Glen AtwellAFL: Carlton vs Collingwood fight fines won't deter melees
May 14th 2007 10:32
By Glen Atwell.
Today, the AFL Match Review panel charged 16 Collingwood and Carlton players over the quarter-time brawl that occurred during Saturday's spiteful MCG encounter.
A total of $32,100 in fines were handed out, ranging from $1500 to $3300.
Nine Collingwood players and seven Carlton players were charged with engagement in a melee, sparked by Carlton's Brendan Fevola, who crashed into Collingwood's Alan Didak as the Magpies retreated the quarter-time huddle.
The other players hit with fines were Collingwood's Dane Swan, Anthony Rocca, Brodie Holland, Dale Thomas, Harry O'Brien, Scott Burns, Josh Fraser and Chris Bryan and Carlton's Heath Scotland, Andrew Walker, Eddie Betts, Kade Simpson, Brad Fisher and Cain Ackland.
They are the facts of the matter.
Now let's take a step back and see what the AFL are really trying to get at.
Just what message is the Australian Football League sending its players, spectators and future stars?
Earlier this month (3 May) Richmond Football Club and its captain Kane Johnson were fined $10,000 for criticism of umpires.
Johnson was fined $5000 for approaching the umpires at half-time. Half of that sanction was suspended.
He was also fined $5,000 for his post-match comments where he voiced his frustration about the lop-sided 29-13 free-kick count and the umpires' inconsistent interpretation of the holding-the-ball rule.
The AFL fines brawling players as little as $1500 for a violent scuffle, yet Tigers' captain Kane Johnson is fined $5000 for calmly approaching the umpires and questioning a couple of decisions at the half-time break.
Once again, the league has got it all wrong. Too often we hear of the 'trickle-down' effect, where suburban and country footballers (knowingly or unknowingly) copy the actions of AFL players.
Handing down a $2,500 fine to an AFL player earning $225,000 a year won't deter melees occurring at local football grounds. No way known.
AFL umpires are heavily protected, and rightly so - but why aren't brawling footballers given a harsh enough punishment to deter future fights?
Why don't we have a melee points system, where a one-week suspension is handed down if a player is involved in two or more brawls a year?
Small monetary fines don't deter AFL players.
How about the Melbourne runner that crashed into a Fremantle player in round four? $7500 fine (later reduced to $5000). Yet a vicious brawl in the middle of the MCG attracts fines as little as $1500?
Maybe the AFL understands that most of enjoy the guilty pleasure of watching two players belt the living suitcase out of one another. Don't deny it, who doesn't like watching a bit of biff?
I love it.
But when fines for bumping into players and abusing umpires are greatly exaggerated, the AFL runs the risk of looking like it doesn't care when handing out miniscule fines to fighting players.
Players must be suspended, not fined, to stamp out melees.
A slap on the wrist, followed by another, followed by another has no lasting impact and won't ever deter a player from getting involved in an 'all-in'.
Glen Atwell.
Today, the AFL Match Review panel charged 16 Collingwood and Carlton players over the quarter-time brawl that occurred during Saturday's spiteful MCG encounter.
A total of $32,100 in fines were handed out, ranging from $1500 to $3300.
Nine Collingwood players and seven Carlton players were charged with engagement in a melee, sparked by Carlton's Brendan Fevola, who crashed into Collingwood's Alan Didak as the Magpies retreated the quarter-time huddle.
The other players hit with fines were Collingwood's Dane Swan, Anthony Rocca, Brodie Holland, Dale Thomas, Harry O'Brien, Scott Burns, Josh Fraser and Chris Bryan and Carlton's Heath Scotland, Andrew Walker, Eddie Betts, Kade Simpson, Brad Fisher and Cain Ackland.
They are the facts of the matter.
Now let's take a step back and see what the AFL are really trying to get at.
Just what message is the Australian Football League sending its players, spectators and future stars?
Earlier this month (3 May) Richmond Football Club and its captain Kane Johnson were fined $10,000 for criticism of umpires.
Johnson was fined $5000 for approaching the umpires at half-time. Half of that sanction was suspended.
He was also fined $5,000 for his post-match comments where he voiced his frustration about the lop-sided 29-13 free-kick count and the umpires' inconsistent interpretation of the holding-the-ball rule.
The AFL fines brawling players as little as $1500 for a violent scuffle, yet Tigers' captain Kane Johnson is fined $5000 for calmly approaching the umpires and questioning a couple of decisions at the half-time break.
Once again, the league has got it all wrong. Too often we hear of the 'trickle-down' effect, where suburban and country footballers (knowingly or unknowingly) copy the actions of AFL players.
Handing down a $2,500 fine to an AFL player earning $225,000 a year won't deter melees occurring at local football grounds. No way known.
AFL umpires are heavily protected, and rightly so - but why aren't brawling footballers given a harsh enough punishment to deter future fights?
Why don't we have a melee points system, where a one-week suspension is handed down if a player is involved in two or more brawls a year?
Small monetary fines don't deter AFL players.
How about the Melbourne runner that crashed into a Fremantle player in round four? $7500 fine (later reduced to $5000). Yet a vicious brawl in the middle of the MCG attracts fines as little as $1500?
Maybe the AFL understands that most of enjoy the guilty pleasure of watching two players belt the living suitcase out of one another. Don't deny it, who doesn't like watching a bit of biff?
I love it.
But when fines for bumping into players and abusing umpires are greatly exaggerated, the AFL runs the risk of looking like it doesn't care when handing out miniscule fines to fighting players.
Players must be suspended, not fined, to stamp out melees.
A slap on the wrist, followed by another, followed by another has no lasting impact and won't ever deter a player from getting involved in an 'all-in'.
Glen Atwell.
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