had a choice to tackle have absolutely no understanding. he had no choice but to brace he went to ground and on his way up selwood running full tilt went straight at him, he has every right to brace and protect himself.

 

[Hawkinspired]

Umpire said it best, "That's an accident"

Exactly. Like I need to feel anymore rage after the game yesterday. The umpire said it was an accident and no free kick was paid. This has to account for something.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Funny if Hawthorn challenge, they could call the umpire as a witness… “that was accidental”. Wonder how that would pan out?

 

[Ice-Wolf]

The match review panel issued him with a level two rough conduct charge, assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points).

This draws 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction.

Only gets 1 week with early plea.

MRP you are kidding surely??

How was it negligent? MRP are ridiculous.

I cant see how it could be reasonable for Whitecross to assume that Selwood would charge headfirst into his shoulder in that situation.