The Grand Final could be full of biffo despite the threat of heavy AFL sanctions
A THREAT of severe penalties may not be sufficient to defuse a potentially explosive AFL Grand Final.
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A THREAT of severe penalties may not be sufficient to defuse a potentially explosive AFL Grand Final.
Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley is a likely target despite the league’s warning of double demerit points for any charges arising from Saturday’s high-stakes contest.
The AFL clamps down hard on a player that it believes has sullied the competition’s reputation in the showcase game of the season.
A reminder is issued each Grand Final week that tribunal guidelines state an offender will be hit with double the base demerit points for an offence that carries a suspension.
And fines for wrestling and melees are also doubled.
The fear is a player will be prepared to sacrifice a large slice of next season’s home-and-away season in an uncompromising quest to help his team win a premiership.
The rule on harsher penalties for a Grand Final became law after Brisbane forward Alastair Lynch was suspended for 10 matches and fined $15,000 from two striking and four attempting to strike charges in the 2004 Grand Final.
The three-times premiership Lion, who retired after that game, attacked Port Adelaide opponent Darryl Wakelin out of frustration after he aggravated a leg injury which immobilised him early in the game.
The AFL used the model of the VRC’s warning to Melbourne Cup jockeys as part of the radical overhaul of the tribunal system before the start of the 2005 season.
Collingwood forward Leon Davis was the last player suspended from a Grand Final after he copped one match for rough conduct against Geelong defender Harry Taylor in 2011.
The AFL’s strict protection of the Grand Final was emphasised when then football operations manager Adrian Anderson praised the Sydney and Hawthorn playing and coaching groups for the ``wonderful spirit’’ of last year’s game.
"The Swans and the Hawks deserve the highest praise for how they represented our sport on the national stage,’’ Anderson said.
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