A COUPLE of tackles in the final round of the AFL came under question from the tribunal with one copping a suspension and the other a fine.
How long before a coach takes the initiative and instructs his players to tackle to get the ball off the opposition, rather than take him to the ground? They don’t want to take the risk of the ball falling free.
With Jones’ tackle on Cadman, he already had one arm pinned. If he wasn’t taken to the ground, Cadman would be forced to put it on his boot or give a free kick. The problem is the umps are instructed to ball it up if one arm is pinned. That’s ridiculous. The bloke can still drop it onto his foot.
The league will have success in protecting the head when they make it the players’ responsibility to get rid of the footy. Once upon a time, all you had to do was ‘retard’ the player if they took you on and you got a free kick. That word was actually in the rulebook.
Then commentators started asking “how was he meant to get rid of it?” Who cares? He took the tackler on. Then the rules softened and they gave the player with the footy more time, which eventually equated to players being taken to the ground and that brought on head injuries. Yep. Just a bit frustrating and so logical.
Under current rules, Carlton’s Matt Owies has no option but to cop his week – guilty.
His appeal stated, “It was upheld near midnight with the Tribunal finding Owies should have released one or both of Higgins’ arms earlier.” Don’t you love it? Earlier they say. At what stage is earlier?
FORMER local lad Bryce Franzini has been running a marathon here and there, and a couple of weeks ago hit the pavement at Shepparton for the 42km challenge. Bryce cut 40 minutes off his previous best time in this run. Seems like he is taking it serious now.
Father Ian had every intention of joining Bryce on the run but did a hammy thinking about it.
THE story of the two lost dogs hit social media last week. Two labs owned by a local family got out and spent about 72 hours away from home.
Here is where social media stepped in. The original fakebook post had about three million shares (300 actually) and then the stupid, stinking dogs (a term of endearment) were eventually found.
My apologies, but the dogs are stupid because they can’t count, and they are stinking because it is believed they spent a lot of time at Fosters Swamp.
Safely back at home, CD and Luka were given a much-needed bath and then rested for a day or two.
DAVID Conlan is back at work following a bit of time off. Rat has been noticed cruising to work on his scooter.
Pretty sure that JC and the team are happy to have him back, and the scooter is a great idea. Much less likely to be pulled over than if he was in a car, and quite a bit safer than the bike.
All the best Dave.
CRICKET season isn’t that far away and both local teams are going to commence training pretty soon.
The Kerang Cricket Club are committing to B and C grades in the Swan Hill comp this season and will also have an Under 13 team playing in the Northern District Cricket Association. That’s gotta be good for cricket.
Wandella will once again have A, B and C grades, along with their Under 16 and Under 13 teams playing in the Swan Hill competition.
THE windy weather last week knocked over a few trees at the Kerang Golf Course. A few of the members had them cleaned up in no time.
IT was mentioned in the August 27 column that Carlton winning would stop the St Kilda domination over them. Seems like it will go on for eternity.
COMING into the finals and after heaping praise on Mrs Roberts’ son Jon as joint coach, the Kerang reserves lost.
They were going to finish on top of the ladder anyway, a game and a half clear, but losing that match is specifically designed to make the joint-coaches (and their mum) worry. Finishing on top gave them a rest on Saturday.
All the best to Mrs Roberts, son Jon, Lefty and the team.
COHUNA Kangas had to win their final match against second-placed NNW United to make the finals. They romped it in and moved up to fourth.
Being the form side of the competition, along with Kerang, they faced Balranald at the weekend in the elimination final but couldn’t get the job done. Heard that they were well up at half-time. Perhaps they thought that the job had been done.
