MRP

[Trader]

firstly, he was not let off. he got 2 weeks.
secondly, character references are used everyday at courts and tribunals. why are sports people not allowed to use them? agreed using the PM was a stretch though.

He got let off lightly.
The tribunal ruled that it was intentional which carries a 3 week minimum ban but his sentence is the same as if it was graded by the MRP as careless, high impact, high contact.

While I agree 2 weeks is very very light, as his case was sent straight to the tribunal he wasn't able to plead guilty first.
As such, I believe (but could be mistaken), that at the tribunal he can plead guilty, but challenge the gradings (intentional vs reckless, etc), and still be eligible for the 25% discount for pleading guilty.
As such, he may have still got 3, reduced to 2 with a guilty plea.

Should have gotten 5 down to 4 for mine.

[Jim05]

Sounding like the AFL will appeal

[amber_fluid]

I must be the only person in the country that thought 2x matches was right.

To me i didn't think Houli looked at him and deliberately smacked him in the face - looked like he swung his arm around to obviously hit the player across the arm, it slid off the shoulder into the jaw.

Also they said it was an elbow but it looks more like fist/forearm to me.

Maybe if the Carlton player wasn't trying to rape him off the ball he wouldn't have swung back like that.. but if he collects him a couple inches lower then the player has a dead arm and nothing more is said.

What if Houli didn't act like a co*ckhead and swing his arm back?
Then he wouldn't have hit him high and we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Big IF mate

[Trader]

To me i didn't think Houli looked at him and deliberately smacked him in the face - looked like he swung his arm around to obviously hit the player across the arm, it slid off the shoulder into the jaw.

While I agree with this, I'm not sure it matters.
If I try to punch you in the nose, but get you on the chin or eye-socket, my punch should still be graded intentional.

He tried to hit his opponent, made contact, and should be punished accordingly.

As a couple of others have mentioned in here, the tribunal has been very clear over the last 3 years that they punish the outcome, not the intent.
I don't understand why they moved away from that in this case.

[HH3]

I must be the only person in the country that thought 2x matches was right.

To me i didn't think Houli looked at him and deliberately smacked him in the face - looked like he swung his arm around to obviously hit the player across the arm, it slid off the shoulder into the jaw.

Also they said it was an elbow but it looks more like fist/forearm to me.

Maybe if the Carlton player wasn't trying to rape him off the ball he wouldn't have swung back like that.. but if he collects him a couple inches lower then the player has a dead arm and nothing more is said.

He did hit him though, and knocked him clean out.

When he gets the exact same penalty Schofield that was offered for brushing someones chin at worst...somethings not right.

[The Bedge]

He tried to hit his opponent, made contact, and should be punished accordingly..

But players hit players every week - forwards and midfielders are forever swinging backhands and backelbows at defenders and taggers? same same sort of?

[The Bedge]

When he gets the exact same penalty Schofield that was offered for brushing someones chin at worst...somethings not right.

Agree with that - but don't you think also that's a reflection on how poor the Schofield decision was as well?

[Wedgie]

I must be the only person in the country that thought 2x matches was right.

To me i didn't think Houli looked at him and deliberately smacked him in the face - looked like he swung his arm around to obviously hit the player across the arm, it slid off the shoulder into the jaw.

Also they said it was an elbow but it looks more like fist/forearm to me.

Maybe if the Carlton player wasn't trying to rape him off the ball he wouldn't have swung back like that.. but if he collects him a couple inches lower then the player has a dead arm and nothing more is said.

Not just you mate, and I'm sure if Houli was a white Christian a lot more people would agree with us.

[HH3]

When he gets the exact same penalty Schofield that was offered for brushing someones chin at worst...somethings not right.

Agree with that - but don't you think also that's a reflection on how poor the Schofield decision was as well?

Yeah I do. Schofield eventually got the right outcome.

Now for them to sort this out.

Toby Green got two games for punching at the footy and missing. Add a game for doing it off the ball, then add at least one game for knocking him out, and you have a pretty decent outcome.

[HH3]

I must be the only person in the country that thought 2x matches was right.

To me i didn't think Houli looked at him and deliberately smacked him in the face - looked like he swung his arm around to obviously hit the player across the arm, it slid off the shoulder into the jaw.

Also they said it was an elbow but it looks more like fist/forearm to me.

Maybe if the Carlton player wasn't trying to rape him off the ball he wouldn't have swung back like that.. but if he collects him a couple inches lower then the player has a dead arm and nothing more is said.

Not just you mate, and I'm sure if Houli was a white Christian a lot more people would agree with us.

Here we go. Pulling the f**kin race card every time.

Everyone who isn't white can't do something wrong now?

[Lightning McQueen]

I must be the only person in the country that thought 2x matches was right.

To me i didn't think Houli looked at him and deliberately smacked him in the face - looked like he swung his arm around to obviously hit the player across the arm, it slid off the shoulder into the jaw.

