COWANS KO'S KREIG

[mal]

We saw another big hit at Elizabeth Oval last night when COWANS
layed a hip and shoulder on the seemingly unsuspecting KRIEG.
Krieg was focusing on chasing a Centrals player and was lined up from
a considerable distance by Cowans and knocked out unconcious.

We have already had the McCABE/BUTCHER incident his year
We had a similar occurence in the AFL in the GIAN/KOSI incident.

The players perpetuating the 'hits' have done it within the interpretation
of sheperding and are entitled to do it.
However I think the interpretation needs to be looked at closley.
There needs to be some duty of care in Football to protect the players
who have eyes only for the ball, both BUTCHER/KRIEG did not see what
was coming, fudamentally this is incorrect in my opinion.
Both the BUTCHER/KRIEG incidents incited all in melees as a result, that
says to me that there is a basic breakdown if the players are remonstrating.

MALS VERDICT
-------------------

Hip and shoulders/sheperds are fine if the opposition player is in possession
of the football.
Any player deemed without possession of the ball should be protected against
a hip n shoulder/sheperd .
The way the interpretation is set now only encouRAGEs this mode of action.

This is a blight on our game.
Its open season now for the very first bounce of any footy game, where a player
can line up an opposition player in the diamond and take him out, because the ball
is within the permitted area to execute this absurdity.

We saw BELL try that with JUDD in the first derby/first bounce of the day, but thankfully
missed the champ, had he made contact my views would have gained more scope.

[Wedgie]

I thought it was a great hip and shoulder.
A big skill of our great game is having an awareness of what's happening around you and bracing for it.
Krieg didn't know it was coming and that's what hurt him, a shame too as he was playing a great game.
If you don't like it go follow the AFL or soccer.
Definately not a blight on our game, a highlight IMHO.
We'll have to agree to disagree on this one mal, Im just glad it wasn't on that cement like Telstra Dome otherwise he would have really been hurt!

And also thanks to Cowan for that as it was what turned the game our way.

[locky801]

From all reports it was a fair bump however Grant Coffee (ex centrals) commentating on the game made a huge issue about it. Can't see the problem however are we trying to make the game softer by taking out decent hip and shoulders etc.

[RM]

And to the female water runner from Central who had a great laugh when Kreig was out for it, you are a disgrace woman. You certainly got yours back as the North faithful gave it to her for the rest of the night. You wore number 10 on your back and we will remember you in the finals if you are there.

You are probably best popping out ping pong balls lady, if you know what I mean!

[mal]

WEDGIE Cowans/Krieg is within the rules, but by outlawing the ruling
it would be better in the long run.
My concerns are the ones at stoppages when players make a bee line for
the opposition players ala Butcher/ McCabe and Judd/Bell.
Those instances were not sheperds, they were blatant pre meditated
actions which disproportionate the spirit of the game.

WEDGIE imagine this in a final ...say NA V PA.
The first bounce Hudson taps the ball down........Dean Howard is obviously
watching Hudsons movements and watching the footy, as that is his objective
and focus.....a Port player on the edge of the diamond charges in and knocks
out Howard on Howards blind side........Is that fair ???
Next bounce Maric taps the ball down, this time Jeremy Clayton gets cleaned up
in the same manner.
Is that fair ???

Any player can do this to any player on any given day.

[Wedgie]

I think it is fair mal, as I said we disgree on this matter.

BUT where I perhaps wonder about mine and others attitude is getting kids into the game.
It was a bloody long drive from Happy Valley to Elizabeth yesterday, we went past many parks and saw about 15 soccer games on the way out there and no Aussie Rules games. I can see parents preferring their kids to play softer games like Soccer when they see Lonegran lose a kidney or Krieg getting KO'd so I do see where you're coming from.
Perhaps I'm a dinosaur in this matter and things do need to change?
Dunno.

[mal]

WEDGIE if BELL hit JUDD instead of missing him by a bees dick on
national tv , how many parents of young kids would ban thier kids
from playing aussie rules ?
AFL and footy in general will always need to re-invent its identity other
wise parents will encourage siblings to play other softer sports.
Soccer is starting to dominate in parts of Australia, it is a looming threat.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I think it is fair mal, as I said we disgree on this matter.

BUT where I perhaps wonder about mine and others attitude is getting kids into the game.
It was a bloody long drive from Happy Valley to Elizabeth yesterday, we went past many parks and saw about 15 soccer games on the way out there and no Aussie Rules games. I can see parents preferring their kids to play softer games like Soccer when they see Lonegran lose a kidney or Krieg getting KO'd so I do see where you're coming from.
Perhaps I'm a dinosaur in this matter and things do need to change?
Dunno.

I believe you do Wedgie, and here is why. I played the game in the 1970s and played hard. I loved the physical aspect of the game. However, in those days, there was a lot more emphasis placed on the player with the ball. The only time I received a bump was when I was over the ball trying to pick it up. And I was bumped down my side, never head on. Apart from nasty behind the play incidents, if you weren't involved in the play you could safely expect not to be belted.

The game has changed. There is far more work being done off the ball, and a player needs to have eyes in the back of his head to be aware of everything happening around him. Added to this is the fact players are faster and fitter. Thus, they tackle and hit harder. The pace of the game rarely allows the modern player to deliver a well balanced hip and shoulder bump, thus far too many accidental hits to the head.

