Tough penalty on Casey McElroy — and not others — highlights need to review country football rules

Rucci’s Roast this week looks at how outdated country football rules have failed to deliver justice in the Casey McElroy saga. SIGN UP FOR THE RUCCI ROAST ENEWSLETTER TODAY

• Casey has penalty reduced to four games at tribunal
• The woman who played footy with the men
• Town rallies behind Padthaway football club
• Sign up here for the Rucci Roast enewsletter

Casey McElroy just wanted to play a game of Australian football — and in joining the Padthaway men’s reserves team on May 25 has copped the wrath of the SANFL with a heavy penalty.

While the original six-game ban was reduced to four by an independent tribunal at Adelaide Oval last week, the final fall-out of McElroy being the only one to be personally punished for a breach of football rules highlights a major injustice.

Why was there no penalty for any Padthaway team officials who failed to observe the game’s rules is a signal to the SANFL and all country leagues to review their regulations. They will most probably note how the rule books have become outdated.

This certainly has been acknowledged by the Adelaide Footy League that in 2016 endured a constitutional review to put itself in the 21st century.

Casey McElroy speaks to the media at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Adelaide Footy League boss John Kernahan says: “Rules and regulations are designed to protect everyone. They are designed to protect the club and league directors from public or directors liability that extend well beyond any financial considerations.

“But they are also designed to protect playing participants from themselves and it is league and club responsibility to enforce that.”

The Roast this weeks looks at how the McElroy saga does need a follow-up that makes Australian football beyond the AFL and SANFL levels better for its function at the grassroots.

The Roast enewsletter also will consider how the AFL has failed to deal with Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.

How will AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan overcome the image crisis — perception against reality — from the security mess at league venues?

What is to come with the next AFL broadcasting deal — and role will Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield play?

Reality Bites monitors what is cooking in sport locally, nationally and across the world — and notes a major sporting club has an interesting dress-code problem with its new coach.

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