As always, our club has handled a problem with honesty and class.
Difference with the Buckley situation was that the Swans were still in WA quarantine, not just the AFL bubble. So he risked bringing the wrath of McGowan on the AFL.
From a fine perspective, Buckley and his assistant (name escapes me) paid their fines themselves. I imagine that in other circumstances where clubs have been fined (eg Cotchin's wife and the spa), the fines would be counted in next year's soft cap too . Otherwise that is an inconsistent application.
Didn't recall seeing soft cap mentioned in other earlier fines though.
Really feel for ET. He’s stuffed up big time no question, but a kid with questions over his resilience already, this could be a career ender for him. The club will get around him no doubt, but really sucks for him. They’ve tightened the rules after Bucks @@@@@@ up and now our club and this young kid wears the brunt. It’s not right really.
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My reading of the situation is that the Swans imposed the penalty on ET not the AFL, hence the severity.
But they also acknowledge it’s not an easy time for him, there’s some sympathy in the statement too.
“We also appreciate that the circumstances of this year are unique and challenging for everyone, and we will continue to provide support to Elijah, as well as our other staff and players who are away from their families.“
No, sorry I got that wrong. It’s the AFL that’s sanctioned ET, which makes me feel he has been treated far worse than some others.
As Liz has pointed out higher up in this thread, ET’s breach is worse than that of Buckley in that he has not only broken AFL rules but also WA quarantine rules. (It happened in the first 14 days that the Swans were in Perth.)
The latter is the reason WA police were involved.
It really was serious as it put the AFL’s ongoing matches in WA at risk. So the severity of the penalty is warranted I think.
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