Bad Boys

The World Cup has yellow cards and red cards. Two yellows and you're out of the game and suspended for the next.

In the NBA, a referee gives a technical, the opposing team gets free throws, and the player may incur a fine or suspension depending on the amount of technicals they have during the season (but they get 15!).

That's nothing compared to how the AFL deals with penalties. The umpire can call a foul on the field, even a personal foul such as punching, the opposing team gets the ball, and they may even get to move 50 meters up the field. It's after the game where the real fun starts.

The AFL Match Review Panel, part of the AFL Tribunal, convenes every week of the season to levy fines and suspend players.

On Monday, players are reported for infringements. Surprisingly, the player doesn't even have to receive a foul from the umpire during their match to be reviewed by the panel. Players can then accept their punishment by pleading guilty, or appeal and plead their case on the Tuesday. One of the AFL's biggest, Buddy Franklin, was on report this week...

"Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans, has been charged with charged with engaging in rough conduct against Shane Edwards, Richmond, during the second quarter of the Round 13 match between the Sydney Swans and Richmond, played at the SCG on Friday June 26, 2015. In summary, he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea. Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Richmond Football Club, it was the view of the panel the incident should be classified as careless conduct with medium impact to the head. This offence was classified as a two-match sanction. The player has no applicable bad record. An early plea can reduce the penalty to a one-match sanction. "

There's a whole complicated system of points. Witnesses are called, even the player from the other team who was offended sometimes testifies. It's subjective, it's sometimes unpredictable, thus fans get up in arms about it.

Then some time around Tuesday afternoon, the MRP releases it's report.

Some of the penalties have been:
$1,500 fine (what a great revenue raising scheme by the AFL!)
1 game suspension.
12 months suspension for "bringing the game into disrepute"
10 years and 16 games for kicking a player in the groin, kicked an umpire, and attacked a fan.

Now what makes it even more controversial is that if a player is suspended, even if just for one match, they become ineligible for the Brownlow Medal, the games highest honor which is voted for by the umpires (yeah that's a whole other season). But the votes are still tallied. So you could have the highest votes, but don't win. This has happened. Twice, 1996 and 1997.

So you can imagine the uproar when Nat Fyfe, the leading Brownlow favorite and just happens to play for one of Perth's teams, was reported to the panel for a suspicious trip early in the season.

See for yourself

On the Monday, every one was talking, would Fyfe be suspended? It's hard to tell his intention, butin a post game interview Fyfe admitted he messed up. Oh no, to the MRP, that could mean he meant to trip him and that straight leg was malicious and out to destroy.

Luckily, the player he tripped testified against him and he got off with a $1000 fine. And all the Fyfe fans could breath again. Which means he's still eligible for the Brownlow...for now.