Our Odd Couple Michelangelo Rucci and Chris McDermott look at the big issues in the AFL ahead of Round 9

OUR Odd Couple — Chris “Bone” McDermott and Michelangelo “Rooch” Rucci — debate the big issues in football ahead of Round 9, including the AFL tribunal, John Worsfold’s woes, Port in China and the last word on Showdown 44.

Carlton’s Ed Curnow touches umpire Nathan Williamson in the Round 8 game against Essendon. Picture: Fox Footy John Worsfold: 'Great teams are player led'

OUR Odd Couple — Chris “Bone” McDermott and Michelangelo “Rooch” Rucci — debate the big issues in football.

1. IF three more players touch umpires after Geelong forward Tom Hawkins is banned, does the AFL tribunal have to accept responsibility for not delivering a strong message?

ROOCH: NOW Christopher, what do we ask of the AFL tribunal? Consistency, consistency, consistency.

What is the longstanding theme about umpires? Do not touch, do remonstrate, do not threaten and do not approach in an argumentative fashion. Once Tom Hawkins was banned, every other case brought to the tribunal had to be met with no less than a one-game penalty. But Gold Coast co-captain Steven May has been allowed to pick up his passport to take his place in the game in Shanghai this weekend after a moment that should have been punished with more than a fine. Bad message here from the tribunal room.

BONE: ABSOLUTELY. The reaction — or lack of action from the AFL tribunal — has been laughable.

The tribunal had to make a strong statement with Tom Hawkins. It failed miserably.

It is no surprise to see other players did not take the warning. Listen up: Don’t touch the umpires. Don’t push them, don’t prod them. Just leave them alone or suffer the consequences.

Hawkins had to get four games. Handing him one was never going to make other players get a message.

The AFL stuffed this one up big time.

Bombers head coach John Worsfold, middle, during an Essendon Football Club training session this week. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett

2. DID Essendon err in extending coach John Worsfold’s contract?

BONE: YEP. The emotion behind this decision by Essendon was understandable — as is John Worsfold’s desire to get some long-term security. But it was a mistake — and is playing out badly.

The Bombers just panicked when they did not have to be rushed into a contract renewal. Patience is always important and Essendon lacked it. Now the Bombers have an even bigger problem especially when outside voices from past players are getting louder.

ROOCH: WHY, why, why do AFL clubs rush to extend coaching contracts when there is little flight risk with the man in the hot seat?

Essendon might be an extraordinary case as the Bombers sought to add some consistency and stability to a football program that has been quite a mess since 2012 when faith in a supplements program was so ill placed.

Having faith in John Worsfold, a premiership coach more than a decade ago at West Coast, makes sense ... but it clearly has been stretch a bit too far. Not the first time this has happened in the AFL.

3. PORT Adelaide is in China again. Can Australian football make it on the international circuit?

BONE: It is a five-year plan Rooch. Let it play out and keep improving, as it appears to be.

This is a good idea, mainly because China is close to Australia and the opportunity for financial security for the Power is real. Let’s just make sure we don’t blow it by allowing other AFL clubs to test other international markets. Taking the game to India is fantasy, surely. That doesn’t make any sense to me at all.

ROOCH: SIMPLE question to answer a question Christopher: If we say Australian football is the best game in the world, why are we so scared to take it to the world?

It seems very tough to transplant the Australian game internationally when it demands so much in terms of large, oval playing fields and so many players to put on a regulation match.

But if — as we say — we should not be frightened to take this game to the world, at least for the television screens.

Central District ruckman Darcy Fort can’t hide his disappointment after the SANFL’s loss to the WAFL on Saturday. Picture: Sarah Reed

4. SA’s state team lost to WA at Adelaide Oval ... can the SANFL still be tagged the second-best competition in the land?

BONE: YES it can, but I’m not sure anyone is believing it.

That loss to the Sandgropers leaves a worrying sign for the SANFL — and for the future of this great part of our game. But the writing has been on the wall for some time.

Second-best competition or not — and I’m not sure anyone cares about the title — the AFL started this problem by boning State-of-Origin and pushing down the dominoes at every other level. How jealous are we when we see the NRL preserve a great part of the rugby league game.

ROOCH: BE very interesting how the SA Football Commission and the SANFL football department deal with this disappointing result against the Sandgropers, particularly after losing to WA in the previous state game in the Wild West.

Regardless of the promotional tags that come about being “second best to the AFL” or “best state league” it is most important that the SANFL keeps a state program alive — and not just at the junior level where the platform developed by Brenton Phillips has been superb. There is a bigger picture to focus on rather than just who is “second best” to the AFL.

5. SHOWDOWN 44 ... the greatest or not?

BONE: NOT.

It was a great game because it was close. It was an exceptional second half, but the first half was not a classic. I am a huge fan of the first Showdown at Football Park in 1997 and the theatre on and off the field. Even Pro Hart painted the scene. Showdown 44 was a beauty, but not in the top three for mine.

ROOCH: WHO won that first Showdown, Christopher?

The last at Football Park in 2013 — with that amazing run of goals by Port Adelaide in time-on of the last quarter and that incredible off-break by Angus Monfries — is pretty special too. As is that Showdown in 2010 that closed Port Adelaide premiership hero Josh Carr’s career with a perfect record of 10 wins from 10 derbies.

What a rivalry ...