Dale Thomas offered 2 weeks for a perfect hip & shoulder bump ?

It was a super bump, delivered within 5m of the ball.Should have been play-on and forget about it. The MRP has rocks in their heads. Only reason they got him was that there was a tiny bit of head high contact. Mind you, the guy was not adversely affected, and most people would find it hard to see the difference between what Chris Tarrant did a couple of weeks ago and this. The difference was apparently 3 weeks! The AFL wonders about dwindling crowds - they would increase immediately if the MRP was disbanded, and some actual consistency was brought into umpiring the game. At the moment fans have no idea of what constitutes a free kick, and I'm talking long time fans who KNOW the rules - better than most umpires do I think!

Yep. Considering last week Hocking got suspended for a tackle, but Beau Waters was free to play after sending Jobe to the bench halfway thru the third with a hit that solely made contact to the head, Its clear the the rules committee probably shoulda sent out the duty of care charter, some understandable guidelines, and the phone number of a legal rep. with those census forms.

Wonder how all those retired AFL player brainiacs and long-standing media folk see the situation now that they've got exactly the tribunal they were asking for. Y'know, the model that will end all debate?

I guess in Dale Thomas' case, you just cant leave your feet and hit someone front on is the explanation. That is of course until Judd does the same thing next week and gets 3 votes for it.

Deedbuya, you are a respected analyst, so let me first comment on the Ziebell hit on Riewoldt. Nick was playing the ball...Zeibell left his feet and was totally out of control launching himself towards Nick. There is an element (maybe 50%) that he didn't intend to hit Nick head high but he did. Of course he couldn't stop, he was already in the air. With some benefit of doubt, 3 weeks is correct.

Didn't see the Maxwell incident.

OK, on Thomas, I watched the game, but didn't see the incident...have to be honest. But I'm interested to hear more about it. Did he leave his feet? Was the other player in possession?

Deedubya, saw that incident live fri-night and a few replays on the sports news , There is no question his feet were of the ground, but I haven't noticed any direct contact to the head ? So I would say maybe his actions were a bit reckless, but with no intent to make head contact . I have to say the adjudication panel has over-reacted on this occasion, he deserved maybe a week ? definately not 3 . What I find interesting here, is would Collingwood have appealed the decision had it occured earlier in the season ? It is obviously too risky at prescent, because Collingwood could not afford to lose and have Dale only availible for the grand final ( should they make it ? ) I agree with most of your sentiments , very good question !

I'm sure that you know exactly how i feel about the AFLs match review panel. it stinks!!

Good thing for Collingwood that this little set back. will not have any bearing on the Pies finals campaign.

Regardless of what player is fronting the AFLS MRP at any time during the season. there is a lot to be said about these front on collisions. that a player has very little time to retreat from. once he has committed himself too it.

So where does the madness end? maybe you could email the AFL sharing your discontent with their decisions. but some how i feel that this will only fall on deaf ears. at Andrew Demetriou with his friends in tow. try to sanitise the game to the bumps extinct.

Maybe Jeff Kennett is onto something here?

cheers.

I am in agreeance with any decision that rubs out a Collingwood player - especially Thomas.

Anyway, as the rules go now - he was guilty of a high hit to his opponents head. Thomas jumped from the ground in order to target the head.

He got his just deserts. I loved it!

Not to be rude or anything, but i'm actually kind of glad his out. Thomas is just a GREAT player, but because he will miss the COLL vs WCE match, 1 outstanding player out from the Pies will just make it slightly easy for us Eagles.

he would be a solid participant yet He as a youthful participant is working himself to stressful i think of. He additionally all started out as a forward pocket, he hasn't performed close to the forward (till the balls being run that way) all 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. And he's clearly not a hundred pc after his harm. i think of he's solid yet maybe not as solid because of the fact the pies concept. 4 touches isn't solid adequate yet he's relatively not the worst huge form 2 draft %.

Got him high mate, players in the past have gone for less. Thomas deserved what he got.

Totally agree and he didn't even hit the players head