I’ve been watching the occasional non-Freo game this year (and of course all of the Freo games).

Nothing too much to complain about so far – MRP and Tribunal have been pretty good from what I’ve seen (but I haven’t seen all games or listened to all comments).

Dean Solomon getting 2 weeks for a elbow to the head in Round 1 was sort-of OK.  But then MRP said Daniel Kerr did do anthing wrong elbowing Rhys Palmer in the head in Round 3.  Crikey!

I’ll hopefully have video soon to show you what I mean.

A new season – I’ll archive all the 2007 stuff soon …

It’s now Monday after Round 21 and the AFLPA page that has been my source for finding out what actually goes on in the MRP and Tribunal hasn’t been updated since Round 19.

Anyone got a better place to get this stuff without needing to go to the AFL web site (that’s what I meant when I said ‘Slow’).

This is a big one.

Steven Baker (Saints) has been suspended for seven weeks by the AFL Tribunal for engaging in rough conduct against Jeff Farmer (Freo).

Apparently Baker blocked Farmer, who ran into the back of Baker.  Farmer was left with a broken nose, concussion and missed the remainder of the Freo V Saints game.  Farmer will probably not play against Melbourne this week.

Baker won’t be playing until early 2008.

The Tribunal accepted Bakers story over those of Farmer, a Freo trainer and player manager Ricky Nixon, then suspended him for 4 weeks, increasing to 7 from previous a poor record and carry over points.

Big one.

I found a good link on the AFL web site for Tribunal Statistics for all seasons.

Go here and you can find the results of Tribunal decisions for the 2007 Premiership Season.

I’ve added most of the details for Jason Roe’s (Brisbane) hit on Luke Brennan, plus a video.

I reckon Roe should’ve gone for more than 1 week – he appeared to be going for the ball (moreso than Ben Johnson), but it was still a front-on-bump.  Dunno why Roe didn’t get a bigger penalty, but that’s the MRP in 2007.

Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley has “accused the AFL’s match review panel of inconsistency, after midfielder Ben Johnson was hit with a suspension of up to eight matches“.

Yes, the MRP is inconsistent.  But if Michael Johnson got 4 weeks for not injuring anyone, then Ben Johnson should have received more.  It’s all the front-on-bumps in the middle of the season that were let off lightly (see link to Patrick Smiths article in the previous post).

The AFL said before the season started that it was cracking down on front-on-bumps.  It cracked down at the beginning of the season, let people off in the middle, and is now cracking down again.

Yes, Mr. Buckley, that’s inconsistent.

Patrick Smith (The Australian) has had a go at the Johnson V Bell and Baker V Farmer incidents from the weekend.

A couple of points of interest:

• “If it had been Buckley (instead of Farmer that Baker had Felled) then teams of journalists would have formed lines across Telstra Dome in a precise forensic search for clues.”
• Malthouse said last year (after Caracella was forced to retire from injuries from a front-on-bump) that any bump to the head should draw a minimum penalty of a six-week suspension.
• “After an initial flurry of concern over these sorts of bumps which saw Byron Pickett suspended for six matches at the start of the 2005 season and Mathew Stokes from Geelong and Michael Johnson from Fremantle suspended for four matches this pre-season, these bumps have been tolerated.  The penalty applied to Johnson yesterday is timely.”

Nice work Patrick.  Just what I said.

Ben Johnson (Collingwood) has been reported for a front-on-bump against Daniel Bell (Melbourne).  Bell had to be stretchered off.

The MRP has given him 8 weeks, 6 weeks with a guilty plea.

Cracking down again now that it’s close to the finals – that’s consistency.  Johnson deserves a harsh penalty for this one (like Michael Johnson and Matthew Stokes received in the pre-season), but what about the other ones mid-season that escaped the wrath of the MRP??

See comparisons here.

Obvious one from Round 14.

Shannon Grant (Roos) tried to kicked the ball off the ground but kicked Brett Delidio’s (Tigers) hand and broke it.  Delidio is out for 4-6 weeks.

The umpire paid a free kick.  The MRP did nothing, even when the AFL Rules have a section on suspensions for kicking-in-danger that causes injury.

Duh!!

Media comment from a couple of experienced AFL media men:

• Mike Sheahan, Panel takes eyes off the ball
• Tim Lane, Strike a blow on laws

Makes no sense, this MRP thing.