What we're talking about

Cam Matthews on The Friday Forum This is shocking, absolutley pathetic...Keep up the nice work guys. more
Woofwoof on Jason Akermanis sacked What a load of waffle. Any player that chooses to play AFL at the highest level has to accept the baggage that comes with ... more
Leanne on Jason Akermanis sacked Aker will always be remembered as the Greatest player but his detractors will disappear in oblivion. Some like LMatthews and ... more
John W. on Jason Akermanis sacked Jason, you are in my opinion a stand-up man. In this politicaly correct, over regulated and highly conformist society that ... more
Kellie on Not much love for Akermanis on 3AW Jason Akermanis is a legend. He spoke his mind and always took responsibility for his actions. It looks as the though the ... more
Colin on Not much love for Akermanis on 3AW After watching the Footy Show last night I would like to see Jason take advice on whether he might go the Western Bulldogs ... more
laury on David Smorgon on Sports Today i think its the worst thing the dogs could of done,robbed the fans of a great footballer he s acheived more than any other ... more
Sheli on Jason Akermanis sacked I don't think Aker assaulted anyone, has a gambling problem, has fathered an illegitimate child, or has supplied/taken ... more
Jan on David Smorgon on Sports Today Only suckers and gay people think Aker has anything wrong other than not having been able to score goals. Full stop. If he ... more
David on Jason Akermanis sacked Campbell Rose never addressed the fact that Aker alleges he was sacked for leaking Information to Sam Newman however he ... more
Brendon Harris on Jason Akermanis sacked Brian Taylor your comments about Acker have shown once again you have joined the politically correct and the footballs ... more
nik k on Jason Akermanis sacked Sorry Aka, I luv ya, but even now youâ??re still lying. Last night on the footy show you accidently admitted that you told ... more
Brian on Jason Akermanis sacked Thursday Footy show - Excellent interview - Campbell Rose never gave any proper answers to questions in fact he avoided them ... more
vincent on Jason Akermanis sacked jason akermanis you are a dog your mouth got you wher you are now and now shut up and give it footy away more
Wayne Harris on Tom Harley hits back at Akermanis I agree with Jason , as an Ex rugby Player I felt uneasy went gay players came into the shower with their Frummy behaviour ... more
Luke on David Smorgon on Sports Today Being part of a team cuts both ways, if professional players can't get over themselves to play football with someone they ... more
tyrone on Western Bulldogs statement on Aker I'm a Dees fan too, but we differ greatly in opinions. The Dogs bite is worse than their bark - Aka was a bit of a burden ... more
Josh on Jason Akermanis sacked Watch out the AFL may become the next Australian Communist Party. more
Josh on David Smorgon on Sports Today What an over politicisation of football. An absolute farce. What a shame football administration can influence who plays. It ... more
john hayden on David Smorgon on Sports Today Not impressed the way the Bulldogs handled this & I believe players are getting a bit precious. more

AFL's radical plan to punish cheats

Posted by: 3AW and Real Footy | 3 February, 2010 - 12:01 PM

ANDREA PETRIE (Real Footy): STAGING for free kicks, sling tackles and bumping the man on the mark have been outlawed by the AFL following a review of the tribunal system.

Adjustments have also been made to the sanctions imposed on a range of other offences after submissions were received from the 16 clubs and the AFL Players Association following last season.

The rough-conduct guidelines will now include specific references to sling and spear tackles that have the potential for serious injury - such as what Brisbane Lions' Jed Adcock carried out on Bulldog Jason Akermanis during a semi-final, or Adelaide's Michael Doughty on Magpie Alan Didak.

The application of a tackle may be considered rough conduct that is unreasonable in the circumstances and in determining whether it constitutes a reportable offence, the following will be considered:

?Whether the tackle consists of more than one action, regardless of whether the player being tackled is in possession of the ball;

?whether the tackle is of an inherently dangerous kind, such as a spear tackle;

?whether an opponent is slung or driven into the ground with excessive force.

And following a growing trend last season for an opponent to bump or tackle the man on the mark with excessive force, such as Port Adelaide defender Matt Thomas' bump on Hawthorn's Xavier Ellis, the league has decided to make it reportable under-rough conduct guidelines if the player is in a vulnerable position or could not reasonably expect the contact.

Players can now also be fined up to $2400 for a third offence of staging for free kicks if they react to contact in a way that may affect an umpire's decision, may incite a melee or is not in the spirit of the game.

Umpires have claimed that players who feign free kicks make their job much harder as well as being a blight on the game.

Blatant examples of ''fakers'' provided by the AFL include St Kilda's Stephen Milne, Hawthorn's Lance Franklin, Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes and Collingwood's Alan Didak.

The match review panel's grading for offences including head-butting and eye-gouging have been upgraded due to the seriousness of the actions while there has been a reduction in the financial sanction for negligent contact with an umpire.

There has been an increase in the financial sanction scale for abusive language to set a positive example to the broader football community regarding umpire abuse.

First and second-year players and those on the rookie lists on minimum wages will be fined a maximum 50 per cent of their match payment for a first offence financial sanction.

An instructional DVD containing examples of reportable offences has been circulated to all AFL clubs.

AFL general manager Adrian Anderson said he was delighted with the results the revised tribunal system had achieved since it was introduced in 2005. ''We will continue to do so, to see if we can continue to improve it.''