Bad call on pushy Bulldog
Will Minson should not be playing AFL football this afternoon. He shouldn’t be playing VFL football and he shouldn’t be playing amateur football.
The fact he is shows the game has lost some perspective.
Let’s ignore the grainy vision for a moment and look at the evidence. Minson admitted he deliberately made contact with, and swore at, umpire Tom Chrystie. The umpire said the contact forced him to deviate off his line and he felt intimidated.
Now, consider the result if Minson behaved that way towards Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge. Or if a Fremantle player swore at, then pushed Ross Lyon because he disagreed with him.
Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch was so enraged when he youngster Zac O’Brien disrespected reserves coach Shane Woewodin that he dragged his player by the jumper and suspended him for two weeks.
The Bulldogs were so angry when Lachie Hunter arrived late for a pre-season training session that they banned him for the NAB Challenge and round one.
Gold Coast suspended trio Harley Bennell, Brandon Matera and Trent McKenzie because they ignored an edict to not drink alcohol. Geelong dropped Steven Motlop for one week for drinking in the build up to a game too.
These incidents have all happened this season.
The are many previous examples of clubs taking umbrage at a player for indiscretions. Josh Simpson’s refusal to fly to Sydney as an emergency last year cost him his career.
The Dogs axed Minson for one week for unacceptable abuse towards Danyle Pearce in 2012. Carlton dumped Chris Yarran for a match because he sulked on the bench after being named as the sub.
Clubs demand discipline from their players and even supporters - remember the outrage when an intoxicated man goaded Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson in Adelaide?
But, when Minson intimidated a VFL umpire, the anger got directed towards the system. Even the AFLPA lashed out.
Port Adelaide’s Andrew Moore must be confused. He got suspended for three matches for pushing SANFL umpire Craig Fleer while attempting to explain a scenario.
Fleer didn’t feel threatened. But the match was televised, Moore looked agitated and few people argued against the ban.
There is definitely a place for minor and friendly contact between umpires and players. Craig Bradley once hugged Grant Vernon during a game. But Minson wasn’t in a jovial mood.
The original four week ban sent a clear message - Do not aggressively touch an umpire under any circumstances. The $7500 fine is weak, blurs the lines of what is acceptable and has the potential to produce a negative flow-down effect.
But, hey, Minson’s the vice-president of the AFLPA, an All-Australian ruckman and the Dogs desperately need someone to play on Shane Mumford today. So, we’d all better turn a blind eye.
