MW wrote:This stinks. They are protecting someone, just don't know who it is yet.
It's all about selling the drama, the AFL knows what punishment is going to be handed down, they just want us idiots discussing it until the teams are named and TNF is upon us.
Even if the findings are hoanded down tomorrow it is a success, AFL was the sporting headline each day of the week.
MW wrote:This stinks. They are protecting someone, just don't know who it is yet.
What do you mean?
They are either trying to help Rankine out with still playing in a GF if we can qualify, or there are other factors in play that they are taking into consideration that will reduce the suspension otherwise it would be done by now
Adelaide has launched a multi-faceted defence to keep Izak Rankine’s season alive with the Crows citing an escalating war of words with Dan Houston that referenced the ex-Port Adelaide player knocking the Crows star out last year.
The Herald Sun has confirmed part of the Crows submission to the AFL is that Rankine felt triggered by the comment on Saturday night after Houston received a five-week ban for concussing him with a high bump last August.
It ended Houston’s Port Adelaide career as he moved to the Pies, and as part of a back-and-forth against Collingwood on Saturday night that included sparring both ways, Houston made comments referencing that incident.
It is not known the exact exchange of words but Houston made reference to his hit on Rankine last year.
It was not the first time a Port Adelaide or former Port player has made a comment about him being carried off this year in that Showdown clash.
Adelaide does not condone Rankine’s comment and accepts that he is to blame for using the the word f----t on Saturday night.
The Herald Sun does not believe Houston was the victim of Rankine’s slur but Adelaide thinks Houston’s sledge contributed to the Crow’s agitated state.
But as part of the club’s submission that verbal sparring was referenced as one of the reasons why Rankine uttered the unacceptable word.
Adelaide has also told the AFL that missing finals games should be given a greater weight than missing home-and-away clashes.
It has not escaped the Crows that the league has spent millions hiring controversial American rapper Snoop Dogg despite his history of homophobic lyrics while penalising AFL players for using the same word.
The Crows have also made clear that the AFL should be aware of how rocked Rankine is by his current predicament, with Adelaide working hard to surround him with support given his devastation.
A shattered Rankine was again absent from Crows headquarters on Tuesday as he awaited a ban that is still likely to end his premiership dream.
The league is keen to hand him a penalty commensurate with the most recent bans for on-field homophobic slurs, which would be four or five weeks.
But Adelaide is trying desperately to secure a discount for Rankine over his contrition, which included a Sunday morning phone call to his Collingwood opponent to express his remorse.
Adelaide also believes he has shown his contrition, even if he did not self-report.
MW wrote:This stinks. They are protecting someone, just don't know who it is yet.
It's all about selling the drama, the AFL knows what punishment is going to be handed down, they just want us idiots discussing it until the teams are named and TNF is upon us.
Even if the findings are hoanded down tomorrow it is a success, AFL was the sporting headline each day of the week.
Nailed it!
Let that be a lesson to you Port, no one beats the Bays five times in a row in a GF and gets away with it!!!
So you can get stuck into a player verbally for being the victim of a dirty off ball incident and not be penalised but question someone's sexuality and you're absolute vermin? right, got it. What type of things would they be saying to Rankine for getting knocked out by Houston? Would they be saying you're piss weak, you took a dive etc etc? I know what would anger me more and what i would take more offence too. it should be 1 week, all other penalties have been to harsh. AFL have changed rules/interpretations midseason before. If somebody called Darcy Moore a straight man would they get 5 weeks too?
On the subject of fines and them not meaning enough to some players. I have always thought why arent they fined a set % of their salary? Even the ones they hand out like lollies, $1000 for a rookie listed player is alot different to $1000 for NWM. But even these $1000 fines are massive compared to the rest of society.
Maybe the AFL needs to dial it back more than we're expecting to make it more believable. 3 weeks says we're weak and doing it so he can potentially play in the GF. If they dial it back to 1 or 2 weeks that takes that narrative out of the equation and back to each case being judged on its merits, Probably brings the Rioli rule back to the fore though. I take it Rankine is not as intellectually challenged as Rioli so that probably rules that defence out.
Im no Crows fan but its time they stood up to the AFL and perhaps they are doing that behind the scenes. They havent been willing to upset the AFL since the Tippet saga
Supercoach Spring Racing Champion 2019 Spargo's Good Friday Cup Champion 2020
