Set Tribunal Penalties

[Beaussie]

Clubs favour set tribunal penalties
20 November 2004 Herald Sun
Jon Pierik and Michael Stevens
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/
common/story_page/0,8033,11441124%255E19742,00.html


THE AFL Tribunal is set for a radical overhaul, with set gradings and penalties expected to be introduced next season.

A review committee, headed by AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson, has been strongly advised by all clubs to adopt a system used by the National Rugby League.

Anderson met coaches and football managers yesterday.

"There's a large amount of support for a match review panel to review all games and to come up with a penalty that a player could accept without having to front the tribunal," Anderson said.

"It makes sense to look at a table of offences and perhaps a categorisation of offences such as the NRL does as part of its system."

Aside from the introduction of video evidence in 1978 and establishing an appeals board in 1997, the tribunal process has remained unchanged for more than a century. If adopted, the recommendations would drastically alter the much-criticised system.

Anderson also revealed there were strong calls for former players to be involved in establishing the penalties and sitting in on hearings.

"We are looking at the structure of the tribunal, we are not looking at any announcements in terms of the personnel involved," he said.

"I think we need to get the structure right first.

"But the clubs have said they would like to see ex-player involvement. Some favour a jury system, such as a jury of former players deciding the case, others prefer to have some more legal people involved. But overall the support is for former players to be involved in the tribunal process."

The VFL, WAFL, English Premier League and NRL offer players the chance of taking penalties before a hearing.

From 121 charges in the WAFL this year, 25 players took a pre-set penalty and 96 tribunal hearings were staged. There were 103 charges in the NRL, resulting in 19 hearings and 84 players accepting a pre-determined penalty.

"Clubs feel there is not a great deal of certainty at the moment with a guilty plea," Anderson said.

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said most coaches favoured the introduction of set penalties.

"The coaches favour any system where there is more consistency and transparency," Eade said.

Anderson said all clubs agreed changes were needed to the ruck rule to stop the increasing number of posterior cruciate ligament injuries. But he said there was "no consensus" on what changes should be made.

The rule change options are:

PROHIBITING contact with a raised knee.

REMOVAL of the centre line to allow ruckmen to jump from any position.

A 10m CIRCLE to reduce the run-up.

It's understood the second option is most favoured.

Eade said coaches wanted more input from ruckmen before any rule change was implemented.

"We don't want the rule changed just for the sake of changing it," Eade said.

"We've been told it needs changing because of medical reasons (posterior cruciate ligament injuries), but there's also the aesthetics of the game to consider.

"You don't want to bring a rule in that's only going to favour one type of ruckman."

Eade said coaches favoured tests being carried out by several ruckmen at Telstra Dome before any decision was made in mid-December.

The AFL will also encourage greater feedback from clubs next season on umpire performance.

For the first time, the men in white will attend the community camps with clubs during summer as part of establishing a better relationship with players.

Other issues discussed yesterday included the abolition of video review of nine-point goals during Wizard Cup matches with the umpire now being the sole arbiter.

Two runners able to deliver five messages each instead of one runner will also be introduced during the pre-season competition.


Whilst I hate to admit it, the NRL clearly has a better system in place when it comes to set gradings and penalties for players facing charges at their judiciary.

One would hope that an overhaul of the AFL Tribunal as suggested above, will reduce the common perception that the AFL Tribunal is inconsistent when it comes to the penalties it delivers.

[crocodileman]

Seems like the most equitable way of doing things. Then people like Jonathon Brown won't get crucified by the tribunal simply because of previous misdemeanors.

[MG]

ibelieve that you should know what the penalty is going to be if found gilty. my brother was given 2 weeks last year for fighting when he pleded guilty. but his club told him if he pledded, that he would get no suspension and a small fine the club would pick up. boy was he angry but it turned out well, when he was supposed to be playing he met his fiance in town.
alls well that ends well i say.

[Dizzys_on_fire]

I'm not up to speed with how the tribunal works, infact the NRL judiciary seems to confuse the crap out of me these days also. All I can say is that any plan or system that simplifies the whole process and eliminates as many grey areas as possible is worth a shot. Thats my 2c worth.

[Bridget Jones]

Anything that makes the tribunal's decisions easier to understand is surely a good thing.

[Bridget Jones]

The Tribunal has the power to make or break teams going intofinals and there needs to be more definitive rules during that time.