Actually, yes. Earlier I did watch the replay a few times in slow motion, just to make sure that I wasn't venting on social media over an incident that was an unfortunate accident. While you can see Joey track the ball, that is, his eyes and head are firstly looking ahead, then up at the passing ball and then behind, Johnson's eyes never leave Joey. He pays no attention to the ball while he runs towards Joey and then smashes him squarely on the jaw with his shoulder.
While you could possibly give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he only meant to illegally blindside him, without trying to cause a major injury, I see absolutely no reason to do that, given the fact that he is the second most charged player in the history of the AFL/VFL.
"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."
From the limited vision available and the consequences (ie Joey down on the ground, clearly in discomfort) I think it is close to a certainty that he was struck somewhere in the face with an elbow. The missing vision seems only to be a frame or two, and from the frames either side I don't think Johnson's torso is ever close enough to Kennedy to suggest it was a bump. However, I realise that the MRP requires a higher standard of proof than is available from the vision. I wonder if they asked Kennedy or any of his team mates what actually happened. Clearly other players did see something, given they let Johnson know they weren't impressed by his actions.
Edit: There's now vision of the incident on the AFL website different to what was previously available. It shows the point of impact much more clearly. It appears to be fairly forceable contact to the face with the upper arm. How that was assessed as a bump rather than a strike I have no idea. But whether they could have assessed it as a deliberate strike is still a little questionable. A case could have been made, but I can see how they might also argue it was careless instead.
http://www.afl.com.au/video/2016-09-...js-kennedy-hit
Last edited by liz; 12th September 2016 at 11:00 PM.
Really? Go and play outside for a while. The vitamin D will do you the world of good.
Back to it...
I think the club (read: Andrew Pridham) should get up and start making a fuss about the treatment of our players and the lack of meaningful suspensions handed out to the bogans.
I'd be calling up one of our QCs (who kindly offered their services for free, of which we have a few) and taking the Gill the dill, Mike Shiitpatrick and MRP to court for failing in properly punishing players that clearly break the rules of the game. The AFL STILL have a duty of care concerning players heads.
What's the worst that'll happen?
We'll be taking up space in the newspapers, big footy would explode, eddie would implode and a big fat spotlight gets shone on the MRP on their dodgy decisions.
Oh. And we'd probably cop a fine.
Wild speculation, unsubstantiated rumours, silly jokes and opposition delight in another's failures is what makes an internet forum fun.
Blessed are the cracked for they are the ones who let in the light.
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