Lightning McQueen wrote:RooShootOhh wrote:So making assumptions here... But if he turns up ready to train, u think he was putting his hand up to play, so now the association coach chooses who gets suspended now by telling the player he is not fit enough.
So the rule in effect, has suspended someone who was prepared to train (therefore I assume play as well) but was ruled out through selection by the coach

Wow, I'm sure thats exactly why the rule was introduced
Is the rule even appropriate (given what some player posted on here last week), the association pick players who don't even train over fit players who attend training so pay lip service to the squad they pick, then suspend blokes who they do pick?
It's probably been too hard to filter the bullshit in previous seasons so they drew a line in the sand. It can be too easily manipulated, if you have a dodgy hammy it isn't going to heal by missing a week anyway.
I'm not a fan of the rule but it's obviously the only way they can attempt to get their strongest possible team on the park, I personally don't see the value in representative footy, it still doesn't determine the better competition.
Here's my take on it:
The rule, in theory, is good. However, it needs some form of contingency.
Andy Michael flagged this in this week's paper.
Put simply, if you've missed the club game or large part of the club game from the week before, you've served your "suspension", theoretically.
The idea is to discourage players from pulling out through feigned "injury" or what ever other reason they may have.
The problem is, players who are actually injured, who want to play but can't (or probably shouldn't, in the case with Hebs), also get slapped with suspension.
What about Virginia, they'll be without Chris James and Adrian Mark, two key players, who were selected and pulled out through injury, and their suspension will be served following the bye.
IMO, I don't think James should have been picked at all, because he was clearly struggling at training. Mark, I think, injured himself while training.
Andy Michael would admit he made a mistake selecting James.
Anyway, I love rep footy, as do blokes like Joel Wilson, Kirk Heberle etc, so as much as the rule works to a certain degree, it does punish those with every intention of playing.
Right in front of me. RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!