Voices of Victoria: Your thoughts on on-field violent outbursts

Victorians have had their say on whether on-field acts of violence should be subject to the same criminal standard as street assaults.

Victorian have their say on violence in sport and whether it should be treated as the same as an assault on the street.

Sporting bodies around the state have handed down suspensions to players who have punched or harmed other players, in the context of a game, while street brawls or coward punches have been dealt with before the court.

Leader and Geelong Advertiser hit the street this week to find out your thoughts on whether on-field violence should be subject to the same criminal standards as street assaults.

Many said they thought players should be treated the same as everyone else, some agreed it should be dealt with internally by the sporting body, while others said it depends on the severity of the act.

See if you can spot anyone you know and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Frank Speakman, Phillip Island

Frank Speakman shared his thoughts.

“I absolutely think violence should be treated the same way on and off the field,” Frank said.

“Violence is violence it doesn’t matter where it happens.

“I am involved in the local footy club so I travel around to a lot of different grounds and we never want to be seeing that stuff on our fields with our boys.

“We can’t have people, especially kids, looking up to these players and thinking that behaviour is okay just because you’re playing sport.”

Fiona Gillies, Albury

“Yes. Because at the end of the day it’s assault whether it’s on a court, or a playing field, or off the playing field,” Fiona said.

“Violence shouldn’t be tolerated no matter where it occurs. Violence on a sporting field is still violence, it’s unnecessary and not part of the game.”

Neil Johnston, Point Cook

Neil Johnston gave his thoughts.

“I’d be shocked if you told me, someone got away with it because it was on a field.,” Neil said.

“Players are basically doing a job out there, they should be treated as such.”

Steph Nagy, Preston

“It’s definitely circumstantial, but with the context of the fact that they’re playing a sport where you have to tackle people, I would imagine it's like semi-consensual,” Steph said.

“If you are partaking in a contact sport and you get punched or whatever, it’s something expected; whereas if you were assaulted on the street, that’s not really – it’s more of a random attack.

“For sure, the penalties (for on-field violence) could be harsher; just like missing a few games doesn’t really seem like a huge compromise for assaulting someone.

“There probably just needs to be a bit more transparency.

“I don’t follow footy whatsoever so I’m not really sure how it all works, but obviously I’ve heard of all the scandals: violence, drugs, the whole thing.

“From what I can understand, it kind of seems to be a corrupt system regardless, in terms of other things, cover ups and things like that.

“I can only imagine what goes on behind the scenes that we never find out. You don’t know who you’re supporting, really.”

Eli Bevan, Ballarat

“I’m all for a bit of bumping and stuff, I like the heavy bumps. But you don’t want to see someone king-hit either, do you?

“If someone’s king-hit, I think that should probably be treated the same as if you walk up to someone in the street and king-hit them really.

“If two people are grabbing each other and going at each other, whatever, let them go, but you don’t want to see people taking people out when they’re not looking.”

Terry Noone, Burwood

Terry Noone had his say.

“It very much depends on the incident. There’s a degree of physicality which is part of the game and I wouldn’t like to see that disappearing.

And I think you’ve got to be dealing with criminal intent before you do that,” Terry said.

“That would be the deciding line — where someone has decided to walk up to someone and bash them as opposed to something that happens during the play.”

Charlie Farrugia, Cranbourne

Charlie Farrugia’s thoughts on the penalty.

“I definitely think players should face the same legal consequences,” Charlie said.

“There is really no excuse for unnecessary violence – there’s a realm of context for sport that should be considered but out of play violence is disgusting.

Why should they face different consequences? They’re not any better than the average person.”

Nathan Mathers, Mornington

Nathan Mathers, Mornington (left) and Drew Blue.

“Absolutely. There’s no excuse for violence on the footy field. I think players can go too far sometimes and the consequences for that should be same in sport at it is on the street.”

Drew Blue, Mornington

“It should be but it doesn’t always work that way. When it’s not on purpose and is in the context of the game there shouldn’t be criminal charges. But you can’t have someone punching someone randomly during play and getting away with it.”

Cam O’Keefe, Geelong

Cam O'Keefe shared his thoughts.

“No I don’t think they should be, but I guess it depends on how extreme the act is,” Cam said.

“I don’t think there’s the same intent on the football field than there is on the street.”

Caetlyn Wells, Geelong

Caetlyn Wells agreed with a consistent approach.

“Yes, because it’s crossing the lines of rough play and hurting something. If it goes outside the rules of the game, then it’s gone too far.”

Lani Wandell, Wandana Heights

Lani Wandell said it depends on the context.

“Rough is part of the game but it depends on the circumstances. If intent is there to cause harm then I think yes.”

David Kaye, Geelong

David Kaye was undecided.

“I don’t think it’s a yes or no answer. You need to appoint a panel, it’s not cry and dry.”

Anne-Maree Levesque, Ballarat

“I shouldn’t be able to assault you and attack you and hit your head here in the street; I shouldn’t be able to do that on the football field either,” Anne-Maree said.

“In context of the play, accidents happen — they’re focused on the ball.

“But we all see those incidents where they’ve got time to pull out of the contest and they don’t pull out of the contest.”

Rick Collins, Ballarat

“I think it depends on the level of violence. I think it should still be dealt on the field within the organisation, depending on the severity,” Rick said.

“A king-hit, maybe that should be taken off the field into the court systems, but someone who’s going for the ball, that’s different.

“If it’s deliberate or malicious, it’s a different ball game.”