Why is the football community so outraged at Richmond’s defence of Bachar Houli?

IF ever an was issue likely to enrage the lunatic fringe as well as those who thrive on outrage, it is this one, writes JON RALPH. And now the AFL must clean up the tribunal’s mess.

The football community has become outraged at Richmond’s defence of Bachar Houli, as much as the tribunal’s soft penalty. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

IT takes something extraordinary to make history in the AFL.

The competition is 120 years old, so no matter how amazing a feat or rare a deed, you are likely to tread over territory already well-worn by others.

That the AFL would appeal a tribunal decision for the first time in VFL-AFL history shows how bad a decision it was.

Once-in-more-than-a-century bad.

The AFL couldn’t condone the message from the Bachar Houli verdict that if you belt an opponent in head so hard you end his day you will only serve a fortnight on the sidelines.

The football community has become outraged at Richmond’s defence of Bachar Houli, as much as the tribunal’s soft penalty. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The then-VFL heard charges against players from 1987 to 1912 with a sub-committee of club delegates that was chaired by the league’s president.

Since 1913 an independent tribunal has heard cases and before Thursday night a case has never been appealed.

And yet it is a case heard only 13 months ago that shows why the AFL had to appeal.

Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas was sent directly to the tribunal after a brutal spoil on Eagle Andrew Gaff. The Power player tried to downgrade his charge from intentional to careless.

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It was a horrible spoil that was late and damaged Gaff, but at least it was in a contest. Jonas walked away with a six-game penalty.

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Houli should have danced a jig after tribunal members Hamish McIntosh, David Neitz and Wayne Henwood — all former players — fell for the good-bloke factor and handed him two matches on Tuesday night.

Hopefully an appeals board with more experience and more common sense — Peter O’Callaghan, Brian Collis and Michael Green — delivers a more fitting verdict.

Especially given Lamb is yet to train this week because of concussion and is a strong chance to miss against Adelaide on Saturday.

Despite all that, Houli isn’t using the race card by saying he is a peaceful person who never meant to hurt Lamb.

And Richmond shouldn’t have to apologise for putting on the full court press to defend their star defender.

If you invented the kind of issue likely to enrage the lunatic fringe as well as those who thrive on outrage, it is this one.

Bachar Houli leaves the AFL tribunal after receiving a two-week suspension for striking Jed Lamb. Picture: Getty Images

A football club enlisted polarising TV figure Waleed Aly and used the testimony of unpopular prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to help minimise a suspension for a brutal hit that concussed a rival.

Especially when Houli said as part of his religion he was a peaceful person not prone to violence.

Talk about a powder keg about to blow.

To be accurate, Richmond tendered detailed character references from Aly and former Tigers assistant coach Mark Williams.

Richmond then used Turnbull’s comments at a funding press conference on Monday for Houli’s programs to support their case.

But when hasn’t a football club used every possible avenue to minimise a suspension or even see their player escape any penalty?

Players are often given discounts for good records and fine character, but the penalty should have been cut from four games to three at most.

Halving a suspension from four matches to two is utter madness.

What has got many hot under the collar is Houli’s use of religion to defend himself.

Houli told the tribunal of his strike: “It’s something I have never ever done in my life and something I would never ever do. It’s part of my practice in my religion.

Jed Lamb lies unconscious after the incident with Bachar Houli. Pic: Michael Klein

“I am a peaceful person. I am proud of how I have conducted myself.”

Again, Houli spoke from the heart just as he had done in immediately contacting Jed Lamb to apologise.

Some commentators desperate for attention and keen to whip up confected outrage will turn that sentence into something it isn’t.

It’s hard to argue there is a more solid citizen than Houli in the AFL or a better role model who has done more for a faith that is being questioned by many Australians.

Toby Greene copped two weeks for this hit on Caleb Daniel. How does it compare to Houli’s hit on Jed Lamb? Picture: Getty Images

But it was up to the tribunal to see that religion wasn’t a factor in this decision.

Muslim or Christian or Athiest, if you whack a bloke in the head hard enough to concuss him badly, you can’t serve just a two-match suspension.

Kudos to Richmond for using every available avenue to get its star defender back as quickly as possible.

Now after the tribunal made a total balls-up of that decision it is time for the AFL to come in and clean up the mess.