The AFL Tribunal used Steven Baker's own oral testimony to find him guilty of rough conduct and suspend him for seven matches on Tuesday. When Tribunal foreman Wayne Henwood imposed the sentence, Baker is said to have "hit the roof". To which Henwood said: "That's another $800 thanks,...

If you're wrong, and the St Kilda Football Club is still around in 10 years, no one will remember this post.

On the other hand, if you're right, and the St Kilda Football Club is extinct in 10 years ... no one will remember this post.

Remember folks, we were heavily involved in the court action that dismantled the VFL's clearance rules (which were a clear restraint of trade) back in 1983. Please elaborate.... for those in Sydney at the time... pre-internet.... pre any info at all re footy in Sydney news. Silvio Foschini restrain...

Damned if he did, damned if didn't really. Even Bakes had not testified, the only evidence would have suggested that on the balance of probabilities he had lined Farmer up and taken him out with head-high contact. Remember the standard of proof was on the balance of probs ... if "beyond reasona...

One of the greatest things about our game is how hard the players are. The fact that they are able to gut run for 100m, take a hanger, ride a bump and slot a goal from 40m on the run gives us all pleasure and pride in our code. This decision will be remembered as THE DECISION which marked a seismic ...

satchmo wrote:What if Bakes goes back top the tribunal and claims he lied in his evidence, there was no contact....cops a 7.5grand fine for lying and the case has to be thrown out for insufficient evidence ?

Hehe if only

I'll tell you who would be gutted by all this. Stevie Baker. And not because he's sitting on the sidelines for seven weeks, either. He would be gutted because he knows that he had no intention of seriously injuring Farmer, that he did everything he could to make sure that nothing untoward or reporta...

taz wrote:Ask your self this...What is the standard of proof?

Balance of probabilities

Pretty clear in the AFL's literature

Suppose what Baker said happened occured outside 5 metres of play and an umpire saw it ; it would be a free. I'm not certain of that, because I'm not sure that moving into someone's path and standing still (blocking) is an illegal shepherd for the purposes of that Law. Holding, sure. Push in the ba...

Longer is better right?

Don't hold out much hope though.

Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised ... maybe

Edit: no "longer is better" jokes please. Cowboy18 this means you

Didn't we watch the West Coast game there last year? In the back room? I remember we got through to 8.30pm that night before the telecast began ... no scores were revealed. Bit torn now ... don't want to risk it but much rather watch at the Civic than at home, especially vs. Wee Girls Others' though...

I encourage all WA Saints fans to get down to the Civic Hotel this Friday night to watch the West Coast match. After the week we have had, the Saints will be out for blood and what better opportunity to knock the reigning premiers out of a top two spot. :twisted: The game is telecast into Perth at 7...

spidoir wrote:It seems there are a couple of us lawyers in Perth riewolting!

I'm not a lawyer.

Ah, but this is not studying it - it's applying it!

In defence of Farmer: I think the medical literature would show a recognised effect of concussion is short-term memory loss. I find it entirely acceptable that Farmer could remember standing watching the play, and nothing after that. But that's not to say that immediately prior to the contact, Farme...

stinger wrote:your starting to sound like a law student.......

Nope, just got my hands on a useful book

Steve The difference is that a block can be a type of shepherd. Under Law 15.4.2: "A Shepherd is using the body or arm to push, bump or block: (a) a Player who does not have possession of the football and who is no further than 5 metres away from the football at the time when the push, bump or...

homework wrote:

B W and R all over wrote:I'm waiting for someone to compare him to Nelson Mandela.

Or has that already happened?

who?

Ask crannypete

Big thread on this earlier in the year ... about June as I recall.

Otherwise, I think that everyone is perhaps a bit out of their depth. Well aren't we pretentious :roll: Leo J and the so-called experts are working from reports from legitimate sources about what was said in the hearing. But you're right, we don't have a verbatim transcript, so maybe we should all ...

In Bakers case the perception is that in "the block" he changed direction to deliberately retard Farmers line to the ball. But that's still reasonable, so it's not reportable. The Tribunal appears to be suggesting that Baker's actions being illegal, they were unreasonable. They're adding ...

St. Luke wrote: Sorry, my post wasn't really aimed at you Joffa, I was just venting...to everyone!!!

Yeah but you've been running the same line in every post, just give it a rest

I think a bit of common sense should employed here. Bump should be taken to mean colliding with an opponent with force to divert them from their line (whether they are mobile or standing). On the other hand, block should be taken to mean moving into the path of an opponent and contacting them not wi...

Steve The difference is that a block can be a type of shepherd. Under Law 15.4.2: "A Shepherd is using the body or arm to push, bump or block: (a) a Player who does not have possession of the football and who is no further than 5 metres away from the football at the time when the push, bump or ...

Why? "Block" means "prevent access to". Nothing aggressive about that.

Hey, the local council blocked off the end of my street to conduct roadworks. Those aggressive bastards