SWANSBEST
18th December 2003, 06:18 AM
AFL decides to go in hard with off-the-ball incidents
December 18, 2003
The AFL yesterday announced a crackdown on off-the-ball incidents following the outcry over Collingwood tagger Brodie Holland's lenient suspension for striking Sydney's Paul Williams last season.
Players involved in behind-the-play violence can expect stiffer sentences next season as a result of a post-season tribunal review.
In other initiatives, contact with an umpire is likely to be punished with a fine rather than suspension in the first instance and
live television coverage of tribunal hearings is also a step closer. The AFL will meet Players' Association and Fox Footy channel representatives to discuss live tribunal coverage.
There was outcry over the Holland case, when the Magpie escaped with a two-week ban for hitting Williams on the head while the Swans star was not looking. At the time, Sydney coach Paul Roos said criticism of the short ban was "pretty much spot-on".
"The football public does not tolerate, and frowns upon off-ball incidents," AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said yesterday. "They are looking for off-the-ball incidents to be dealt with severely - on-field violence has no place in AFL football."
The AFL also has introduced several new rules for the pre-season Wizard Cup,
including any ball that hits a post and stays in play remains alive, and marks in the goal square being rewarded with a shot on goal from directly in front.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/17/1071337032206.html
December 18, 2003
The AFL yesterday announced a crackdown on off-the-ball incidents following the outcry over Collingwood tagger Brodie Holland's lenient suspension for striking Sydney's Paul Williams last season.
Players involved in behind-the-play violence can expect stiffer sentences next season as a result of a post-season tribunal review.
In other initiatives, contact with an umpire is likely to be punished with a fine rather than suspension in the first instance and
live television coverage of tribunal hearings is also a step closer. The AFL will meet Players' Association and Fox Footy channel representatives to discuss live tribunal coverage.
There was outcry over the Holland case, when the Magpie escaped with a two-week ban for hitting Williams on the head while the Swans star was not looking. At the time, Sydney coach Paul Roos said criticism of the short ban was "pretty much spot-on".
"The football public does not tolerate, and frowns upon off-ball incidents," AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said yesterday. "They are looking for off-the-ball incidents to be dealt with severely - on-field violence has no place in AFL football."
The AFL also has introduced several new rules for the pre-season Wizard Cup,
including any ball that hits a post and stays in play remains alive, and marks in the goal square being rewarded with a shot on goal from directly in front.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/17/1071337032206.html