Earlier this season I stated disappointment in the leniency shown to Luke McCabe when he cannoned into Troy Butcher off the ball. Butcher was watching the ball in a ruck contest and was not aware (nor expecting) anyone to run though him. When I played, that would never happen because the player was not involved in the play. However, these days we tend to think everyone is involved in the play and therefore fair game to be picked off.

I hate to agree with Graham Cornes at any time, but I am also at the point where I am entertaining the thought of banning the bump. The way the game is played these days, it's almost impossible to deliver the perfect bump, and far too many injuries are being sustained as a result of it.

[RoosterMarty]

It was a turning point for sure. Just after that incident a Centrals player lined up for goal and missed a sitter, we kicked a couple of quick goals and had a half time lead and then played a brilliant third term.

[Hazydog]

MALS VERDICT
-------------------

Hip and shoulders/sheperds are fine if the opposition player is in possession
of the football.
Any player deemed without possession of the ball should be protected against
a hip n shoulder/sheperd .
The way the interpretation is set now only encouRAGEs this mode of action.

So Mal- what you are effectively calling for is to ban shepherding? How else can you shepherd without committing to a hip & shoulder?

[mal]

MALS VERDICT
-------------------

Hip and shoulders/sheperds are fine if the opposition player is in possession
of the football.
Any player deemed without possession of the ball should be protected against
a hip n shoulder/sheperd .
The way the interpretation is set now only encouRAGEs this mode of action.

So Mal- what you are effectively calling for is to ban shepherding? How else can you shepherd without committing to a hip & shoulder?

You can sheperd with your arms sideways /horizontal as well.
Hip and shoulders are fine if a guys got the ball and gets smashed.
Or when 2 players are going for the ball in unison.
Its the stoppages which need attention, thats when its unfair.

[sydney-dog]

Mal

great players have awareness and good teams protect players, the bump shepard has been a strong part of our game for 100 years, let's not change it now, lets not turn our game in to galic footy for christ sake

watch footy all week end, we can't even get a contest between forwards and defenders as the umps keep blowing the whistle on soft free kicks, now we want the shep banned... I played and now support this great game because of the physical component, this is what makes our game great...

I went to the US laST year and I met alot of NFL footballers, big boys and they were amazed at the physical component of our game and the fact that we wore no protective equipment, lets not take that lose that unique aspect of our game....

THE FOCUS should be at protecting 1. The head area, everything above the shoulders is TOTALLY OFF LIMITS, 2. Let's clearly define what a shepard is, it is protecting a your player going for the ball, it's not coming off the back of the sqare and taking out the best player in the side because the ball is within 5m

[mal]

S/D your last paragraph is a great summation.
Long live the hip n shoulder, ban the charge at stoppages.

[bayman]

as i told mal, it was a fair bump the north player was unaware of the impending clash, so he couldn't brace himself & thats probably why there was more damage than normal, he (mal) put up his arguements to me which he has also put up here, but as a few of you guys have said football awareness is what was missing from the north player (krieg), if he were aware of what was around him he would've avoided the clash

this is why (one of the reasons) i prefer sanfl to ballet` footy (afl) you are still allowed to play football without giving away free kicks for bumps or get reported for basically soft things

as for the trainer i saw that as well yes you/she is stupid & i'm sure her club would not be impressed with that behaviour if they found out about it

remember worsfold/modra clash ? yes it was brutal but yes it was fair just as last night was as well & it happened right in front of me

when they ban the bump i'll find a new game to follow

[bulldog pommy]

I was stood with the groggies at the time of the bump, (dont ask me why!!!) and had a very good view.
It was legal and as people have stated the fact that Kreigy didn't see it coming contributed to the severness of his injury.

My big concern with this game is that you have 7 umps on the ground and play is not stopped immediately when a bloke is knocked out.
Every one around me could see he was out cold yet play goes on until the umps are notified that a stretcher is needed.

Please correct me on the ruling for stopping play as I don't get to see many games these days and am not sure on the ruling to stopping play.

[heater31]

The medical staff must call for assistance then in the next availble break in play ie free kick, mark or ball up. the nearest umpire to then incident then calls to hold up play????



I think that's how it works

[bulldog pommy]

I still believe that in the case of a player being knocked out then play should stop asap, maybe that's just my upbringing with the rules of the round ball game.

And Mal, it was hardly an all in melee last night.

[Disco]

all i have to say about this is it's easy to hit someone that hard when they're not looking and are legitmately chasing the man/ball.
gutless wonder of an act as he could've bumped him in an entirely different way (as he ran about 10 metres to do it) but chose not to......

[bulldogproud]

Trying to remember which game it was (one in the past two or three weeks) but the umpires did something even worse. A player was knocked out and the umpire proceeded to throw the ball up only about five metres away from the injured player. He also required a stretcher.

[smac]

Great bump, Kriegy should have a better awareness of his surroundings (I think I used the exact same comment in the McCabe/Butcher debate early in the season).

For those who wouldn't let their kids play footy because of bumps like this, stop listening to your wife so much, ferfuxake it is a mans game! It is exceptionally rare in kids footy to see a bump so hard. In my experiences watching kids footy, most injuries are breaks and sprains, the same kind they will get riding their bike or climbing a tree. Let kids be kids and let them grow up with a few bruises. It didn't hurt me (although some would argue mental impairment).