Player Watch Willie Rioli

[ClintEastwood]

Who started the broken jaw rumour?

Probably Dermott ****ing Brereton given how hard he was blatantly barracking for Essendon.

 

[agmsy]

There is no way Rioli planned to take Jordan Ridley high.

That's why it's been graded careless and not intentional. I don't think the club will be successful if they go in trying to argue that it's not a reportable offence, particularly given the media chorus about it being a ways off the ball.

There's no question he made high contact, so we can't challenge that.

Ridley was subbed out of the game with concussion, so the MRO doesn't currently have much choice but to grade it as severe. If he'd left the field of play and come back after sitting out the HIA period, it'd be high. If he'd left the field but not undergone an assessment, it's probably medium; low if he gets up and plays on.

The tribunal panelists can exercise discretionary judgement when they confer, but it's hard to see how this lands at less than 2 weeks. It'll likely be at least 3.

Which is ... whatever. The problem will not be the penalty Rioli receives. The problem is that the league is still all in on outcome over action, which means we're seeing acts every week that are much more dangerous than what Rioli did attract lesser penalties because the offending players don't win the eggshell skull lottery or don't hit their opponent right on the button.

 

[Sir Watchalot]

Rioli deserves a ban, even a 2-3 week ban to be honest, but the problem is there will be no Consistent application of this penalty ...

There will be anomalies but I have to say I've never seen a year where the AFL has been more consistent with punishing head injuries. Both in laying charges and awarding meaningful penalties.

 

[Schulzenfest]

By ranking literally any contact that happens to cause a concussion as severe, the AFL have left themselves nowhere to go. Rioli's glancing blow gets the same grading as Barry Hall on Brent Staker. Well done to whichever genius was in charge of that.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Insufficient evidence. You can't tell what happened from the footage shown, unless there is other evidence then i'm not sure how he can be suspended based on that.

Unfortunately the pseudo-legal system that the AFL uses will just make it up as they go along and he'll probably get 2 weeks.

If Rioli comes out and says he didn't actually touch him I'm not sure they could prove he did.

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[bomberclifford]

If Ridley wasn't concussed and came back on, does anyone here think that Rioli would even be cited?

It's clear from the vision that any impact from Rioli was minimal, his head doesn't even move, he then reacts a few seconds later and hits the ground with a full face plant with a leading chin. Not one comment about that being the potential cause of the concussion and broken-but-not-broken jaw.

It's mental.

 

[Brian McGee]

So the charge is striking. Essentially they are saying this is the equivalent of a punch. It will be interesting to see the tribunals version of events and how they justify this action as suspendable. I am not sure it even is.

 

[Waspy79]

By ranking literally any contact that happens to cause a concussion as severe, the AFL have left themselves nowhere to go. Rioli's glancing blow gets the same grading as Barry Hall on Brent Staker. Well done to whichever genius was in charge of that.

Nowhere to go except the tribunal which can give whatever penalty it deems appropriate.
It’s all about assigning matrix ratings that deliver the outcome being sought. In Junior’s case minimum 3. In Hall’s case minimum 3.

 

[manureid]

Interesting when zero video evidence he even touched him. The fact he dived like Neymar having a leaf brush his leg at the world cup makes it look even more ridiculous. Seriously wouldn't be shocked if he actually injured himself flopping for a free kick.

 

[TeeKray]

The only way to beat this is to plead not guilty and argue it wasn't a strike. Otherwise he's getting 3 weeks.

 

[DazzaTys]

I hope the club contests this and not rolls over. Deserves a week but three is ridiculous. Trying to get separation with Ridley’s arms wrapped around him. It’s careless not sever.

 

[backtozero]

Is there still the risk that if you challenge the ruling, they can increase the penalty? I haven't been keeping up with how this kangaroo court operates.

 

[TeeKray]

Is there still the risk that if you challenge the ruling, they can increase the penalty? I haven't been keeping up with how this kangaroo court operates.

Nah, that system no longer exists. Regardless, Rioli hasn't been offered anything, he's been sent straight to the tribunal.

 

[Kenny_Powers]

Looking at the vision, it looks like it's Riolis right arm that glances his jaw after he'd passed him, looks accidental, silly for Junior to leave the ground.

The concussion call is a bit strange, It may well be, trust the medicos know and made the call, but watching the footage, after the contact the way Ridley props, throws his arms up, spins around then face plants doesn't seem consistent with someone who's concussed.

He then walks off and they all seem more worried about his jaw.


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[Willsy10]

We rolled over with the Jonas suspension that was weak too but I suspect that is because we didn’t really care that Jonas sat out for a week, but this is horse shit and we must fight this as hard as possible.

Something not right about this whole thing. The visual evidence is shit, it looks like **** all.

Is it actually tinfoil hat wearing to think this actually could’ve been a stage for a free kick gone horribly wrong?

Or simply a light accidental blow that got the wrong person at the wrong time.

How can it be a minimum 3 for that?

Ridley probably needs seriously consider retirement if that all it takes to concuss him. Because it was paddy mccartin like. Maybe the game isn’t for you.


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[RossFC]

If there is no evidence of his left shoulder making contact with the player, I'd challenge it, all I see is his right hand backhanding the player.

 

[backtozero]

Leaving the ground should be irrelevant because it wasn't a bump, it was a backhand. Planting your feet and swinging would create a greater impact.

 

[Waspy79]

So many biased opinions here. Ridley got concussed by an off the ball incident initiated by Junior. He deserves a two week ban minimum. That is the equivalent of Ridleys punishment for being the innocent victim.

 

[agmsy]

Jonas

Almost makes you wish we were under the "risk more if you challenge" system, so we could have turned it into a 2-5 week suspension.

If there is no evidence of his left shoulder making contact with the player, I'd challenge it, all I see is his right hand backhanding the player.

So, in other words, he made careless high contact with his right hand and left his opponent concussed. How is that not a reportable (and suspendable) offence under the current rules?

 

[Jimmy95]

I must live in an alternate reality because what I saw was a reckless swing of the arm with closed fist that resulted in a bloke being concussed, assessed for a broken jaw and subbed out of the game.

 

[ClintEastwood]

So many biased opinions here. Ridley got concussed by an off the ball incident initiated by Junior. He deserves a two week ban minimum. That is the equivalent of Ridleys punishment for being the innocent victim.

Has there even been any clear footage of what happened released? You sound awfully sure of yourself.

 

[JakeNeadeFan]

I must live in an alternate reality because what I saw was a reckless swing of the arm with closed fist that resulted in a bloke being concussed, assessed for a broken jaw and subbed out of the game.

Yes you live in an alternate reality. If Rioli meant to hit him it would've looked a lot different

 

[Waspy79]

Has there even been any clear footage of what happened released? You sound awfully sure of yourself.

If you accept that Rioli caused the concussion that’s all that is required. I accept it based on the footage I’ve seen. Any reasonable person would share the same view. He’s guilty beyond any reasonable doubt.

 

[Waspy79]

Yes you live in an alternate reality. If Rioli meant to hit him it would've looked a lot different

It was graded careless Neadey

 

[Jimmy95]

Yes you live in an alternate reality. If Rioli meant to hit him it would've looked a lot different

I agree that rioli didn't mean to hit him but he did and it was reckless. We all know the rules these days with burden of responsibility, if you hit someone high there's going to be a penalty.