AFLW match review penalties are too harsh and if Katie Brennan were a man she’d be playing in grand final
IF Katie Brennan was an AFL player she would be playing in the Grand Final but her suspension for Saturday’s AFLW decider shows match review punishments are too harsh and need to change, writes ELIZA SEWELL.
AFLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE AFLW tribunal guidelines are manifestly unfair and need to change.
Western Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan should never have been at the tribunal and should be playing in Saturday’s grand final.
If she was an AFL player and it was the AFL Grand Final, she would be.
DOUBLE STANDARD: DOES BRENNAN BAN MEAN TRENT COTCHIN GOT LUCKY?
AFL DAILY: ALL THE LATEST AFL AND AFLW NEWS AS IT HAPPENS
Brennan was rubbed out after two rough conduct charges, both careless and low impact.
If she was a bloke, she would have had to pay $2000 (with an early plea) for the first offence and $3000 for the second, again with an early plea.
Oh, and she would have been allowed to commit the same offence again and still avoided a ban but had to find $5000.
Not missing a game, let alone a grand final.
Both the men’s and women’s punishment systems are designed to change behaviour, according to the AFL.
But the punishment for the women in relative terms is too harsh.
Fines weren’t considered for the AFLW’s seven-week home-and-away competition because the players simply don’t get paid enough.
A player’s entire season wage would be gobbled up for a clumsy tackle.
Surely a level of fines commensurate with their wages would be a better option.
Say, first offence $200. The second, bump it up to $800 — even $1000.
But to be rubbed out of a grand final is far too heavy. Especially when a bloke would only feel it in the hip pocket.
It’s expected the AFL Players’ Association will raise concerns about match review penalties in its AFLW post season review.
That’s a good idea.
AFLW Agenda: Thank you Maddy, you’re more than enough
From a stirring celebration pointed at keyboard cowards to the rapid rise of a young gun, ELIZA REILLY runs through the hits and misses from Week 6 in the AFLW Agenda.
All-Aus Swan likely out for year, star Saint to face MRO music
The season of one of Sydney’s best AFLW players is likely over after an innocuous incident on the weekend. Plus a gun St Kilda ball-winner is set to go under the MRO’s microscope.