Port's use of runner/physio v Sturt to be investigated

[Booney]

It's the umpires' responsibility to police the presence of officials on the field. FFS there are 7 of them out there, plus the emergency umpire who sits between the two boxes! All it takes is one free kick to be awarded and it will stop, eventually.

It's the umpires fault.

Did the umpires do anything about it on the day?

[Dogwatcher]

I've occasionally seen team runners blocking space/offering instruction.
I've never seen the team physio do it, though. That's something new.

Just thought I'd reiterate this.

[Rising Power]

It's the umpires' responsibility to police the presence of officials on the field. FFS there are 7 of them out there, plus the emergency umpire who sits between the two boxes! All it takes is one free kick to be awarded and it will stop, eventually.

It's the umpires fault.

Bit harsh but you're entitled to your opinion.

[CUTTERMAN]

How about Port officials just stop clogging up areas of the ground, runners not to coach out on the ground, physios stop acting like runners and coaches and attempt to play by the rules. How hard can it be?

[Booney]

How about Port officials just stop clogging up areas of the ground, runners not to coach out on the ground, physios stop acting like runners and coaches and attempt to play by the rules. How hard can it be?

[johntheclaret]

I think everyone needs to keep it in perspective.

All Port has done is break the rules rather deliberately. That's usually called cheating.
Having extra personnel on the oval 'coaching' players and giving instructions by cheating to gain an unfair advantage over their opponents might be called match fixing.
Any club anywhere in any league caught match fixing would be demoted but as there is no pyramidal system with promotion or relegation in the SANFL the only real option is to suspend them from the league for the remainder of the season.

This of course would lead to an unfair advantage to the Adelaide Crows who would have the opportunity to develop players through the reserve team with extra coaching and instruction. Any team that gains an unfair advantage over its opponents might be considered to be match fixing.
Any club anywhere in any league caught match fixing would be demoted but as there is no pyramidal system with promotion or relegation in the SANFL the only real option is to suspend them from the league for the remainder of the season.

Problem solved.
It isn't rocket science.

Now it's match fixing? No, it wouldn't ever be called match fixing.

[UK Fan]

Port will get slapped with a wet fish over this.....

Yeah I guess Warrior and Wilson should be sentenced to 6-8 months behind bars???? Oh and Budda 3 months as an accessory to the major crime.

This is news? pffft give me a break!

If it was any other club apart from Port or Adelaide there would be no discussion at all.

If roles were reversed and Port complained about Sturts runner/physio being on the ground would it not be news ???

Pretty sure Rucci would of had his two cents on it in a separate article as well.

[Dogwatcher]

I don't think it would be as interesting, as big a story, if it had been Sturt or any of the other SANFL clubs.
This story's not prominent because it's about Port Adelaide, it's because it's an AFL club.
AFL gets the spidey senses of every footy fan tingling and they're all catered for with this story - whether it's Port supporters with that permanent chip on the shoulder complaining about it being a Crowvetiser media conspiracy and it's only a story cos everyone's out to get them; or Crows supporters having their crack at standard, feral, cheating Port; or SANFL supporters who wish to point out that, "yes, the AFL sides are ruining our comp and using their resources to benefit their own ends...again".
That's all it is.

[SANFLnut]

I was going to suggest Port be punished by not being allowed to have a runner for 3 weeks, but I realised they'd just employ 2 physios those weeks.

[ORDoubleBlues]

All I will say is Eugene warrior did more than when he actually played