Also they said it was an elbow but it looks more like fist/forearm to me.

Maybe if the Carlton player wasn't trying to rape him off the ball he wouldn't have swung back like that.. but if he collects him a couple inches lower then the player has a dead arm and nothing more is said.

He did hit him though, and knocked him clean out.

When he gets the exact same penalty Schofield that was offered for brushing someones chin at worst...somethings not right.

I think Schofield should've copped a game, it was ugly and not what we want kids to see.

[The Bedge]

Toby Green got two games for punching at the footy and missing. Add a game for doing it off the ball, then add at least one game for knocking him out, and you have a pretty decent outcome.

I think that's bullshit - you're saying if a player is "tough enough" to take it and not get KO'd then the perpetrator gets a week less, but if they get KO'd then they get a week extra?

Oliver fell to the ground, Schofield deserves an extra week for making him fall over..

[Jimmy_041]

Is it true Waleed is a Richmond member?

Fair conflict of interest if he is.

Yep he is

I always thought you should have an upstanding member of the community as your character witness
He deserves another 4 games for pulling this prix in

Just on the media: Since when is providing a character witness statement "intervening" or did I miss something?

And the Schofield one was a joke. I hope Oliver cops it big time for a while

[The Bedge]

Not just you mate, and I'm sure if Houli was a white Christian a lot more people would agree with us.

Everyone who isn't white can't do something wrong now?

That's not what he's saying, all he's saying is that if Houli was an honest white christian, (and didn't get that slime Waleed Aly in as a character reference) then you'd probably find more people would likely agree that 2 games was ample.

How many games would Dusty Martin have got, and how many would the Australian public be screaming for? Remembering he's a fan favorite, puts bums on seats and a fav for the Brownlow..

It's not about racism to me, but people do have natural bias towards others - you'll gravitate towards and sympathise more with like minded/same type people.

[HH3]

Toby Green got two games for punching at the footy and missing. Add a game for doing it off the ball, then add at least one game for knocking him out, and you have a pretty decent outcome.

I think that's bullshit - you're saying if a player is "tough enough" to take it and not get KO'd then the perpetrator gets a week less, but if they get KO'd then they get a week extra?

Oliver fell to the ground, Schofield deserves an extra week for making him fall over..

I'm not saying anything.

The AFL has said the result of your actions will effect your suspension. If you choose to tackle/strike someone and it results in a significant injury, you're penalty will by higher.

Is this all forgotten now? When did they change the rules?

[The Bedge]

Is this all forgotten now? When did they change the rules?

When they began giving special preferential treatment to the "Stars" of the game

[PatowalongaPirate]

Toby Green got two games for punching at the footy and missing. Add a game for doing it off the ball, then add at least one game for knocking him out, and you have a pretty decent outcome.

I think that's bullshit - you're saying if a player is "tough enough" to take it and not get KO'd then the perpetrator gets a week less, but if they get KO'd then they get a week extra?

Oliver fell to the ground, Schofield deserves an extra week for making him fall over..

This is not a measure of toughness.

[The Bedge]

Toby Green got two games for punching at the footy and missing. Add a game for doing it off the ball, then add at least one game for knocking him out, and you have a pretty decent outcome.

I think that's bullshit - you're saying if a player is "tough enough" to take it and not get KO'd then the perpetrator gets a week less, but if they get KO'd then they get a week extra?

Oliver fell to the ground, Schofield deserves an extra week for making him fall over..

This is not a measure of toughness.

i didn't know how to word it you get what i mean though lol

[HH3]

Not just you mate, and I'm sure if Houli was a white Christian a lot more people would agree with us.

Everyone who isn't white can't do something wrong now?

That's not what he's saying, all he's saying is that if Houli was an honest white christian, (and didn't get that slime Waleed Aly in as a character reference) then you'd probably find more people would likely agree that 2 games was ample.

How many games would Dusty Martin have got, and how many would the Australian public be screaming for? Remembering he's a fan favorite, puts bums on seats and a fav for the Brownlow..

It's not about racism to me, but people do have natural bias towards others - you'll gravitate towards and sympathise more with like minded/same type people.

My problem is the inconsistency of the MRP. I couldn't give a f**k who it is.

Whats being a white Christian got to do with it then? Is Dusty a white Christian? No, he's Moari for a start. And people do like him. But I'm sure if he got two weeks for knocking someone out, most people who aren't Richmond supporters would wonder what's going on.

Like I said, Toby Green got two. No one disputed that. But he didn't knock anyone out, AND he was going for the ball. He's white and no one came out defending him did they?

[The Bedge]

Toby Green is a grub though

It's all who you are lets be serious - Buddy lifts his elbow and hits a guy in the head every other week, and when was the last time he was suspended?

AFL want the best players playing the game each week. Simple. MRP will never be consistent.