MRO Thread

[FrediKanoute]

Should Cordys famous knee to Ward have resulted in a suspension?

The league already makes it a lottery. Why was Maynards actions deemed ok, yet other not. I'd argue a sling tackle is a lot harder to avoid than the front on collision? In Rugby Union the principle that governs is one of care. Yes it sees guys sent off and suspended for acts in the ordinary course of play. But it does that because it wants players to take care and look to avoid those situations where possible.

The Cordy-Ward comparison is a great example. Cordy only has eyes for the ball takes out Ward with an errant knee. SHould he have been more careful? You would assess this as being in the course of play, if for no other reason that the impact on Ward is at the point the mark is taken/attempted. The attempt is not unrealistic or exagerated or in a manner that you would say recklessly endangers an opposition player. The question therefore is not whether he took enough care, but what care he could have taken to avoid injuring Ward.

Applying this logic to the Maynard case - what care could he have taken to avoid injuring Brayshaw? I think its obvious. The moment he leapt uncontrollably into the air he put himself in a reckless position where he could not control the impact/effect of his contact. The contact that follows is late, outside the rules of the game and causes a serious injury to another player. Yes smothering is an act within the game. Leaping full pelt to smother a ball with no real chance of doing so and then collecting the oncoming player is not.

If you want to look at it from another perspective, take a basketball take on the impact. Maynard "Blocks" the run of Brayshaw, because he moves into the path of the offensive player. He commits a defensive foul. What else could Maynard have done? He could have stayed on the ground and sought to tackle low - within the rules - but elected not to because he wouldn't have gotten there in time to prevent the kick. his decision to jump at the player and block the offensive path led to the foul.

There is so much wrong with the "footy action" that Maynard claims that to allow it as a defence is a terrible indictment on the game. It has never been ok to collect someone after they disposed of the ball. Its a free kick. How can it be a football action?

[Grantysghost]

Yep as soon as he left the ground he put Brayshaw in harm's way. He was running directly at him, he would've known when he decided to become a human canon ball heavy contact was inevitable.

Brayshaw may even miss the prelim if they get through.

[G-Mo77]

The irony is the Demons supporters and officials squeeling about Pickett getting 2 for trying to kill Bailey Smith are now squeeling because someone didn't get rubbed out committing a football act.

[jazzadogs]

I actually thought they argued quite well with the behind the goals vision which shows Maynard's original 'jumping lane' is to Brayshaw's right, and if Brayshaw had maintained his body in the 'lane' he was running down then Maynard would have missed him or maybe glanced his shoulder. Unfortunately Brayshaw leans in towards his right, putting himself in Maynard's path, while Maynard is in the air.

The concept of turning the other way - I don't think that's mechanically possible. He jumped with his arms outstretched towards his right, so the only 'rotation' he could do was right shoulder forward in my eyes.

From the tribunal response:

"
He turns his body to the right, tucks his right arm in, splays his legs and shapes his left hand in something of a fending motion.

He collides with Brayshaw with considerable impact.

After kicking the ball with his right foot, Brayshaw lands on that right foot. He lands or moves in such a way that his body moves to the right or directly into the path of Maynard.

...

The AFL contends that Maynard chose to bump. Ihle on behalf of Maynard says the evidence demonstrates he had no time to make such a decision and that Maynard did no more than brace for contact.

We are clearly satisfied Maynard did not engage in the act of bumping Brayshaw.

It is not suggested by the AFL and nor could it be sensibly suggested that Maynard made a decision to bump his opponent at the moment of jumping in the air to smother.

At that point in time, Maynard was clearly making a decision to smother."

[Grantysghost]

How do you smother a kick if you're not in line? Makes me wonder why he left the ground.

Was he less on a head to head path than it looked JD?

[jazzadogs]

The behind the goals vision seemed to show they were in two lines, with Maynard leaning to the right to try and touch the ball (which they argued that he did actually touch, emphasising that it was a realistic smother attempt).

[Mantis]

Yep as soon as he left the ground he put Brayshaw in harm's way. He was running directly at him, he would've known when he decided to become a human canon ball heavy contact was inevitable.

Brayshaw may even miss the prelim if they get through.

Given his history with concussions Brayshaw may never play again.

[Grantysghost]

Given his history with concussions Brayshaw may never play again.

Very sad. All because he moved into the path of a human canon ball.

[Grantysghost]

The behind the goals vision seemed to show they were in two lines, with Maynard leaning to the right to try and touch the ball (which they argued that he did actually touch, emphasising that it was a realistic smother attempt).

Fair play to the defense team they appear to have played it very well.

[SonofScray]

Good decision to clear Maynard. Collisions happen and it is reasonable to expect that in a game of football players will collide in pursuit of the ball. That’s what happened here. Brayshaw kicks the footy, Maynard leaps up to smother, Brayshaw comes across as he finishes his action, they collide.

The bleating from Melbourne is ludicrous.

If the risk to Brayshaw’s wellbeing is so serious due to his history, he shouldn’t be playing.

[Grantysghost]

Good decision to clear Maynard. Collisions happen and it is reasonable to expect that in a game of football players will collide in pursuit of the ball. That’s what happened here. Brayshaw kicks the footy, Maynard leaps up to smother, Brayshaw comes across as he finishes his action, they collide.

The bleating from Melbourne is ludicrous.

If the risk to Brayshaw’s wellbeing is so serious due to his history, he shouldn’t be playing.

How would you feel if it was Bontempelli on the end of that?

[bornadog]

How would you feel if it was Bontempelli on the end of that?

Bont would have dodged him

[Grantysghost]

Bont would have dodged him

Blind turn, bounce lace out to Marra. Those two combine well.

[GVGjr]

Good decision to clear Maynard. Collisions happen and it is reasonable to expect that in a game of football players will collide in pursuit of the ball. That’s what happened here. Brayshaw kicks the footy, Maynard leaps up to smother, Brayshaw comes across as he finishes his action, they collide.

We have to accept that contact will still be made on occasions otherwise we will have to take high marks out of the game.
Head knocks are a serious issue and no one wants to see a player knocked out but it's going to happen. The AFL has to work on taking the reckless contact out of the game and in this instance Maynard was focused on the footy more than making contact.

There are no real winners here and I really feel for Brayshaw.

[chef]

Very sad. All because he moved into the path of a human canon ball.

Maybe its just time to make AFL non-contact so no one gets collision injuries anymore.